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The Commoner
JANUARJ, 1916
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Counting the Prof it
The Birmingham Age Herald in its issuo of
Nov. 2 7 tli quotes a number of its citizens as ad
vocating preparedness, WITH A POSTSCRIPT,
as it were. They want preparedness, and say
it will increase tho demand Cor Birmingham's
products.
One man says, "Birmingham, or rather the
Birmingham district, will prosper when the gov
ernment proceeds to carry out the plans of the
President."
Another man says, "In carrying out the ideas
of the President, tho iron and steel companies
of this district would share in the profit. The
coal producing companies of this district would
share in the profit. More ships would consume
more coal. More markets would be created."
Another citizen says, "As to the benefits which
would accrue to this district as a result of car
rying out the plans of the President, there is no
question. We would, of course, furnish our pro
rata share of iron and steel."
Another citizen, "When tho President's plan
is put into effect tho Birmingham district will
furnish its share of coal and. steel and iron."
A fifth citizen says, "In putting into execution
the idea of the President the districts manu
facturing iron and steel will be called upon to
. put their staples upon the market."
Here are five prominent citizens interviewed,
all of them are counting on Birmingham's
share in the profits of preparedness. Some of
them say that Birmingham's needs in the mat
ter are secondary, but none of them forget to
mention tho prospects of profit.
Those who are whooping it up for prepared
ness are not losing sight of the by-products.
Their city, which they think will be specially
benefited by the President's preparations, is re
minded of its share of. the swag. Strange that
they should pass by the farmer and the laborer
who will not only help pay the taxes but will
have to furnish the men: to do the fighting when
preparedness.- .provokes war. The masseT"are
never-- consulted by the special interests. The
plain people are expected to give their money in
time of peace and their lives in time of war
while the profits go to the few.
W. J. BRYANv
HUDSON MAXIM'S INTEREST IX PRE
PAREDNESS The following editorial appeared in the St.
Louis Republic on the 27th of November, 1915:
"THE PRACTICAL MR. MAXIM
"Hudson Maxim has been lauded in these col
umns as an orator and so he is. But permit
us to add that he is an exceedingly practical per
son. Eminently practical, if you please. He
spoke in St. Louis Wednesday as a representa
tive of tho National Security league. He advo
cated a navy as large as any in the world, and
spoke with approval of Uncle Sam's 'Matching
dollars with any other nation as long as they
want to play the game.' And on FridaJy the
morning papers carried the advertisement of the
stock of the Maxim Munitions Corporation, cap
italized at $10,000,000, formed to take over the
'important inventions of Mr. Hudson Maxim,'
among whidh, as enumerated, we note indi
cators to show the positions of submarines and
improved periscopes. In the light of this ad
vertisement we have no difficulty in understand
ing Mr. Maxim's bouyant optimism with respect
to Uncle Sam's dollar-matching operations in the
naval field. In view of the ways that are dark
and tricks that are vain which have been re
sorted to by other 'interests' which have a money
stake in naval preparedness, we recommend the
blazing frankness of the methods of the pro
moters of the Maxim Munitions Corporation.
'And we recommend to those most moved by Mr.
Maxim's arguments that they be re-read in the
light of these stock-selling advertisements."
It is not only an eye-opener, but it indicates
that the Republic is seeing more clearly than it
did the real force behind preparedness.
And this is the advertisement that opened the
Republic's eyes; it appeared in the columns of
the Republic as an advertisement on November
2Gth, two days after Mr. Maxim's St. Louis
speech in favor of preparedness.
"Capitalization, $10,000,000. MAXIM MU
NITIONS CORPORATION. Par value, $10.
"The Maxim Munitions Corporation was
lformed to take over the important inventions of
Hudson Maxim in aerial torpedoes, bomb-throwing
devices, aeroplane guns, improvements in
range-finding guns, position indicators to, show
constantly the geological position of submarines
and other vessels, improvements in periscopes
and many others.
"Further details in this space tomorrow.
"Full report on application.
"We buy, sell and quote the above."
It ought to open tho eyes of everybody. Who
so blind that ho can not see the active' special
interest behind the propaganda for prepared
ness? "Match dollars"? Yes, the manufacturers of
munitions will advocato this international
gambling game just as long as they can spend
Uncle Sam's dollars, but why should anyone
else advocate it?
W. J. BRYAN.
POPE PLEADS FOR PEACE
A New York dispatch, under date of Dec. 25,
says: Christmas was a day of anguish to Popo
Benedict, who sent a message to America through
the United press, urging universal prayers for
an early ending of tho European slaughter. The
Pope's exhortation was received by cable to
night as follows:
"Rome, Dec. 25. While the hymn of the
angels resounds: 'Glory bo to God in the highest
heaven and peace on earth good will to ,men,'
the slaughter in Europe, of which there is no
example in history, continues.
"All men are brothers because they are sons
of God and more specifically are Christians and
Catholics. All, moved by this feeling of spiritual
brotherhood, must work and pray for the
speedy ending of this terrible war, which has
dishonored Europe and plunged all humanity
into mourning.
"This is the exhortation that the holy father,
his heart filled with anguish, sends forth to the
world.
. "PIETRA CARDINAL GASPARRI,
"Papal Secretary of State."
Copyright, 1915, by the United Press.
WHAT DOES HE MEAN?
.The, American Defense society held a meeting
In New' York on January 5th, attended, by ex
President Roosevelt, HIS COUSIN, Philip Roose
velt, Hudson Maxim, the munitions man, and
others. They resolved in favor of the immediate
construction of forty-eight dreadnaughts, and a
standing army of 200,000 men, to be supported
by a citizen soldiery whose service would be
COMPULSORY."
At the close of the meeting "cousin Philip"
stated, "We are preparing for an emergency that
will arise during the next twelve of thirteen
months." As that Is about the time the next
president will be inaugurated it raises the ques
tion: Was he speaking for his cousin, the, ex
president? And does the ex-president expect to
be president then, and in position to drag this
country into war?
"WONDER WHO IT WAS?"
On page 2G8 of his book entitled, "Serving
The Republic," General Miles says that there
was only one member of President McKlnley's
cabinet in favor of war with Spain, and that an
assistant secretary under McKinley was very
anxious for the war.
General Miles says: "Wonder who it was, won
der who that assistant secretary was, who
thanked God that the one member of President
McKlnley's cabinet who was favoring war with
Spain was doing all he could to bring it about."
Wonder if the man who was then assistant
secretary was afterwards president, and wheth
er he is the same man who has been trying to
get this country into a war with Mexico, and
later into a war with Europe? Wonder if .he
would thank God if this country was now
plunged into war?
THE PAN-AMERICAN CONVENTION.
On another page will be found the President's
speech outlining the proposed convention be
tween the American republics. The plan is a
long step toward peace in the western Hem
isphere, and deserves the enthusiastic support
of the United States and our southern neighbors.
Success to the plan,
It is now reported that Consul McNeely was
advised against traveling on a belligerent ship.
There were neutral ships upon which he might
have sailed. But even if there had been no neu
tral ships it would he better for the United
States to carry its officials on government ships
than to allow them to menace the nation's peace.
Shall Militarism De
vour the Farm?
.$
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On another page will be found a condensed
report of tho department of agriculture, show
ing the estimated value of farm products for
the year ending December 1st, 1915. It Is
S5,5G8,000,000, the largest ever known, exceed
ing by nearly six hundred millions the estimate
of last year which had never before been sur
passed. The readers of the Commoner are Invited to
Inspect the figures carefully. Speaking in round, :.
numbers, the principal crops are valued at:
Corn, $1,755,000,000; wheat, $930,000,000; ,
hay, $912,000,000; cotton, $002,000,000; oats,
$555,000,000; potatoes, $221,000,000; barley,
$122,000,000. These figures are re-stated here
that the readers may more easily compare the
value of our crops with the appropriation asked
by the array experts. The army program would
cost MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED MILLIONS,
for the first year, and each year thereafter, ac
cording to their estimate, this program would
fasten upon the country a pormancnt cost of. .
over three hundred millions. In other words
they would ask us to spend during the first year
MORE THAN ONE-FOURTH OF THE CORN
CROP, or MORE THAN ONE-HALF OF THE
WHEAT CROP, or MORE THAN ONE-HALF
OF THE HAY CROP, or NEARLY ALL OF THE
COTTON CROP, or MORE THAN TWICE THE
POTATO CROP, WETTING READY FOR WAR.
But let us make another comparison which: Ik
even more appalling. If we estimate the farm
ers' net profit at an 8 per cent of the gross value
of his crop it will be found that the board of
army experts asks us to spend on the army
MORE THAN THE ENTIRE NET CROP IN
COME OF ALL THE FARMERS OF THE
UNITED STATES.
Eight per cent on $5,508,000,000 Is less than
the proposed expenditures for the first year;'
and thereafter they ask us to spend more than
two-thirds of the net crop incomes of the United
States on the army each year. "'
Remember that these figures are for tjio,
ARMY only and do not include the amount which"
the jingoes want to spend oil the NAVY. Is IjT '
possible that this country will consent to' any
expenditures approaching the expenditures de- ,'
sired by the army board? Surely tho democratic'"
party will be the last political organization to
countenance any such a scheme.
i
And if we are not to follow the reeommendaT,.
tlons of the army experts, why give them any,
consideration? If their recommendations are to
be repudiated, why not abolish the board and
relegate these distinguished exports to the or
dinary routine of the army. Of what advantage
is it to have a board of experts ridiculing our
present preparedness and belittling us in the
eyes of foreign nations, if their judgment is not
to be trusted? They simply furniBh talking ma
terial for jingoes and for the lobbyists of the
special Interests that fatten on government cour
tracts.
Attention is called to these figures for the pur
pose of Impressing upon the readers of ThV
Commoner the fact that militarism has no re
spect for the toller, and the toller should there
fore have no respect for It. The men who labor
upon the farm and in the factory producers of
wealth have the votes with which to control
the policy of the country. There Is no reason
why they should submit without a protest to the
impudent and Insulting attitude of these men
who, enjoying life positions and receiving com
fortable incomes, look down with undisguised
contempt upon the masses.
W. J. BRYAN.
rt.i
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