Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-10-30
WILL be ONE OF BIG QUESTIONS
IN CONNECTION WITH MA.
rIoNAL DEFENSE.
ISSUE WILL BE PRICE OF
SUPPORT OF coNGREssMEN
Controversy Over Government Manu-
faeture Of Munitions and Ships and
Armor Plate Prominently Before
Congress Long Before Preparedness
Came to Fore.
Especial correspondence, !

| Washington, Oct. 30. - Government:
manufacture promises to be well-nigh
as big an issue before congress the
coming winter as the issue of national
defense itself.
Some of the prominent advocates Of
munitions, material. armor, ships and
the like for preparedness purposes, de-
clare this phase Of the national de-
tense question will overshadow all
others. A considerable number of the
opponents of government manufacture
will make their support Of legislation
for large increases in army and navy
contingent on whether the government
is going to do the manufacturing. or
large share thereof. or the private
manufacturers are going to get the
most of the contracts.
The controversy over government
manufacture is not new one in con-
nection with the army and navy bills
and army and navy legislation. 1t has
come up prominently in relation to
powder manufacture. After hard fight
ing, the believers iii government man
ufacture of powder for military uses
have succeeded in getting the govern
ment to make large part of it's own
powder. II addition, the effect of the
legislation has been to reduce the
prices allowed by the powder makers
to the government Progress in the
campaign for government manufacture
of powder has been possible only after
hard and persistent fighting and hard
and persistent opposition from reac-
t;onaries Of house and senate with
little regard for party.
Last congress brought out great
deal of discussion over a government
armor plate factory. This will be pro-
NOTED in the coming session OF con-
gress by Secretary Daniels.
Wilson Not 30 Oppose.
Indications arc the administration. II
II does not come out strong for gov
eminent manufacture, will, at least.
not take stand against It. One strong
indication OF this Is seen in recent
speech of Secretary Daniels at Raleigh.
He came out for government manufac-
ture Of armor plate and projectiles and
munitions generally. He spoke for
government construction of warships.
At the same time, he said he did not
want the government to have a mo-
uOpOIy DuI 70 90 enough o. itS OWN
work to make conditions competitive.
In other words, Mr.. Daniels wants to
prevent thru government manufac-
ture. the public from getting held up.
II is assumed Secretary Daniels did
not speak until after comforting with
the president. Secretary Garrison. on
the other hand. is not known as an en-
thusiast for government manufacture.
He is more inclined to encourage the
private plant than Secretary Daniels,
tho he does not want the government
plants by any means dismanhed.
This however, is a phase of the de-
tense problem which the administra-
ton may not be able to control. Con-
gress will probably vote squarely on
the merits of government manufacture
and private manufacture 1t Is sure
to develop that government manufac-
ture will find many strong advocates
and supporters.