Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-07-05
PROSPERITY DUE
TO WAR ABROAD
Democratic Tariff Laws Not
Responsible, Republican
Statement Says
Special to The Telegraph


WASHINGTON, July 5. = Prosperity
In the United States at the present
time is due to the war abroad and
not to Democratic tariff laws, declares
a statement issued by the Republican
Publicity Association, or which ex-
Senator Bourne is chairman. Con-
tlruing. the statement says:
Prosperity? 1t is soaked in the
blood of millions of Europe's slain,
ana Mexico, upon whom now we war,
has added her mite to it. Four bill
lion dollars worth of exports have
been sent to Europe during the 20
months of war, and 81 classes of those
exports, indispensable in modern war
fare. made up more than so per cent.
of the total. That is Democratic pros
perity.
Preparedness? For three years this
country has been on the verge of war
with Mexico: for two years Europe
has been running mad. The Admins
tration, when taxed with it's lethargy
In regard to preparedness, replied
through its chief spokesman, Wood
row Wilson: The country has been
misinformed. We have not been
negligent of national Defense Yet
to-day we have no aeroplanes for
scout duty in Mexico and aeroplanes
were invented in the United States.
We have not sufficient horses for our
cavalry, and America is the greatest
Eorse-raising country in the world.
Our machine guns are pitifully few in
number, and the machine gun is an
American invention. And on these
three factors must we rely most
heavily in a war with Mexico.
I'VE are also told that there is q
dearth of ammunition for our troops.
But what have we done for Mexico in
the meantime? On March Il, 1912,
President Taft placed an embargo on
ammunition and guns going into Mex
leo from the United States. On Febru-
ary ., 1914, this embargo was taken
on by President Wilson. On April 81,
1914, at the time of the Vera Cruz
occupation, Mr.. Wilson restored the
embargo, and on September 8, 1914,
he changed his mind and again lifted
it. On October 21, 1915, when the A
b G conference was in session, or soon
thereafter, he again restored the
embargo on ammunition and guns
consigned to every one in Mexico but
Carranza and his followers. This was
done to aid the irreconcilable Car
rama against Wilson's old ally, Villa.
During the fiscal year 1914 Mexico
purchased of us S750,000 worth of
cartridges, 5,560,000 pounds of dyna-
mite. $4,000 pounds of gunpowder,
S4SS,00 worth of firearms and $4,000
worth of other explosives. During
tie fiscal year 1915 the Mexicans were
supplied with $4,000, 900 worth of Am
erlcan cartridges, 100000 pounds of
rynamite, $4,000 pounds of gunpow-
del. S1,2S0,000 worth of firearms and
S116.250 worth of other explosives
On April IL, at time when the Mex
lean situation was most acute, $4,000
rounds of ammunition left Laredo,
Texas, consigned to Carranza, and on
April IA a dispatch from Douglas,
Arizona, stated: The State Depart
ment has issued a permit to the de
facto government of Mexico to pass
1000, 600 rounds of small-arm ammu-
milton across the line to Aqua Priota
during the next few days. The am
mUnition is now en- route to the bor-
der These are two instances which
were reported by the press, and there
is no telling how many more escaped
notice. ...
'In the matter of preparedness the
Dem ocratic party has permitted Mex
leo to have plenty of ammunition to
plug American soldiers. A few months
from now President Wilson can visit
the Arlington National Cemetery, just
outside Washington, where a number
of plain white headstones will bear
silent testimony to the accuracy OF
American rifles and ammunition in the
hands of a Mexican banditry which re-
ceived his official recognition and his
active support"