The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-07-25
Composed of Firms in Every Country,
Causing Monopoly of Manufacture
of Necessary Supplies.
BUT ONE REMEDY APPEARS
Government Factories Only Way In
Which Combine Can Be Erased
Speaks of international Peace.
BY Congressman G. H. Tavenner..

"aSAiASIou, July 36O,--EVeT Since
my election to congress I have have
been carrying on a campaign to have
the government manufacture all of
it's munitions of war in the gov
eminent arsenals and navy yards.
The government appropriates $780,
100000 annually for the army and
Navy, even in time of peace, and
colossal sums are expended with a
ring of private manufacturers for
munitions of war. I have produced
evidence before Congress, proving
beyond successful contradiction that
the Army and Navy officers have
been permitting this ring to out
rageously overcharge the govern
ment.
A complete government manufac-
ture policy will save an average of
IS percent, or millions of dollars
annually to the American taxpayers,
and the men who actually do the fork
of making munitions will receive
higher wages and far better work
ing conditions than if the work is
done by private concerns.
If all profit is taken out of war
and preparation for war I predict
that some of the very millionaire
patriots who are now agitating for
an ever and ever increased amount
of armament in the certain knowl-
edge they will make huge profits in
supplying the same, will be the loud
est to protest against the annual
expenditure of $25O,OOO,OO0 for pre-
paration for war in time of peace.
I wish I did not have to make a
campaign for reelection this fall
If l did not, would take the next
ship for Stockholm, Sweden, the city
in which the Interparliamentary
Union for International Peace is to
hold it's annual meeting in August
This organization IS composed of
members of practically all the i'm
portant legislative bodies in the
world. The object Of the organiza-
ton is reduction or armament in
the interest, Of peace. I have been
a member of the organization since
my election to congress.
If could go to Stockholm I would
make an effort to have the Union
take up a worldwide campaign to
induce all governments to manufac-
ture their own battleships and war
supplies. 1t would be the greatest
step in the interest of peace that
could be taken.
There is in existence today what
might be termed war trust It is
composed of the firms in every coun-
try that have a monopoly of the
manufacture of war supplies. This
war trust. is world wide. In this
country it is composed of the powder
trust, the armor and ammunition
rings, and the shipbuilding trust >!
1
the army, their fiends in the navy,
and their friends in congress, always
men who are right up next to the
top. The United States government
has poured some $5oo,0o0,o9Q of the
taxpayers money into the Golfers of
the American war trust in the last
20 years, and the money is being
poured in faster now than ever, and
unless the policy of government
manufacture of war supplies is adopt
ed, the expenditures for preparation
for war are going to continue to in
crease.
Government manufacture is the
only remedy I know of; government
manufacture will put this greatest
of all trusts out of business; it is
the only thing that will do it.
There appears to be no real COM
petition between the war trusts of
the various countries. Once, in 1893,
the American armor ring made a
noise like competition, by selling ar
NOR to Russia for $249 while it was
charging the United States S616, and
for a while great CONSERVATION pre-
vailed in the ranks of the war trust.
But shortly after this the armor
manufacturers of the world met in
Paris, and since then there has been
no competition worthy of the name.
The armor manufacturers asked
themselves why they should cut each
others throats, and why it would
not be to their advantage to receive
$500 or $500 a ton instead of 5000
or $500. r. Il ssssszs -.
The only thing the various sub
divisions of the International war
trust compete in is agitation for in
creased armament. The war trust
plays one big power against another
For instance, in Germany the wal
trust patriots Gall agents of the war
trust are patriots, basing their agi.
tation on their alleged patriotism
and love of country, point to Eng.
land and the United States as dan
gerously powerful. And when the
naval bill was MP in the house re
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