Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-13

TN statements by Mr.. S. Stanwood
Menken, president of the Ma
= tional Security League, in the
New York American of Janu-
airy 10, he advocates the nationali-
zation OF the manufacture OF mu-
n!tions OF war. and he uses the
same excuse for it which the pa
cifsts are giving as reason for
such action on the part OF the
United States Government. namely,
to take the profit out OF the manu-
facture OF munitions OF war, there
by TO prevent munition manufactur-
ers from fostering war for profit.
He says. to quote:
"This work OF actual manu-.
facture should be under Gov
eminent control. Let personal
profit be taken out of prepar-
ednesH in so far as it can be
done without impairing the
efficiency OF preparedness"
AS president of national defense
organization like the National Sc.
curitv League, Mr.. Menken's words
are likely to have more weight
than they would have II he were
not the president OF such an or
ganization. What ne says is likely
to be misunderstood as voicing the
opinion OF the great mass OF the
friends of preparedness, while, as
a matter OF fact. ell true friends of
prenar>dnass Who understand tbs
suo5@at know that to Nationalist
the manufacture Of munitions of
war would apell disaster for this
country should war come.
II the National Security League,
as body, were actually to work
for the naturalization of the man
ufacturo OF munitions. that body
would be working shoulder to
shoulder with the pacifists to bring
upon us the red hell Of war.
Mr.. Menken's intentions may be
good do not doubt his inten-
tions. The Intentions of the pa
cihsts may be good do not doubt
their intentions. But misguided.
good.intentioned persons have in
every age brought more trouble
upon the world than any other class
of persons. The greatest trouble.
makers the world has ever had
have been aotuated by good inten-
lions.
The wisest thing that we can do
is to utilize the lessons of the pres
ent war In our programme for pre-
paredness. There Is no other les
son OF the war quite 80 thoroughly
taught by the experience Of the
war as the lesson that the manu-
facture of munitions Of war ought
not to be nationalized, but that, on
the contrary, all OF the industries
Of the country should be and must
be utilized to the full for tine de-
tense Of the country in time OF
war.
Germany has always encouraged
the private manufacture OF NUM-
lions of war. She has always more
largely encouraged private manu-
facture than has any other govern
ment. She has her large govern
ment works, it Is true. but she has
the still larger Krupp works in
Germany and the Skoda works in
Austria.
When / speak of the Germans I
include both Germans and Aus
TRANS, for in the present war the
two empires are as one.
Before the war broke out Ger
many had thoroughly systematized
and organized her private indus
tries for immediate mobilization
for the production OF munitions OF
war on the largest possible scale.
She had her private plants for
making nitrogen compounds from
the air in anticipation of the cut
ting off of the nitro supply from
Chill, and those plants are now
able to turn out not only all that
the Government requires for the
manufacture of explosive materials
for use in the war, but also for