Sharp County record., 1915-10-22
THE PEOPLE VERSUS
SPECIAL INTERESTS
Clamor For Preparedness Is
Instigated And Fostered
By Manufacturers.

people and the special interests, ano
the democratic party is the only
party in position to take the peoples
side. Ex-President Roosevelt is
believing for war. He wants this
nation to enter the present conflict,
and his chief adviser, Geo. W.
Perkins, is identified with the steel
trust which is ready to furnish the
preparedness. Ex-President Taft,
who has the support of all the trusts
that are not supporting Mr.. Roose-
welt, wants to increase the army
and navy appropriations one hum
dred and fifty millions eco per cent?
so that we shall be able to join
Europe in future wars-that is the
plan of his League to ENFORCE
Peace"
Both Roosevelt and Taft are pro-
tectionists- they believe in taxing
the many for the benefit of the few,
and preparedness gives an excuse
for raising the tariff. The demo
cratic party took the side of the
people against the tariff barons; it
took the side of the people against
the trust magnates, and it took the
side of the people against Wall
street.-the real money power back
of both tariff barons and trust
maenates.
Now, a new power has arisen in
the land and demands control OF
the taxing power. 1t is the pre-
parers of preparedness-the battle
ship builders and the manufacturers
of munitions. They have been
making enormous profits supplying
the bellieerent nations with fighting
material, but the European wal
must end some time-n0t as long
as these human vultures can keep
it eoine-but SOME TIME; and
what will these concerns do for
watermelon-like dividends t h n?
There is only one way to insure
their continued prosperity h ey
must lash this country into a state
of chronic fear, and then coin the
fear into dollars. They already have
their subsidized organs setting up a
false standard of national honor
the duelists standard; they are
clarifying brute force. They are
transplanting upon American soil
the European tree of hatred which
is bearing Its bloody fruit across the
Atlantic,
No time is to be lost; immediate
action is necessary. Congress will
soon meet, and when its meets this
issue will confront it. Write to
your coneressman-write to both
your senators. Tell them this nation
does not need burglars tools unless
it intends to make burglary its busi,
ness; ii should not be a pistol-totine
nation unless 1t is going to adopt
pistol,toters ideas.
Don't let the jingoes confuse the
issue. 1t is not a question of de-
fense-this country will defend it.
self if is ever attacked-and if that
time ever comes the common people
will furnish the soldiers-those who
fight when the country needs fight.
ers, and work when the country
needs workers-the jingoes will be
too busy making army contracts
and negotiating usurious war loans
to 60 to the front, The prepared
ness now demanded will provoke
war instead Of preventing 1t. Peace
among nations, as among individ-
uals, rests upon friendship and good
will, not upon force or fear. Try
threats and ultimatums on your
neiehbors and see how they work,
and then you will understand the
diplomacy that has redeemed the
pages of history and delayed the
,nmind of uniyareal hrotharbood