The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1915-04-10
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NEWS OF THE WORLD
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BUSINESS OR BLOOD
UNITED STATES SENDS SHIPLOAD OF FOOD
TO WIDOWS AND ORPHANS AND HELPS
MAKE THEM AT SAME TIME.
The anomaly of the United States de-
manding, appealing or arguing for
supplying, for gain, the weapons-the
powder, shrapnel and cannon-which
make it possible for the warning nations
to continue their bloodshedding, must
strike these customers of ours with a
mixture of humor (if haply that attri-
butte still be alive in all the horrid condi-
tions of wholesale murder) and some
thing close akin to contempt.
The cry for peace is swelling. The
United States is looking forward with
confidence to the time when she will be
called for as mediator.
This week delegation of American
women take passage for The Hague, to
meet other women, all bent on peace
mission.
Dispassionately contemplated, this
must appear nothing less than ridiculous
to the belligerents.
Before the cry for peace can expect
even a respectful hearing, our own
participation in the war, through the
supplying of ammunition, must cease.
And these well-meaning but illogical
ladies must not complain if they are
told to go home and set their own house
hold in order before attempting to reg
ulate others.
BILL BEFORE CONGRESS
A measure before the late Congress
provided for an embargo on arms, but
the bill was promptly smothered.
Senator Clapp thus gave his estima-
ton of the cause for the defeat:
''The spectacle of the United States
sending shiploads of food and clothing
to the orphaned and widowed people OF
Europe, and at the same time sending
shiploads of guns and ammunition to
make more widows and orphans, is one
of those grotesque contrasts that we
sometimes find" And he added: '"There
is so much money invested in the max
: ing and the sale of arms and war muni-
tions that we have simply been power
less to get anywhere with the BILL
TRAFFIC REVOLVING
Senator LaFollette raised his voice in
no uncertain tones on the subject in a
speech before the Senate February 18th
He urged the prohibition of the eXpor-
tation of arms, ammunition, artillery,
vessels of war, armor plates, torpedoes
or anything used exclusively for mill
tary or naval purposes" He added:
"The secretary of commerce reports
that in November, 1914, American
manufacturers shipped to England car
tridges valued at $1,231, ,285, amounting
to 5O,OOO,O00 rounds. 1t is estimated
that one soldier is killed or. wounded
for every thousand rounds fired in bat
tie. Hence, in one year we shipped
enough cartridges to kill or wound 5O,-
600 human beings! 1t is revolving that
we should encourage and permit traffic
in arms and ammunition by private
capital for profit with organized govern
ments, thus prompting selfish interests
to influence legislation increasing ap-
preparations in preparation for war and
furnishing incentive to intrigue in do
mestic and foreign affairs to make war
for private advantage. 1t is repugnant
to every moral sense that governments
could even indirectly be drawn into max
ing and prosecuting war through the
Vaccinations of those who make money
by it."
GREED FOR PROFIT
CONGRESSMAN Tavenner of Illinois
thus expressed himself in the House OF
Representatives:
Fortunate indeed would it be for
this nation if today the government had