Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-09-02
MTLITARISM AND NAyALISM.

Extracts from the speech Of Major
ity Leader Claude KitChin, which the
press associations did not carry)
When once this program goes on
the statute books. which 1t Will In a
few days, unless there is political
revolution IN both parties, naval ap-
preparations will never be reduced,
but, on the contrary, Will be Increased
from year to year. Next years appro-
priations and the following years each
under this program will be over $780,
600 900 more than the fabulous amount
of this years appropriations. When
this measure becomes law, thereby
putting the arms of the munition
makers into the treasury to the ell
bows, with their heretofore undream-
ed of profits at stake, we can hardly
conceive of a power in the nation
strong enough to extract them. / fear
that the big interests behind this pro-
gram, with their tremendous and ire
sistible influence and their infinite in
genuity, will find or make way to
persuade or force the controlling fac
tors in both parties to make per-
petual to surrender to them of the
federal treasury and to place perma-
nently at their mercy the taxpayers of
the country The. three-year provis-
nor less than an outrage upon the tax
payers-an outrage as pleasing and
beneficial to big finance interested in
munition making and shiDbuilding as
if they themselves had personally
committed it. 1t guarantees to them
for three years the full benefit of the
abnormally high prices for ships and
munitions caused by the present war.
That provision, in addition to the ire
mendOus profits even at normal prices,
which the program would give, is
worth to them at least an extra $780,
100000. OF course, the program must
be a ''three-year continuing one" And
congress votes it! And the secretary
Of the navy approves it! And the
president will signl And then for the
greatest orgy of graft and plumber and
profits on the part of ingenious, des
potic, coercfve, organized avarice the
world ever Witnessed
With the three-year provision in, the
big interests would only have to con-
troll the executive, senate, Or the house
either one could prevent its repeal
or modification in a future congress,
and the people, to release their grip
on the treasury and the taxpayers,
would have to get all three-the house,
the senate, and the executive.
With the three-year provision out
and the naval program left to the
wisdom and judgment of each con-
gress each annual session, as has been
done since the beginning Of the gov
eminent, the big interests would have
to control all-the executive, the SEN
ate, and the house-to enforce their
| schemes. and the people only one
either the house, the senate, or the
eXecutive-to prevent their raids on
! the treasury and their plundering of
| the taxpayers for more than this one
! year.
| The three-year provision went in
/ and will remain in. Every doubt, ev-
/ cry possibility, has been resolved by
/ this program in favor of the shipbuild-
ers and munition makers-the Nor
gans, the tricks, the DOdges, the Ba-
1 cons, the Schwabs, the Perkins, the
! ThOmpsons, and so forth. The war
! trafficker's press already announces
with most fattering commentator
/ that the secretary of the navy will be
ready almost Immediately after the
/ bill becomes law, to ask for bids and
/ award contracts to carry out the pro-
| gram, and SO forth. They will have
/ him to hurry, not that the country is
! in danger of a foreign foe, but that
! the shipbuilders and munition makers
will be in danger of losing their high
war prices if the secretary should de-
! lay until the end of the European war
/ gets in sight. The people will find out
sooner or later that it is profit to the
/ contractors, not danger to the coun-
! try, that has been one of the great
incentives and inspirations to the
/ speed and size of the program.