Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1916-08-24

the naval service for the fiscal year end
Ing June 80. 1917. and for other purpose.
Mr.. VARDAN " Mr.. President,
realize that what | am about to say re
garding the question at issue befor
the Senate will not influence the vot
OF single Member of this body. On
might preach to the storm or reason
with despair" to some effect. but an
quite sure that the minds of the Sena
tors are made up, the conclusions
reached, and they are only waiting TO
the opportunity to register their con
illusions. But | should be altogether
untrue to myself, unfaithful to those
whom have the honor to represent il
| part in this Chamber, and disloyal tt
! all the American people, were to re
| frain from expressing my utter anC
unconditional disapproval of this bill
/ am unable upon any theory consist
emit with my sense of obligation to my
constituents and my adherence to the
principles of free government to lend
my approval of the bill with its con
tents and the policy which it inaugu
rates.
The measure is unprecedented in
the magnitude of the appropriation
which it carries, the scope of it's pro
visions, and the undemocratic-l
might say, un-Amercan-spirt of its
purposes. II marks turning point in
the life of this Republic and opens up
the way which has led the republics
of the past into the pitfalls of imper-
aism. If the fighting material pro.
-, l.; 20
defend this Republic from invasion or
to uphold the rights of American citi
zens in other parts of the earth,
should not utter one word of protest
against ton the contrary, it should
La"a my heartiest approval.
Mr.. President, | yield to no man in
my devotion to my country and my
willingness to make any sacrifice nee
essary for the defense OF the Nations
flag. And in my own proper person in
nat regard ! hut poorly body forth
the heroic qualities which glorify the
characters of the brave men and pure
women for whom | have the privilege
III this presence to speak The advo,
Gates Of this bill who would undertake
TO put the odum of disloyalty to the
Government upon those of us who
withhold cur approval of this measure
will find in the end that the unwisdom
and questionable patriotism Of their
own course will not be corrected or
minimized by manifest injustice TO
ssme one else.
The most enthusiastic and radicaI
advocate of preparedness" who has
any respect whatever for the sanctity
of the truth will not claim that we
really need such a Navy, either for de-
Tense or offense, as is provided for in
this bill, at this time. Really, the
prospects of this country becoming
involved in war with any foreign ma
ton is more remote today than at any
time during the last half century. We
are threatened with no foes from with
out, we are happily at peace with all
the world, and the nations with which
we would be more likely than all 9th
ers to have trouble are less able to
wage war against US today and less in,
clined, ! believe, to provoke war with
US in the future than ever before in
the history of this government And
yet, in the face of these facts, facts
that are admitted by the leaders OF
American thought and contradicted
nowhere by anyone whose opinion is
worthy of consideration, this Congress
proposes to appropriate money with
'"hich 70 provide for the buiIdinu of
157 ships of war which will cost in
the neiehborhood of $500 900, 900, i'm
posing an average tax of at least S25
ner family on he people of the United
States, regardless of the poverty OF
the masses.
This item of taxation, added to that
which is already borne by the toiIers
of this country to pay the expenses of
wars that have been fought and to oct
ready for the possible wars in the |
future, will amount to something like
$50 for every head of family in the
United States. That tax, added to 9th
er taxes for the support of the Ma |
tional Government, the State, the |
county, and municipal taxes. will !
amount almost to confiscation in the
course of time, because the tax will |
increase as the years go by if the in
nuences which now control the Ma |
the Executive and the |
congress, shall be perpetuated And
for what purpose? Mr.. President,
what influences demand the enactment
Of this law at this time? What harm I
would result from the postponement
for three or four years of the build.
ng program provided for in this bill?
There are already contracts let for the
Of battleships which will not
be completed for three years. | am
advised that the unexpected contracts
or the Navy amount to something like
b120,O00,0O0 o, Mr.. President, is 1t
lot time that Members of the Ameri-
AN Senate should pause and consider
What all Of this means to the toilers of
his Republic? 1t would not be out of
'lace for me to suggest to the Senate
hat there are hundreds Of thousands
Il families in the rural districts of the
United States whose impecunious con-
Iitlon 10 such that the small amount
4 $50 will determine the question as
o whether or not their children shall
ave proper clothing and shoes In the
to wear to school.
The learned Senator from Massa-
husetts (Mr. Lodge) a day or two ago
n the floor of this Chamber referred
D the fact that some Of the Iustru-
aents of naval warfare had been In
he course Of construction for the last
We or six years-since 1908, I believe.
low, the delay in the construction
vas not due to the fact that u re-
uIred that much time for the building,
trt rather beeauRe the officera in