Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-01-29

mOnlalS. Or. Ii. w. Hall, 1870 OllV6
Street, st. Louis, Mo. Sold by drug
gist.-Adv.
Washington Correspondence.
An article by Hon. Walter L. Hen
sley, published in the National Month
ly for January, gives some very
pertinent reasons for Naval Holiday.
Aside from the enormous expenditure
of money in shipbuilding, thad might
be better used in developing the re-
sources of the country, Mr.. Hensley
argues that the more thorough the
equipment for war, the greater the
inclination to engage in war. He be-
lieves that there is not the remotest
probability of our getting into a dis
pute with any nation, that may not
be settled by peaceful arbitration. He
says the nations are in spirited con-
test in the development Of the en-.
gines of war, and in the training of
men to operate them, and in doing
this, expenditures have grown to ap-
palling proportions. In Is years the
Naval appropriation has grown from
less than $4O,OOO,0OO to nearly $780,
100000, annually. Hensley's speech
and al ticle on this subject, have set
the soberminded people of two hemi-
spheres to wondering if armament is
worth while, after all.
Steel, powder, fuel and other allied
interests. all favor armament-more
forts, more ships, more powder, more
bullets, more men. The powerful in
fuence of these interests ramifies
throughout a vast field, involving
men in every walk of life through
family ties and through social and
business relations. The danger of in
vasion, greatly magnified, is exploited
from the platform and through sub
sidized press, by passionate appeals
10 patriotism to uphold our honor and
preserve our blood bought freedom.
All this for the sole purpose of wiring
ing from reluctant Congress, larger
appropriations The larger the ex-
penditure in preparation for war, the
larger the dividends of certain large
corporations, therefore the agitation.
We, average American citizens, love
our country and her institutions, and
would shed our blood freely to main
tain the freedom of the one and the
uninterrupted development of the
other, but we should beware that we
do not allow ourselves to be enslaved
by commercial class of our own
people.
President Wilson'S address on trusts
and monopolies, delivered before the
joint session of the two Houses of
Congress, was short, very plain and
chuck full of force. There was no
evasion or mincing Of words. He
frankly recommended efficient, cor
rective legislation to put stop to ex
isting abuses, and strong prohibitory
measures to prevent the establish
ment of others. He advised the
punishment of the individual rather
than the corporation, in cases oi
violation of the law. He purposeo
the creation of an Interstate Trade
Commission to advise and confer with
business and interpret the laws. He
recommended enlarging the powers
of the Inter- State Commerce Com
mission in the matter of control o.
the issue Of railroad and other stocks
and bonds. He strongly recommend
ed Legislation to prohibit interlockinl
directorates in banks and other cor
porations. Congress will, no doubt
meet all the responsibilities with wei
formulated regulations.
Republican hands are just nov
raised high, and Republican tongue
are wagging in angry protest agains
provision In the Post Office ap
preparation bill taking 240O assistan
postmasters from under the protec
tion of the civil service law. LouC
and long cries Of "Spoils Systems" arr
heard on every hand. And why? Sim
ply because every mothers son of th'
24OO, is Simon pure Republican
political asset. Few, il any assistan
Spostmasters in the United States, ar,
J Democrats. 1t would be interesting
to know how many. Wen wager |
jackknife that there are not 400 of th'
2400. Will some one volunteer th'
information During Republican rule
small army of government EN-
ployees were placed under civil ser
vice, but not until practically all th,
most desirable positions had been fill
cd with working Republicans. 0