Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-09-01
By FREDERICK MONROE.

Patriotism for private profit is in
earnest The trafickers in war mum
lions see in the European war splen-
did opportunity to stampede the peo-
pie Of the United States into head
long expenditures on an enormous
army and navy. the equipment for
which is to be supplied, OF course, by
the gentlemen who make war NUM-
lions. Nothing IS to be left undone to
assure that the next congress shall
rush into enormous expenditures on
preparedness. The campaign of
Representative Gussie Gardner of
Massachusetts last session was only
q starter, The organization of 1-pat-
riottc" leagues. including General
Wood and Colonel Roosevelt, was the
next step. The organization of the
National Defense league and the cali
ing of the Conference on Nationel
Defense" TO be held in Washington in
October was another step.
Now comes our old friend, the Navy
League Of the United States, with
plan to clinch the agitation. In a
press notice just issued by the Navy
league it is declared that:
"A vast women's movement to urge
upon congress the necessity Of pro
viding adequate means of defense for
Americas homes and shores from the
fate which overlook Belgium and Po-
land is planned by the Women's Sec
tiOn of the Navy league of the United
States for the coming summer and
fan"
The Navy league has evidently be-
come sensible of the fact that many
Of the women of the country are not
being fooled by the cry Of the jingoes
for preparation for war" Therefore
the shrewd appeal for adequate
means OF defense for Americas homes
and shores"
All Of the women's patriotic organ
tzations," continues the press notice
from the league. have been com
municated with and requested to CO.
operate and many enthusiastic
pledges Of aid have been received.
Cards have been printed bearing
pledge to talk, think and work. pat
riotism, Americanism and adequate
defense. Before congress reassembles
the women's section hopes to have at
least a hundred thousand Of them
signed by women in all parts of the
country.
The new agitation to line up the
women IN favor of war and prepara-
ton for war is regarded by the Navy
league as one Of the most important
activities it has ever undertaken. L
is the women Of the country who
have stood in the way of the big
navy" advocates. The mothers Of the
land. hating war with a fierce hate,
have not fallen for" the line of bunk
handed out by the patriotic" Or
CARNATIONS boosting big ornaments
for private profit And when the
women Of the country understand
what and who the Navy league is they
will not be fooled by this appeal to
their patriotism
Let's take look AZ this Navy league
and see what is behind It. Il has an
expensive suite of Offices in the South
ern building in Washington and main
talns salaried secretary with two or
three assistants. an office force aud
two or three field secretaries" Tho
secretary OF the organization is A. II.
Dadmun. who is simply hired to carry
on the propaganda
Up 10 the time of his death ]. Pier
poat Morgan was one Of the directors
of the league and was intensely inter-
ested In the leagues work. He was a
liberal contributor. Herbert L. Sat
terlee is general counsel for the