Battleships and Monroe Doctrine.

New York Times 100 years ago today, August 5, 1912:
To the Editor of The New York Times:
    I should like to know just what proof Everett P. Wheeler has that the great majority of our people are opposed to the building of two battleships this year. Naturally it is difficult to obtain a correct idea of the attitude of 90,000,000 people on any one subject, and in such cases the best we can do is to turn to the press of the Nation and consider it as voicing the will of the majority. It seems to me that the press in general is unanimously in favor of at least two battleships, and there is much editorial comment to the effect that even a larger naval increase would he welcomed just at this time.
    The attitude of Congress is appallingly inconsistent. At the same time, we have the Senate adopting the Lodge resolution, amending and reaffirming the Monroe Doctrine before the world and then the House balking on any new naval construction. If there is any one thing vital to the very life of the Monroe Doctrine it is the United States Navy.