The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-07-15
PLUNDERING PLUTOCRATS.
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WAR
TO ROB THE NATION,
How Much it Cost Us to Lick the
British in 1912 and Mexico in
l947-An Interesting Comparison
--How 1t is Done.

l947-An Interesting Comparison
--How 1t is Done.
Inc success of the administration in
securing the passage of the bond issue
bill is unparalleled in the military his
tory of the United States, and it is
doubtful if anything like it can be
found in the history of any other coun-
try. Before a blow was struck, Presi-
dent Mckinley demanded and received
an appropriation of $50, DOC, 900, which
was expended at once, disappearing
into the pockets Of contractors and
campaign contributors like water pour
ed into a rat hole. Other expenditures
followed in the same magnificent scale,
and 1t is estimated that before we oc-
cupied a foot of Cuban territory we
expended over 500. 900, 900. We are so
accustomed to being robbed in round
numbers of six or more ciphers that
we hardly appreciated what his means.
But let US compare it with the expense
OF the Mexican war, fought under dem
ocratic administration. This war began
March 18th, 1916. hat year we fought
the celebrated battles Of Palo Alto,
Resaca de la Palma, Monterey, Ia
basco and Tampico, besides minor en-
gagements, at a total cost of $40, Ala, 900
for the army and $6,456, 600 for the navy,
or SIG, SOS, 600 for both army and navy
during the entire year.
In 1S47 we occupied California, land
ed $4,000 men at Vera Cruz, bombarded
and captured that city, fought the
battle of Cerro Gordo, captured Pueblo,
Rey, Casa, Mata and Chapultepec and
entered the City of Mexico in triumph
on September II. The cost of the army
for the entire year was s35, $40. 900. and
of the navy 81, 300, 600, or for army and
navy s43, 74O, 900.
Thus the total cost of the army and
navy during the entire two years of
the Mexican war was $50, SOS, 900. COM
pare this with what has been done at
Washington recently:
Total cost of two months Of
good stealing under Hanna. 500, 900, 600
Total cost of two years Of
Mexican war from begin
ming to clOse)... . =. :. 60, 56S, 900
Excess Of good stealing over
total cost of Mex. war.....$ 39,442, 900
This is a beginning which shows
Mr.. Hanna's possibilities as a finan-
cier. But it is only a beginning. ell
now has four hundred millions in bonds
and certificates and he has provided
for as much more to be raised by tax
alton OF tea, tobacco and trade gener-
ally. He is undoubtedly capable of
spending every cent Of it, and a great
deal more if the people will permit.
But leaving out the sun to be raised
by taxation, compare only his bond
issue in a war against the weakest
nation Of Europe-poverty stricken,
miserable, bankrupt Spain, with the
total cost of the war of three years
against England, then as nov the
greatest ava power in the world.
In 1872 we invaded Canada, defeat
ed Tecumseh, captured the Guerrero,
the Frolic, the Macedonia, the South
ampton and the Java, and defended
out coast line at a total cost for army
and navy during the entire year of
SIS, 776, 900. In 1913, at a total cost of
$26, 09S, 900 for both army and navy, we
fought at F~renchtown, captured the
Peacock, captured York in upper Can
ada, forced Proctor back at Fort Meigs,
captured Fort George, repulsed Proc
tor at Fort Stephenson, captured II
armed British whalers in the Pacific
and 81 merchantmen in the English
channel, won the famous victory over
the British fleet on Lake Erie, and
defeated Proctor at the battles Of the
Thames, besides fighting half a dozen
other engagements, any n of which
may have given Hanna and his friends
an excuse for spending more than the
cost of the whole years fighting.
The entire cost of the war in 1914
up to the signing of the treaty of peace
at Client, December "a, was $27, 761, 600.
Thus for three years Of this great war
against England, fought with honest
men in power at Washington, we spent
for army and navy combined only $685.
635, 900. Compare this with the prepar-
atoms for looting made under the bond
deal alone:
Loot through the bond deal. $500, 900, 600
Total cost of war Of 1872 (three
yearS)... . -. . =. . go. 69,U9S,O wv
Total cost of Mexican war 1.-TWO
| yGdIS)... -. 80. -. ..... tV,OOo,VOO
Excess of loot through bond
deal over cost of five years
war with England OS12-13-
14) and Mexico Q846-4O.. $269, 1884, 900
In other words, leaving out the enor-
nous sums already spent, and the still
more enormous sums to be raised by
taxation, the bank note i~nfiationists,
guano jobbers, star route thieves,
whisky ringsters, credit mobilier fnan-
ciers, bond syndicate imperialist and
carpet bag advocates Of bayonet rule
for the world. now in power at Wash
ington, have already prepared in their
bond deal alone, to steal more than
twice the cost Of both the war of 1872
13-14 with England and 1867 with Mex
leo. And they will do it, too. Just
watch them!
James Barton has just unearthed
on his farm a turtle which, in its way,
is a family heirloom. Mr.. Barton was
blowing last week when the turtle was
brought to light. On it's shell was in
scribed "Ashabel Hastings, July "a,
1924. Joel Barton, June 16, 1863" Ash