Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-02-14
SENATOR VISITS IOWA WHILE
ENRCUTE EAST FROM
MINNESOTA.
DISCUSSES Sig ISSUES
AWAITING DISPOSITION
Government Manufacture OF Munitions
Of War Growing in Favor and One
of important Questions Before Con-
gress-Brandeis Report Not to Be
Made For Weeks.

Des Moines. Feb. LII can see the
, idea of government manufacture of
! munitions of Var growing IN popular
! !ty, and the peopic seem to be more
ready to accept that than any other
solution OF our present problems which
. has yet been presented to them said
Senator Cummins yesterday afternoon.
Senator CUlnmins stopped in Des
Moines 10 spend the day yesterday on
his way back to Washington from ST.
Paul where he delivered an address
before the Lincoln Club Saturday
night.
Charles RaTson and Howard Clark
who were at St. Paul with Senator
Cummins. declared that they had
never known him to receive SO enthus
iastic a response from any audience
before. and that the cheering which
greeted his statements about the gov
eminent manufacture Of munitions
fairly expressed the sentiment Of the
people upon that subject.
Last Trip West This Season.
Unless some unexpected demand
arises. Senator Cummns will not re-
turn TO the west again until after the
close OF the session. He expects TO be
very busy with d number OF different
measures in which he is especially in
tereSred. and said yesterday that there
is enough ahead Of congress TO keep
that body in session until late in Au'
gust if the work is TO be properly done.
Els resolution calling for the ap-
pointment OF commission Of five
members to investigate cost of NUM-
ton making and to look into the feas-
ibiiity Of his project for the govern
ment's entering the field has been re-
ported favorably and viii! De passed,
, the senator believes. in short time.
1t is customary 1.-The author Of such
| resolution TO be appointed 10 mem
bership on the commission 1t creates
but Senator Cunmins said yesterday
that opposition to him from the ad-
ministration could be brought TO bear
to exclude him if the administration 50
desired.
Armor Plate Plant Likely
/ There already has been introduced
| before congress a bill for appropria-
| tions for the establishments of an ar
NOR plate plant which Is likely to be
! passed. 1t is for the locating of such
| plants from what the east believes 10
| be danger zone in the event of for
| eign invasion that Senator Cummins
/ is working.
Manufacture of munitions Is not a
very complicated matter" he said
when asked as TO details. AN that is
needed is lathe and a foundry and
practically any Industrial plant could
be Communicated by the government
in case of a war in which the United
States was involved that required the
supplying of more munitions than can
be turned out by the government
plants.
Great Need Not Normal.
But for the ordinary war which is
not Of such proportions as the pres
ent war in Europe where whole ma
! tons turn themselves to the work OF
| making shells and guns the govern
; ment plants would be adequate. We
! would never expect, and no nation can
| expect to supply itself with all the
! ammunition needed for war ike the
! present one without such comman'
! deerng of private industrial plants
but that would be to do only wha
England and Germany are, doing to.
day.
Senator Cummins does not look 70
! any great effect upon the present sit
uation as far as questions Of prepar
edness are concerned to follow the res.
igation of Secretary Garrison.
7 do not think that the difference!
| which existed between President vii
son and the secretary on the CONT
| mental army plan were the chief caus
| Of Garrison's resignation ne said
Garrison and Wilson both knew from
| the start that that idea would neve
be carried out as policy for tn
United States and that it was doomed
from the start to failure.
Philippine Bill Cause.
1T was on the matter of the Clarl
amendment TO the Philippine indepen
dence bill that Garrison most vital!
disagreed with the administration, II
my opinion. The president proceede'
without consulting the secretary o
war in that matter because he feare
losing the Clark support and Garriso
felt the slight. According to the cor
respondence exchanged between then
he also believed the bill as 1t passe
t. be a violatio of the obligations Q
this country toward the islands.
at is was. the bill was passed by
vote Of Al to Al. the vice presiden
casting the deciding vote. The ad
ministra ton feared to oppose tn
Clark amendment and had sufficie!
strength to swing enough democrat
into line to tie the vote
Brandeis Hangs Fire.
Senator Cummins is a member c
the state committee which has charg
of the investigation Of the Brande'
matter and he said yesterday that h
expects the committee to continue
work upon the hearings and It's repo'
for at least two months. He did nc
comment on the work it has alread
done.
Another matter which Is of especis
: interest to Senator Cummins is know
as the federal dam bill and it contain
! savaral features to which the senate