New-York tribune., 1916-07-20
Oliver and PenrOSe Try
in Vain to Kill the
100000 Item.
LA TOILETTE CALLS
DEFENCE PLEAS LIES
Declares Whole Preparedness
Movement Financed by
Interests for Profit.

Washington, July 19.-The better
part Of to-day's discussion of the navy
appropriation bill in the Senate was
spent in a vain effort by Senators Oil
yer and Penrose 10 cut out of the
measure the provision for govern
ment armor plant to cost sll'oOO,OOO'
When the vote on the motion TO
strike out the item was reached the
Pennsylvania Senators could muster
only fifteen supporters, and the provi-
sion was retained-51 to II.
Senator Oliver then tried to side
track the plant provision by moving
an amendment referring the whole
question Of armor manufacture to the
Federal Trade Commission for settle
ment. Only sixteen Senators supported
this amendment. while forty-nine mega
tives killed IL.
Lies" Shouted La Toilette.
During to-day's debate Senator La
Toilette. of Wisconsin, made most
violent attack on the whole movement
for preparedness.
"Liesl Lies peddled for proht'
was the Senator's Characterization OF
the national defence propaganda.
Mr.. La Toilette charged that the
movement was organized and paid for
bv private interests which made a proht
from the sale of war munitions, ana
that the metropolitan newspapers were
making more money than at any time
in their history as a result OF the law
ish advertisements of munitions manu-
facturers and their allies, with the re-
suit that the papers advocated pre-,
paredness. He asserted that men mao
been forced 10 march in preparedness
parsdes-in Washington by department
heatS and in other cities by the inter
ests affected
Seldom has Mr.. La Toilette gene to
such extreme, either in words or ac-
tions. as characterized his speech TO-
day. He pounded on his own desk ana ana
the desks of his colleagues. tore at his
bushv hair and stamped repeatedly,
while he roved over the central part OF
the Senate Chamber. Much OF his ap-
peal was 20 the Democrats.
Appeals to Democrats.
"You Democrats can save your party
from had record" the Senator cried,
";f Won will 20 back to the position
taken bv your President ruc your Sec
retarv Of the Navy one year ago. why
should the Democratic party vote 10
impose this terrific burden OF taxation
on the people Of this country?
"The interests behind the prepared
ness agitation in the United States
don't fear Germany. They do not fear
any nation in the world, but they 90
want a big army; they do want olg
navy. Why? Because il fits IN with
their commercial schemes.
"What reason exists for all this pre-
paredness now which did not exist a
wear ago? All Bethlehem Steel at 40
is not the Bethlehem Steel at $40.
But YOUR constituents will want to
know why you voted this burden, OF
taxation on them this year when last
wear YOU thought it unnecessary. Ana
they will know, sooner or later.
"The calm, cold, sober second Judg-
nent will come when the little Amerl-
can family, sitting around the hearth
in the lamplight. goes over the details
and wonders why il was necessary, at
time when the cost OF living was 60
ing up by leaps and bounds, to impose
this added $50 to $50 year on their
already too heavy burden.
"You, fellow Senators, may respond
10 the advertisements Of the Bethle-
hem Steel Company. You may respond
to the editorials in the great metro
politan dailes. Your blood may tingie
at the martial strains from the banus
leading 10000 marchers in the great
preparedness parades. Right here |
will digress TO say that ! have re-
ceived many complaints from workers
in the departments here in washington
that they were told il were better for
them to march in the preparedness pa
rade than not to march. Senator Lane
heard some men so complaining In
streetcar.
at is all part of damnabie scheme
to move the American people so that
they will sustain these injurious ap-
propriations not for peace, but TO
benefit the financial schemes OF the
great masters Of this nation.
"a job has been put upon you, Sen
ators. A cold job has been manipu-
lated on Congress, and on the Presl-
dent Of the United States. included
in it are the newspapers which sell
their editorial good will along with
their ads. 1t costs something to say
that. but am willing TO say it.
"Any cheap-skate of a business man
with graft on the side can get
column on the front page of any met
ropolitan newspaper if he boosts pre-
paredness. but those same papers sup
pressed the words of General Weaver.
the head of our coast. artillery, and