The Detroit times., 1915-03-26
SELLING WAR SUPPLIES
TO EUROPE.
6Y DR.. FRANK CRANE
tCopyrisht 1915. by Frank cranel

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Conscience is relative affair, depend
ing on place and time, particularly on
time.
People did things in past ages, and did
them comfortably and as n matter Of
course, that civilized beings today shud-
der 10 imagine. They piously gouged
out of the eyes of political opponents.
sang TIE Deums while roasting heretics
in the public square, bought and sold
slaves, whipped women AT the carts
TAIL used language in the drawing room
that nowadays is only heard in the grog-
gerry, and altogether tolerated the most
appalling inhumanity, all the while deem
ing themselves most cultured and gentle.
We suppose ourselves much advanced
now. But some day our children's chill
dren will read Of our doings and exclaim:
How could they possibly? ?"
This war, for instance, imbecile I'm its
motives, maniacal in its progress, utter
~ outraging all intelligence and human
ity; what will they say of it? Slaughter
ing millions OF people. TO advance the
welfare of the people, Destroying the
wealth Of centuries accumulation, for
the economic advantage OF the people!
A striking instance Of our obtuse con-
science. our lack of world sense in NOR
ais, our blind grasping for present profits
al the cost of future ruin, is found in
THE MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF
WAR IMPLEMENTS.
In the last four months Of 1914 Amer
ica's exports in war materials amounted
10 $40. l66,092
Europe being engaged in an orgy OF
destruction, we Yankees, taking care not
10 get mixed up in the melee, helped
along by selling TO the belligerents $780,
100000 worth OF weapons and other
murder supplies
Not only have we sold to France, En-
gland. and Russia, TO enable them Ia
blow up factories and mangle workmen,
but we have literally furnished Greece
and Italy with munitions against the
hour when they may want TO jump into
the ring. The only reason We have not
sold TO Germany is because We couldn't.
We are neutral. We don't care whose
money we get.
Every cent OF this profit means the
wiping out Of values. II is the same as il
we had spent fifty millions in hiring
frebugs TO burn granaries.
Business knows no nationalities. World
commerce is one. Tariff boundaries are
fictitious What injuries Albania in
lures Illinois, in the long run.
The whole traffic in arms is suicidal
Ii ! were car of America | would pro-
hibit the manufacture of all weapons for
taking human life. except under the de
rect hand of government, and absolute
ly boycott any nation at war.
The Electro Steel company, of Pitts
burgh, it was stated in the news recent
~, refused TO bid on contract for $4,-
100000 worth of steel shells for the
British government. The president,
Charles X. Bryson, said:
Our company refued to bid or even
consider 1t, for reasons of humanity. We
think that the warning countries should
not be encouraged. So long as they are
able to purchase supplies of this nature
the war will continue.
II wish TO state in making this refusal
we are not opposed to England or her
allies, or to Germany and her allies.
I'VE don't desire TO make money with
instruments that are used to slaughter
people, and we think that other COM
panies might do well to consider the
matter in the same light"
We sincerely hope this news will not
be denied. We want to think there are
some business men in the United States
OF WHOM OUR GRANDCHILDREN
WILL NOT BE ASHAMED.