Grand Forks herald., 1916-09-12
TYING THE HANDS OF THE NAVY

Senator LaFollette introduced an
ing that the navy of the United States
should not be used to enforce the COL
lection of private debts. 1t received
scant consideration. Practically no.
body was in favor of it. But while the
subject received little attention at the
time. let it not be supposed that we
are to hear no more of it. Wait until
the next Chautauqua season! We will
then learn from the lips Of Mr.. La
Toilette himself that congress, being
under the direct control of "the inter-
ests," forced through a law providing
for the greatest naval increase that
the world has ever known, and that
out any assistance. undertook to pro-
tect the common people Of the coun-
try from being exploited by having
created at such enormous expense
what was intended to be merely the
right arm of corporation collecting
agency. So strongly, we will be told,
were the powers Of darkness en-
trenched in the government of the ma
tion that no heed was given to the
pleas made for the protection of the
rights of the people. but the gentle
man from Wisconsin will take his case
to the people and submit it to them.
that they may express their opinion
concerning the diaboical purposes be-
hind the law We will be told that
under the law as 1t now stands there
is nothing to hinder the president
from sending a dreadnought. or q
la squadron Of them, down to
Vera Cruz, or Buenos Aires, or Santi-
ago. to fHghten the natives into the
payment of claims, just or unjust.
made by the Standard Oil company,
or the Steel Corporation, or some
other American trust. and that it was
this abuse of the naval power Of the
United States which Mr.. LaFollette
sought In vain to prevent.
We take it that had Mr.. La Toilette
proposed an amendment prohibiting
the navy from bonn ba riding the moon,
his proposal would have been given a
like chilly reception, not that anybody
wants the moon bonn barded. but that
1t would be assumed that this matter
would take care Of itself.
The great mistake made by the
school Of whose views Mr.. IaFollette
is one Of the most conspicuous expo
nents is in assuming that everything
can be provided for or provided
against by legislation Suspicion and
distrust marks their attitude on every
thing. Their theory appears to be that
men ought to be placed in public po-
sitions gagged and hog-tied lest they
take some Independent action. The
conception Of public official with
large powers. and responsible to the
people for the manner in which those
powers are used, seems utterly for
e1gn to their thoughts. Hence this ma
val proposal. harmless enough, per-
haps, on its face, but capable of being
twisted at critical moment into
something which the people Of this
country would never have intended,
and which might easily hamper the
navy in the performance Of it's legit-
innate functions.
Neither our army nor navy is in
tended to be part of a collection agen-
cy. But we want an army and a navy
without strings on them, capable of
being used when and where and how
the interests of the nation demands.
And most certainly do we not want
incorporated into their articles of or
ganization provisos and restrictions
which. when we may have the most
pressing need for their services, will
invite the obstructive activities Of pet
tifoggers who might be employed by
enendes of the country for that pre-
else p1rpose