Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-06-23
PIutocrats and Their Plunder.

he success OF the IIuISlTdLlOu IL
securing the passage of the Bond Issue
| Bill is unparalleled in the military his
I tory of the United States. and it Is
doubtful if any thing 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, 900. 900 which
was expended at once, disappearing
into the pockets of contractors and
campaign contributors like water
poured into a rat hole. Other expen-
ditures followed Oh the same magnifi-
cent scale. and it is estimated that be-
fore we occupied a foot of Cuban terri
tory We expended over 800, 200, 600.
We are so accustomed to being robbed
in round numbers of six or more
ciphers that we hardly appreciate what
this means. But let US compare it with
the expense OF the Mexican war, fought
under Democratic administration. This
war began March 2Sth, 1916. That
year were fought the celebrated bat
ties of Palo Alto. Resaca de la Palma,
Monterey, Tabasco and Tampico, be-
sides minor engagements, at total
cost of SO, Alb. 900 for the army and
Sc, 455, 900 for the navy, or of SIC, $685.
900 for both army and navy during the
entire year.
In 1S47 we occupied California,
landed u, 600 men at Vera Cruz, bonn
barded and captured that city, fought
the battle of Cerro Gordo, captured
Puebla. triumphed at Contreras,
stormed Cherubusco, fought victorious
ly at Molinos del Rey, Casa Mata and
Chapultapec and entered the City of
Mexico in triumph on Sept. 18th. The
cost of the army for the entire year
was $50, $40, 900 and of the navy ST.
900, 900 or for army and navy, $43, 3,740,-
600.
Thus the total cost of the army and
navy during the entire two years of the
Mexican war, was $50, ,56S, 900. Com
pare this with what has been done at
Washington recently.
Total cost of two months of
good stealing under Hanna SlC0, 100000
Total cost of two years of
Mexican war -...-.-.......-......... GO, O,568, 900
Excess of good stealing over
total cost of Mexican war $ 80, 432, 900
This is a beginning which shows Mr..
Hanna's possibilities as a tinancier.
But it is only a beginning. He now
has mis- four hundred millions in bonds
and certificates. and he has provided
for as much more to be raised by tax
alton on 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 sum to be raised
by taxation, compare only his bond
issue in a war against the weakest na-
tion of Europe-poverty stricken, mis-
cradle, bankrupt Spain, with the total
cost of our war of three years against
England, then as now, the greatest
naval power in the world.
In 1912 we invaded Canada, defeated
Tecumseh, captured the Guerrierre, the
Frolic. the Macedonian, the South
ampton and the Jova, and defended
our coast line at a total cost for army
and navy during the entire year of
$15, ,776,O 900.
In 1918, at total cost of $40, ,098,O
for both army and navy, we fought at
Frenchtown, captured the Peacock,
captured York in Upper Canada,
forced Proctor back at Fort Meigs,
captured Fort George, repulsed Proctor
at Fort Stephenson, captured - armed
British whalers in the Pacific, and q
merchantmen in the English channel,
won the famous victory over the British
fleet on Lake Erie; and defeated Proc
tor at the Battle of the Thames; besides
fighting half a dozen other engage
ments, any one of which might have
given Hanna and his friends an excuse
for spending more than the cost of the
whole year of fighting.
The entire cost of the war in 1914
up to the signing of the treaty of peace
at Ghent, Dec. "a, was $27. 900.
Thus, for the three years of this
great war against England, fought with
honest men in power at Washington,
we spent for army and navy combined,
only 500, ,635, 900. Compare this with
the preparations for looting made un-
der the Bond deal alone:
Loot through the
Bond deal. s4OO, 900, 900
Total cost of war
of 1912 g yrs) S69, ,09S, 200
Total cost of Mex
lean war (2yrs) 70,5GS, 900
Total cost of both
wars...-......-...,...-...., 139, SOC, 900
Excess of loot
throughbond deal