The Detroit times., 1915-10-09
New Combines Wait
For Slice of Prepared
ness Program
DANIELS WANTS
OWN PLANT
Tired of Being Held Up
BY Manufacturer
of ArmOr Plate

| enormous profits to be reaped by
making war munitions required by
the military preparedness program
Is responsible for the new inoorpor-
atoms such as the 500, 0O0, 900 Mid
vale concern, headed by William e.
Corey. and the buying up Of other
concerns to consolidate with the
Bethlehem company, headed by
Charles M. Schwab.
Armor plate for warships and
ordnance contracts offer rich pick.
ings to private concerns so long
as the government delays building
It's own armor plant and stays out
Of the ordpance-making business.
Secretary of the Navy Daniels
sees trouble ahead. He would like
congress to link up with It's pre-.
paredness program authority to be
gin that much-talked-of and long
delayed government armor plant
The secretary is convinced that the
armor makers are in trust not
only in the United States hut all
over The world. When the subject
OF armor bids was under consider
alton before the naval affairs com
mittee last winter. the secretary
appeared before the committ~e be-
hind the closed doors of the COM
mittee room and told how ne tried
to get armor for the new dread.
naught. Pennsylvania. He said:
When we came to the armor we
rejected all the bids and were then
absolutely in situation from which
II appears there was no relief.
Though you cannot establish II in
black and white. there IL no doubt
OF an armor plate trust all over the
world: that is to say the people
abroad who make armor plate will
not come here and submit bids be-,
cause they know II they do. our
manufacturers viii 60 abroad ana
submit bids They have divided the
world. like Gaul, into three parts"
Nor is this any new practice. As
long ago as when Cleveland WAS
president, Milary A. Herbert. his
secretary Of the navy. said: II am
informed upon authority which be-
lieve to be good that about or per-
hnps before the time OF the last
contract OF the Bethlehem company
with Russia. there was a meeting In
Paris Of the representatives OF the
principal II not all Of the arrnor
manufacturers OF Europe and
America, Mr.. Herbert said:
these facts seem to lead to the
conclusion that there is at least a
friendly understanding or agree
ment among the principal manufac-
turers OF the world that prices
shall be maintained at about the
same level"
1t was at this time that the
American armor ring sold armor to
Russia for $249 a ton, and at the
same time charged the United
States $616 for the same product.
Secretary Daniels has repeatedly
recommended that the government
make its own armor, or mt least
compete with private concerns
enough to make the private armor
builders do business at fairly rea-
sonable profit. Only the very pow
erful influence Of the private armor
makers has resulted In adverse ac-
ton IN congress.
In the debate on preparedness to
be contributed In the coming con-
gross a new voice will be heard.
Organized labor has about decided
to insist on two things: that In the
appropriation bills providing for the
army and navy, clause shall be
inserted providing that none Of the
funds shall be nsed to send or
maintain armed forces OF the Unit
ed States on foreign soil, or In civil
disturbances" II is to be contend
cd that II our army is to be for de
tense only" nobody can object TO q
provision which will insure that Il
can never be used for offense: ana
secondly, If the army Ii for ma
tional defense. II should be prohib-
tied from taking part In support
ine big owners IN strike troubles.
President Wilson'S military pro-
gram IL TO be a compromise. He 10
trying to ind what middle ground
win be equally satisfactory ~ tho
militarists and the pAcihcists. This
will he called moderate prepared
ness" II II the White House idea
at present that from 500. 600. ZOO to
s120, 100000 for the navy and an In
crease IN the regular army 10 200.-
900 men with force Of reserves
win meet the requirements.
A conspicuous recent convert TO
the preparedness program for the
United States IL August Scjvan, dis
tinguished internationally from
Sweden, who has been In the United
States investigating and lecturine.
He now holds that there r. bit one
course open TO the United States.
namely, an alliance with Great
Britain by which the joint navies
wonld insure the policing and the
freedom % the seas: Great britain
to police the Atlantic and the Unit
"a States to police tho Pacific end
n. NJ 4 a 4, ~, N I. !. "a. :. "a, - q. 3. !.