Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-27
SUGGESTED BY THE OCCASION

SUGGESTED BY THE OCCASION
Today, Oct. 81, is the anniversary
of the birth of Theodore Roosevelt.
Ii also has been made the occasion.
where practicable, for observances
pertaing to our navy and its needs
Everywhere throughout the land
there exists an obligation to observe,
at least to the extent of considera-
ton, our duty to the navy and to
those whom we have placed in
charge of its affairs. They should
not have been given the responsible
ty were they not competent; If they
are incompetent they should be re-
moved: otherwise it manifestly be-
comes our duty to give proper heed
to their suggestion, to appreciate
their experience and intimate ac-
quaintance with needs.
Some appear to regard this as en-
couraeing to militarism. Others look
upon it as an obligation to the end
that law and order may be main
tanned. Within recent years
striking example of what occurs
when the police force of big city is
Withdrawn was afforded in the city
of Boston. With such revelations
our common sense ought to be
awake.
1t seems especially fitting on this
anniversary of Roosevelts birth to
seek in his expressed thought for
that which may be found pertinent
to the occasion. This seems to be Of
that character:
"Amiable but fatuous persons &.
pass resolutions demanding universal
aIbitra ton for everything, and the
disarmament of the free civilized
Powers and their abandonment Of
their armed forces; or else they write
Well-meaning, solemn little books or
pamphlets, or editorials. and articles
III magazines or newspapers to show
that it is an illusion" TO believe that
war ever pays because it is eXpen-
siVe. This is precisely like arguing
that we should disband the police
sLadIng criminals that it is IAN illu~
sion to suppose that burglary, high
way robbery and white slavery are
profitable"
There is an abundance of other
expression from those who have had
opportunity to ovaluate our obliga-
tons respecting a navy. The prac-
teal mind of Herbert Hoover has
never been enamored of war, accord
ing to all accounts. He has had op-
portunity TO know somewhat OF the
horrors of it, to relief of which his
splendid executive abilities were de-
voted during the war He also had
long training in recognizing actuali-
ties, unusual acquaintance with the
worlds affairs and with the mental
them. ain short AIr. Hoover is ad-
mirably qualified to form a dispas-
sionate opinion respecting the need
OF a navy. lie favors the observance
we visualize the Importance of the
navy as the first line of our national
defense and an instrument to main
tain peace"
He adds: with our civilization we
have come to be dependent TO con-
siderable degree for our national
standards of living and comfort upon
our foreign trade through the imports
OF many commodities which we can
not produce from our soil, and the
export of our surplus products. The
continuance of this service depends
at once upon maintenance of order
and protection upon the seas in peace
as well as war time. We as a nation
must contribute to this sea police.
Beyond this the enterprise and
initiative of our merchants in estab-
fishing their trade and the launching
of their ships rests in great measure
III their confidence that this police
power exists; that it acts. and that
1t Will continue. An efficient navy
would be necessary even though we
had no major problems of national
defense.
The Arms Conference through In
ternational cooperation has enabled
US to reduce the volume Of defense
equipment we need at sea; we can
not reduce its strength below the
limits to which we can carry such
agreement with others but in any
circumstances we will always need
an efficient navy for the maintenance
OF order upon the seas"
But the list is long one. Space
may not be found for quoting from
all the experience OF this as we'll as
OF other times. To ignore or belittle
all this is sign of decadence rather
than of superior enlightenment.
Wolves have not disappeared from
the earth. The four footed ones
have been thinned out but of the
two-footed we have no such assur-
ance.