Iron County register., 1899-02-23
The Army Bill.

The Army Bill.
We make the prediction here and
now that the power of the federal ad-
ministration will be used to it's utmost
to force through Congress bill Great
ing large permanent military estab-
lishment. Our prediction is based
upon the fact that the administration
does not represent the masses of the
American people. The administration
represents only small minority of
the Republican votes that were cast for
Mckinley in 1896. More than ninety
per cent. of the American people who
produce the wealth and pay the taxes
of the nation do not demand large
increase of the army. They have no
purpose to be served by large stand
ing army either at home or abroad.
The forces that are behind the de-
mand for the creation of a large mill
tary establishment are the money
kings, trusts, and monopolies of our
own country. Their numbers are
comparatively small. but their power
is great on account of the tremendous
resources under their control. The
commercial press of the country is
subject to their will, and we may look
for their organs, regardless of their
political professions, to shrek in agon-
izing tones for the passage of the army
bill that the administration is now
seeking to have enacted into law. The
Democratic Senators who oppose the
passage of this nefarious measure will
be denounced as disloyal to their coun-
try and traitors to the flag.
Under the circumstances this is no
time to speak of this matter in soft and
mellow tones. The occasion demands
that the truth be plainly spoken. The
truth is the small percentage of our
people who are behind the measure
that Is now being forced through the
Senate are the men who contribute the
millions that were spent in the election
of 1896 to elect President Mckinley.
The votes of the Cleveland, Palmer
and Buckner Tories who voted for Nc
Kinley are behind this demand for an
increase of the army. About FIVE per
cent. of the regular Republican vote is
behind it. President Mckinley repre-
sents this small class. Their demands
are to be acceded to, and their revolu-
tionary schemes are to be given the
force of law if the administration pos
sesses the power to have it done.
This small class representing less
than ten per cent. of our population
intend to rule this nation. They real
ize that they cannot long continue
their sway unless a large standing
army is provided. A large standing
army once in existence, they may after
that purchase one or more elections
but they will soon stop this expensive
method. They fully realize that each
succeeding election will become more
expensive, and that under universal
suffrage they will be forced to part
with considerable portion of their
plunder to corrupt the voters and elect
their candidates at each succeeding
election and that in the end they are
sure to be beaten. But with large
standing army and their agents and
attorneys in possession of the principal
offices of state and nation they can
easily cause irregularities to appear in
the elections and create disputes and
contests which will furnish the pretext
to use the army and settle the dispute
in favor of the candidate of their
choice. This will be the end of popu-
lar government.
The question now before Congress,
we again assert, is the most important
question ever presented to the law
making power of the nation since the
foundation of the government. The
army bill is the milk ia the cocoanutn
of the whole movement for Imperialism.
We warn the American people that
when their consent is once given that
the United States shall exercise militia
ry rule over any alien people under