The Washington times., 1916-01-11
MR.. snAckLEFoRD,s FEARS


Congressman Shackleford is
among those who gravely fear that
if we do anything calculated to pre-
pare us against war, it will cause
war. He tells the House that in sup
plying necessaries Of war to the al
lies we are making this country q
base for their operations. against
the Germanic powers and would
have US put stop to the sale of
munitions.
Beyond this, he announces that
the munitions makers are deter
mined to get us into the war in'Or-
der that they may insure the future
of their business. He sees con-
spiracy of Wall Street and Boston's
State street to manufacture war
sentiment in this country in order
that there may be a continuing de-
mand for the material of war.
Mr.. Shackleford employs a curious
sort Of logic. He is certain that
there is no danger of a clash be-
tween this country and Germany.
The fact that Germany has long en-
tertained notorious ambitions for
expansion into the Western Henri
sphere, is Of no consequence to him.
Nor is the fact that Germany has
proved willing to do whatever may
be necessary, regardless of treaties,
comities, or decencies, in order to
further her imperial ambitions. He
is certain that if in the future Ger
many should launch an attack on the
United States, Russia and France
would promptly attack Germany,
Perhaps. But if at the present juno
ture the United States should take q
step so hostile to the allies as would
be that of EMBRACING munitions
destined to them, it is not safe to
assume that in future they would be
so much disposed to befriend us. 1t is
quite as possible that France, Rus
STA, and Great Britain would be well
satisfied to see Germany's ambition
for expansion directed, not against
them, but against the United States
against the American continent
Germany would be reasonably out OF
mischief in Europe if she were occu.
pied in the New World. Such ar
adventure would give the European
powers time to rehabilitate them.
selves and let Germany wear down
her strength fighting the United
States.
People who are disposed to take
seriously such utterances as these o.
Mr.. Shackleford, should keep il
mind the fact that if this .countr!
forbade the sale of munitions o.
war it would be a reversal of al
our policies in this regard. Hereto
fore, we have sold munitions wher
ever there was a buyer; bough
them, when we required, whereve
there was a seller. This has beef
the rule of the world. Germany
created the huge munitions indus
try that has given her supreme pre-
paredness, by making a Commercial
business Of it; selling in whateve
market offered. Germany sold mu
nitions to both sides in the Doe
war, in the Russo-Japanese war, il
the war between Spain and tn
United States. The United State
would now be selling munitions t
both sides if both sides could secur
deliveries of them; the fact that tn
seas are closed to Germany is tn
only reason why Germany is no
buying here. In the civil war thi
country-North and South alike
bought munitions wherever the,
could be had.
1t would be a peculiarly unneutra
act, now, to prohibit munition
sales merely because deliverie
could be made to only one side in tn
war. 1t would win the enmity of tn
allies and the contempt of Germany
1t would wreck the industry in thi
country, and invite like embargoe
against US in the future by othe
countries. Thus we might find oul
selves attacked from abroad with n
munitions industry at home, and n
!. foreign country willing to sell to III
; 1t is useless to attempt answer t
the vagaries about plots of the nun
tiOnS makers. That sort Of allegG