"That whereas the battleship sea monster we are imitating has been named the Dreadnought-an archaic name-this man o' war is hereby named the Skeered o' Nothin' as an expression of our true American spirit..."-Congressman John S. Williams of Mississippi, arguing against appropriations for U.S.S. Michigan in 1906
Williams went on to say "...provided further, that it is hereby made the duty of the first captain who shall command her to challenge in the nation's name the so-called Dreadnought to a duel a' l'outrance, to take place upn the sea somewhere in sight of Long Island, and that upon the occassion of the combat the President and his Cabinet shall be entertained on the quarter deck as guests of the ship and the nation".
|