The Washington herald., 1922-04-15
Openly Intervenes in
Fight on House Ap-
preparation Bill.
CONSIDERS $4,000
MINIMUM FORCE
Opponents of Measure Be-
lieve Letter Final Ar
gument Needed.

President Harding yesterday
dealt a crushing blow to the little
navy" faction in the House
Intervening openly for the FIRST
time in the fight over the naval
appropriation bill. the President
told Congress. in a letter 70 Rem
resentative Longworth COhiuD. that
he considered $4,000 men the mint
mum Of enlisted strength for ti.e
American navy under the terms n
the 5-5-3 naval agreement
In taking this position PreSidsn,
Harding was forced TO assume IN
attitude Of direct opposition II
some Of the most powerful of his
own party leaders in the Hou-r.
including Representative MondeU
(Wyoming), Republican: Repre-
sentative Madden UllinoIsD. chair
man Of the Appropriations COM
mittee. and Representative kelley
(MichiganD. chairrIIn uT tho avail
subcommittee which drafted the
navy bill.
Tide Turned Against Little Navy"
ANdNNAE ldNt BeFn dnA L
ing the bill providing only g. .OOu
enlisted men for the navy. and hav.
vigorously resisted claims of rhr
Navy Department that more men
were necessary to properly - IN tn
navy. Up to a day or two ago i'
seemed probable that they would
win. President Harding's lette-
following closely upon a simi'ar
appeal by Secretary Of State
Hughes. is believed 20 have d-a
nitely turned the tide aga,u.' ,hs
little navy" movement a..l ass~-ss
victory for the NcArUhur amend
ment for $4,000 enlisted men.
The Presidents letter. sprung
suddenly by Representative Lone
worth in the midst OF debate. was
accorded an enthusiastic reception
in the House. Although there had
been runors that the President
would tske a hand in the hGht. ths
actual presentation bf the letter
caused great surprise. Members or
the faction which has been oppos-
ing the bill leaped to their feet
and cheered for several minutes
when Representative IonEworth
had finished reading the letter. The
little navy" men. making little er-
fort TO conceal their discomfture.
sat glum and silent during the
demonstration.
Accepts the Challenge.
Longworth said Representativs
Kelley. OF Michigan. in charge n
the bill. had repeatedly challenged
anyone 20 quote words OF the Pres
ident 10 prove he was opposed I"
the reduction.
Il accept that challenge" ne de-
clared
Il am well persuaded that Il is
not wise to make so drastic a cut
in the naval appropriations as has
been proposed in the measure now
pending in the House" the Presi-
dents letter said. Il shall
be greately disappointed If the ap-
| preparation. to which the navy
must and will adhere. is reduced
| to the point where the limitation
OF enlisted men and apprentices is
below $4,000"
The President expressed belief
that Il would he impossible %
maintain the feet provided by the
arms conference with the reduction
/ to 6T.OG0. Ultimately, ne said. the
| lower figures may he reached
through later international action.
| but the trend toward peace and
security ought to be more firmly
established before going beyond the
! limitation TO which we were gladly
committed at the international con-
/ ference"
ConnsIIy Replies.
IT such great naval experts as
| the President and Mr.. Mondell dis
agree. what are We poor laymen
TO do?" inquired Representative
! Garrett. OF Tennessee.
Replying to the letter. Represent
ative Connally. OF Texas. said pres.
sure had been eNerted on the Presi-
| dent to persuade him to write 81
The President doesn't like 20 say
no TO his friends" said Connally,
but l think he's unfortunate in
some OF his friends"
Mondell. shortly before the letter
was read. had spoken in favor Of
the committee bill. He sought 70
discredit the testimony Of naval
experts.
Vote May Come Today.
Representative Alice Robertson.
of Oklahoma. drew applause when
she declared in favor OF navy Of
sc. 900. Miss Robinson criticised whas
she said was propaganda dissent
mated by a women's Organization in
favor OF naval reduction.
A vote on the bill will come soon.
Big navy" men are endeavoring 70
delay IL until next week. as a mat
ter OF strategy. but the decision
perhaps will be forced today by
those in charge of the bill