South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-06-10
WAR TRUST RETIRI1s DANIELS.

|
II was only TO be expected that upon
the heels OF Mr. BTyan's resignation
from the office of secretary of state,
the war trust aggregation would be-
come particularly active. Forthwith
followed the story that Sec'y Daniels
of the navy department had also re-
signed-a wish, no doubt. that was
father of the thought
The war trust'-makers of armor-
plate. arms and munitions,-ha been
/ having it's troubles with Sec'y Daniels
who objects to its further grating up
plants as a remedy. With Bryan
peace at any price advocate,-and
/ Daniels the apostle of naval econ
omy removed, these patriots for profit,
who are urging huge war preparations
while you wait, seem to think they
would have pretty clear sailing. but
I somehow, it seems, that Daniels is not
going to retire.
1t would require several columns to
cover all the transactions deserving
publicity concerning armOr Let it be
sufficient in passing TO say that the
government purchase of armOr has
been a scandal from start to finish.
The conduct of the armOr ring in deal
| ing with the government averages
| throughout at least so per cent rotten.
There have been nine official esti-
mates as to the actual cost of the
manufacture of ton of armOr plate.
The average estimate is $247.17 per
ton. Yet since 1887 we have pur-
chased 217.379 tons of armor. paying
the armOr ring an average of $4,000
per ton. or a total of s95,656,240. 1t
is we'll within the bounds of conserva-
/ tism TO say that if all this armor had
been manufactured in a government
been saved to the American taxpayers,
and armor is only one of the things
being purchased by the army and navy
under similar conditions.
Sec'y Daniels has asked congress for
an appropriation for government
armor-plate factory. but thus far con-
gress has refused him.
If the government builds an armor
plant and a paddock is placed on its
| doors as soon as it is completed, and
it is never used. it viii, in the opinion
of Sec'y Daniels, pay for itself simply
| by enabling him TO obtain fair treat
ment from the armor manufacturers
Army and navy officers generally
/ are opposed to complete government
manufacture of munitions of war.
taking the position that it is the part
of wisdom for the government to en-
courage private manufacturers 20 ope-
rate plants SO that they may be avail
able in time of war Experience has
shown. however. that instead of pa
/ triotically coming TO the relief of the
government in time OF war, the war
I traders take advantage of the necessi-
ties of the government. which is at
I their mercy. and boost their prices.
/ For instance. when war with Spain
was imminent the armor manufactur-
/ ers practically issued an ultimatum to
/ the government that they would not
manufacture "A single piece OF armor
K plate unless the government should
agree TO pay them s100 a ton more
than the price fixed 10y congress after
an investigation as "A fair price. And
/ il is also worthy of notice that their
patriotism did not prevent them from
selling armor 10 Russia for S249 a ton.
while they were asking their own gov
eminent Sale a ton.
But during this period the armor
manufacturers OF the world met in
Paris. and since then there has been
little or no competition worthy OF the
name as between countries. The ar
NOR manufacturers asked themselves
why they should cut each others
threats and why il would not be 10
their advantage to receive $500 or
$500 a ton instead of $500 or $500
In the naval hearings for 1914. Sec'y
Daniels used the following language in
referring TO an advertisement for bids