The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1906-08-09
De Armond For Economy.

to follow.
De Almond For Economy.
Shortly after the foregoing proceed
ings Mr.. Dalzell of Pennsylvania, chief
among the stand patters reported II
rule to force vote with forty minutes
debate on the Aldrich amendment re-
ferred to above.
Against that rule Judge De Armond
of Missouri, one of the ablest Demo
Gratis in public life. delivered this terse,
logical and caustic speech
Mr.. Speaker the gentleman from Penn
sylvania INF. Dalzeill thinks that a very
liberal amount of discussion has already
taken place upon this most important
subject. Incidentally few members yes
terday and incidentally few members
today for short time. in the aggregate
| think not equaling sixty minutes, talk
ed about this general subject How many
millions or tens OF millions perhaps even
a hundred millions, of dollars are involved
in II no man knows and no man can say
Everybody ought to appreciate the fact
that in engaging to construct this Pana-
ma canal we have a great undertaking
upon our hands Nobody knows how long
the work will last; nobody knows how
there will be a considerable consumption
of time running into years and years, and
all can know that there will be hundreds
of millions of dollars expended. Every
dollar will come out of American citizen
ship. american labor" even, to use the
term employed so affectionately by the
gentleman here, far AS lip service is
concerned and treated with such con-
tempt, far as action goes.
1t would seem, in a general way, that
in providing for this work we ought to
endeavor to arrange to do II as cheaply as
in decency we can do it. That seems to
be no more and no less than is due to the
American taxpayer, the American citizen,
the American laborer. The burden will
be heavy enough at best 1t threatens to
become excessively heavy unless good
management, good judgment, economy
and honesty are exercised throughout. 1t
is even possible, great this nation is
and mighty as are its resources, that at
no distant day, and long before this great
work is completed. the American people
may consider seriously the question of
whether they had not better delay awhile,
in view of enormous expenditures, and let
tho completion OF the work await a time
when we shall be even more powerful and
when the contribution can be made with
less tax upon the energy and the sub
stance OF the American people. | hope
A Momenteus Question.
But no one has any assurance that 1t
may not he so, And no one who has re-
gard for the interests that we have at
stake at home or In Panama-no one who
desires honestly and earnestly the speedy
completion of the great canal or who has
any respect for the rights of the Ameri-
can peOple-can approach this question, 1t
seems 10 me. without sense of gravity
on account of its vast Importance. Then
why Is II that this resolution is to be
hurried through the house under whip
and spur, without consideration, with a
contemptuous disregard for the duty of
consideration, with an absolute and COM
plste denial OF all opportunity for con
siderations? What Ia ii that this propo-
sition involves? AS things are now, the
American president and the American
secretary of war and the American canal
commisslon--every one of them-like all
the other people of this land. OF every par
~; disposed to buy OF American man
ufactuFers and from American bidders
as you would do, Mr.. Speaker, and
would do, and as every man here would
do, and all OF our constituents would
do, following the common, everyday ex-
perienee when the purchase can be made
upon as good terms here an can be OBJ
tanned elsewhere,
bought from the American manufacturer
unless II ought not to be bought from
him. unless the commission, disposed to
buy from him out of sense OF duty to
the people OF the United States and zeal
GUS for the successful completion of this
great undertaking. deliberately decide
against their own inclination that Il
ought not to be done. There Is no need
OF protection In this direction. There is
no need of an admonltion to buy from
Americans. Everything Will be bought of
American manufacturers without legiSla-
tion that ought to be bought of them at
all, as 80 per cent of all canal supplies
have thus far been bought from them.
An Outrage Upon Labor.
What then, is the object OF this resolu-
tion to hamper the president, the secre-
tary of war, the canal commission-evsry
body who has anything TO do with this
matter-by virtue OF which they will be
under a degree OF compulslon TO buy from
the American manufacturer at the Amer
lean manufacturers prices, with very lit
tie regard TO what prices are elsewhere
or what necessary supplies might be
bought for elsewhere? Look how IL will
work. practically Often IL is necessary
to make a purchase perhaps IN an emer-
gency-to make II quickly There Is an
absolute compulsion, II this resolution be
passed, to buy from the American manu-
facturer at the American home price no
matter how extortionate or how unrea-
sOnable Il may be, unless the whole mat
ter can be delayed and the president con-
suited. the whole facts laid before him,
and the president shall direct different
course
Now, how unbuslnesslike that Is. how
unfair Il ~. how badly II certainly will
work Ia practical operation aDd enforce
saent! buy az the Americaa price, how
ever unreasonable however extortionate,
unless the matter be deemed Of sun1eient
consequence and Importance aud there he