Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1915-12-04


It is strongly argued that the manufacture Of war mu.
nons is proper business for private enterprise
that it should be a government monopoly. There will
probably be an effort in congress to commit the
government to this principle
There be doubt as Representative Tavenner
others are maintaining that the present system pro
duces grave abuses.
We waive the broad moral question whether it is
right for any individual make profit out Of products
intended destroy life Men always have done So IT'S
probably matter for personal conscience to decide
Whether nation should permit private citizens t.
make profit things needed for the national defense
different question. Most persons today will yer,
lely agree that there should least be none but the
most moderate profit made of guns ammunition and
other supplies War orders have enriched large
numbers Of business in every war we have ever
fought Other countries have had the experience
and having today If we are to spend hundreds of
millions Of dollars for armament our own mu-
nons makers will probably follow the usual policy Of
charging "au the traffic will bear and the public tina,
pays the bills will become irrated by evidence Of divi
dends swollen at its expense.
From this viewpoint alone might seem desirable foi
the government itself to own and operate its own plants
eliminating all private profit fro mthe business, and
possibly forbiddng the private manufacture of munitions
for expectation,
There is another argument against the present system
which is put forth more effecuary in Europe than in
America because the evil been greater there It
charged that the munon industries have been primarily
responsible for this for modern wars in genera.
And there is much evidence to support such view It
has been clearly shown within or three years that
the best known European arms makers and shipbuild
fomened international rivalry for the sake Of slim.
ulating business They played nation against nation
frightening each in turn orders for guns ships
and ammunition. The Krupps found guilty Of d
conspiracy against their country. There sim
liar scandal recently in Japan British firms have been
proved similarly venal and mischievous.
This is evil inherent in the business Even when
the munitions do not deliberately invent
scares they likely achieve the purpose
through honest of judgment. They see things
in the perspective professional soldiers and
sailors do. War to natural and inevitable
Such influences operating in America today. Most Of
the armament encouraging the preparedness
propaganda, from honest conviction others for
profits 1t is natural that patriots in wise influenced
by business considerations connections should favor
lahhS ou' vi 0uNh ueu HduH lheiI power 70 ulsleau
the nation.
II this the whole story, path would be plain
It would be the governments duty to abolish private
ownership and control of any Of the of warfare
But it isn't the whole story. For the situation has
changed. The government monopoly which might hay,
seemed admirable before the present war has now be
come extremely questionable. Granting all the evil in
herent in the private enterprise system we must re
cognize its merits
The supreme desderatum of warfare today is an i'm
supply of munitions. the United States oda!
is nearly in state Of preparedness in this respec
than any European power was when the war began ex
sept Germany Why? Because we have factories in op
Grafton with immense productive capacity for near
all the forms of equipment we should need in case
We have the facilities for material preparedness OIL
short nouce-and have them because Of the respons
Of private business the stimulus of foreign orders
That's the point. AS long as we permit the pryat
manufacture of munitions we encourage the mechanics
preparedness that arm us quicy and adequatel,
When private plants have access to the worlds mum
tons markets they develop and maintain facilities 70
making munitions In peace them they cost the govern
ment nothing In they salvation
Doubtless we should have a system of governments
control for such factories in time Of war as Englan
and France now have. But government ownership an
monopoly? Hardly