Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-11-15
FAvORS WORK At
FEDERAL PLANT
Senator G.. NJ. Hitchcock Urges Gov
eminent Manufacture of NUM-
lions OF War.


Senator Gilbert NJ. Hitchcock Of Ne
braska, in a speech delivered before
the University club. came out strong
for the government manufacture Of
munitions OF war. He made several
strong points in favor of this attitude.
Senator Hitchcock discussed the
subject Of government manufacture of
war munitions for over an hour with
Congressman Clyde II. Tavenner OF
the Fourteenth Illinois district, who
has been studying the subject for d
number of years. Representative Tav
enner met Senator Hitchcock at the
Fontenette hotel In Omaha
In his speech at the University club,
following his interview with Repre-
sentative Tavenner, Senator Hitch
cock in part said
Under our present system Of pur-
chasing arms, ammunition and armor
plate from great concerns operated
for profit we pay extortionate prices
and build up great interests whose
voice and whose influence are for war
so that they can make money. They
organize campaigns, carry on a prop
uganda and lobby in congress for ex-
cessiye appropriations. They favor
militarism and seek TO create a great
kruppism in the United States. This
I regard as one of the dangers of the
future. | would avoid it by nationaiz-
ing the manufacture of arms, ammuni-
ton and aTmOr. We can make these
supplies in government factories and
foundries at less than we pay for them.
We have already cut in two the cost OF
powder by erecting government fac
/ tories where we now manufacture
nearly half what we use in the army
and navy. Government powder factor
les have established the cost of max
ing powder and forced manufacturers
to reduce their bids in proportion.
Government manufacture OF war NUM-
lions not only means to take away
from Washington a powerful and self
ish interest that may try to embroil Us
in war. but it means TO make en0r-
nous savings in the cost Of prepared
ness.
'SIn the present terrible war Eng
! land is an example Of the lack Of pre-
paredness socially, while large part
Of Germany's strength is due to So
cial conditions If we would prepare
our country for any great struggle
we must so direct legislation and de-
velopment as to make people Of all
classes contented We must elevate
the standard OF living We must i'm
| prove conditions Of labor We must
| provide against unemployment We
must recognize. as Bismarck did so
| years ago. that every man has right
! to work as well as a duty. We must
provide for all laboring classes insur-
ance against accidents and insurance
against old age. We must protect the
weaker classes of society. We must
see to it that social conditions are such
( that all classes feel that they have an
/ interest IN the country's prosperity.
We must have in this country as they
| have in Germany a solidarity of the
people IN that country 10000 900
people are insured against sickness,
| 1000 600 are insured against acct
dents and 100000 are insured
against old age, and for these purposes
over S200,00 coo is annually distrib-
| uted During the last 45 years the
! Improvement in the condition of the
German people has been enormous.
Fortv-five years ago two-thirds of all
| labor in Germany was common labor
and one-third skilled Now the pro-
portions are reversed -one-third Is
common and two-thirds skilled. The
| increase In annual incomes has been
very great The death rate has been
reduced to the minimum, the birth
rate increased TO the maximum. Hit
eracy In Germany has been practically
wiped out. being less than | per cent
against Is per cent in Great Britain
and per cent in the United States.
Unemployment has been reduced
TO minimum and is lower than in any
other country. During these IS years
the productiveness OF every acre has
been increased on an average So per
cent with some crops more and some
less. Germany has been socfalized by
law that over s300,0oo.00 worth OF
income is derived from mines, rail-
roads, forests and other property own
ed BIZ all the people and operated by
the government to reduce taxes
by these and other means the peo-
pie of Germany have been solidifled
united and taken into full partnership
in the prosperity OF the country. The