Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-29
Text Of President Rooseves New York Campaign Speech

Of existing dangers they are not
great enough for the absolute
safety of America.
While this great, constructive
work was going forward, the Re-
publican leaders were trying to
block our efforts toward national
defense. They not only voted
against these efforts: but they
stated time and again through
the years that they were unnec-
essary and eXtravagant, that our
armed strength was sufficient for
any emergency.
I propose now to indict these
Republican leaders out of their
own mouths-these leaders who
now disparage our defenses-in-
dict them with what they them
selves said in the days before this
election year, about how adequate
our defenses already were.
Listen to this statement, for in
stance. I quote:
The facts are that we have
the largest and the greatest air
forces we ever had, and a match
for any nation"
Now who do you think made
this statement in June, 1888? 1t
was not I. 1t was not even a
member of this administration.
1t was the ranking Republican
member of the House Committee
on Foreign Affairs, Republican
Leader Hamilton Fish.
And now listen to eX-PreSident
Hoover speaking in that same
year of 1888. I quote:
I'VE shall be eXpending $780,
100000 more than any nation on
EARTH" he complained. I'VE are
leading in the arms race"
Quotes From Statements
OF Vandenberg and Taft.
And now listen to Republican
Leader Senator Vandenberg, also
speaking in 1898. He said that
our defense expenditures had al
ready bought us land I quote IAN
incomparably efficient Navy"
and he said further Il rise in op-
position to this super-super Navy
bill. I do not believe it is justi-
fed by any conclusive demon
stration of national necessity"
And now listen to Republican
Leader Senator Taft-the runner
up this year for the Republican
presidential nomination-speak
ing in February, 1910. 1 quote:
The increase of the Army and
Navy over the tremendous appro-
priations of the current year
seems to be unnecessary if we
are concerned solely with de-
Tense"
There is the record; there is
the permanent crystal-clear rec
ord. Until the present political
campaign opened, Republican
leaders, in Congress and out,
shouted from the housetops that
our defenses were fully adequate.
Today they complain that this
administration has starved our
armed forces, that our Navy is
anemic, our Army puny, our air
forces piteously weak.
This is a remarkable somer-
sault.
I wonder if the election could
have something to do with it.
And this seems what they would
have called logic when I was a
kid. If the Republican leaders
were telling the truth in 1888
then-out of their own mouths
they stand convicted of incon-
sistency today. If they are tell
ing the truth today, then they
stand convicted of inconsistency
in 1888.
Republicans Accused of
Playing Politics With Defense.
The simple truth is that the
Republican party played politics
with defense in 1888 and 1899.
They are playing politics with
national security today.
The same group will still con-
troll their party policy in the
Congress. 1t is the Congress
which passes the laws of the
United States. The record of
these Republican leaders shows
what slim chance the cause OF
strong defense would have, If
they were in control.
Not only In their statements
but in their votes is written their
record of sabotage of this admin
istration's continual efforts to
increase our defenses to meet the
dangers that doomed ever larger
upon the horizon.
For example, deeply concerned
over what was happening in
Europe, I asked the Congress in
January. 1888, for a naval ex-
pansion of 20 per cent--46 addi-
tional ships and $50 new planes.
What did the Republican lead
ers do when they had this chance
to increase our national defense
almost three years ago? You
would think from their present
barrage of verbal pyrotechnics,