The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1916-11-02
THE NATION NEEDS
LA TOILETTE
By Charles HI, CrOwnhart

New problems growing out of
worldwide war must engage the most
serious attention of all our people
Every day is fraught with new dan
gers to our peace and security. Any
day may bring a climax demanding
the wisest craftsmanship.
We need our best men to the fore
in these trying times. We need men
of experience in government, men of
sound judgment and discretion, and
yet men of courage. We wish to keep
out of the horrible maelstrom engulf-
ing the Old World and we need our
ripest statesmen to guide US.
The catastrophe of the warning ma
lions should teach us useful lessons.
One of these lessons is that being
armed to the teeth does not prevent
trouble; it does not prevent injustice;
it is quite likely to lead to intolerance
and a test of strength.
Out of war grow inflated values.
Out Of war grow sudden changes in
industrial and financial conditions
Out of war grow golden opportunities
for stock gamblers, and the bold ad-
venturers in war supplies. This we
have witnessed in the present con-
fiict.
The men who profit by war become
avaricious for more and more easy
money. War is their benefactor. 1t
rains ducats into their Golfers.
They aroused the patriotism and
passions of men to prepare for war
= to make munitions of war - that
their trade might prosper.
When the excitement was at its
height they coined the patriotism of
the country into vast military appro-
priations by Congress.
Our country, which was already
spending more money for prepared
ness than any other country had ever
spent in times of peace was induced
to DOUBLE it's appropriations.
Wisconsin's share of the cost of our
military program is $20,000,00O. That
means $40 for each family of five in
the state. Only eight Senators voted
so great was the passion of the peo-
pie for the business of war made to
appear.
La Toilette was not swayed by this
manufactured sentiment. He saw
through to the end of the road. He
knew the people had not exercised
nor expressed their mature judgment.
Some had been misled by false state
ments of fact, yet the great mass OF
the people were unconvinced.
1t remained for La Toilette to ex-
pose the false prophets. In a great
speech, amid the jeers of the kept
press and the skulkers behind the
scenes, he organized and massed the
evidence and placed it before the
United States Senate.
His magnificent speech is unan-
swered and unanswerable. He pune
tured the claims made of a probable
invasion of this country by foreign
foe as the fancy of paid artists. Their
soldiers of invasion were painted sol
diers, on painted fleet, sailing on
painted sea.
La Toilette, by the evidence of the
highest naval and military authori-
ties, showed that our coast defenses
are adequate to repel any possible at
tempt at invasion.
He showed that our Navy is the
second best in the world; that for our
isolated position it is more surely a
guarantee of defense than the navy
of any other country.
He showed that, relatively and ac-
tually, our naval defense is stronger
than that of any other country.
He showed that in the last fifteen
years we have spent so per cent more
on our Navy than has Germany, and
300 per cent more than Japan.
: He showed that in 1915 we spent
100000 more than Great Britain
ever spent in any year of peace-and
in 1916 the appropriation of 1915 was
DOUBLED by Congress!
And finally he showed by testimony
of our highest naval officers that the
increase in our Navy means more in
crease in foreign navies, which in turn
means further increase in our Navy.
and that this policy of progression is
limited only BY THE ABILITY TIC
TAX THE PEOPLE.
La Toilette made it plain that we should
be adequately prepared for defense, but
that no policy of aggression should b.
tolerated.
La Toilette visioned the terrific conse
quences of the foreign war early IL 1915