The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-02-03
oath as to whether he is interested
in war-trafficking firms.

oath as to whether he is interested
in war-trafficking firms.
= s. i *
In a letter sent to Members of
Congress, dated January 13, 1914,
A. H. Dadmun, secretary of the Ma
Wy League, said
Certain Congressman have insin-
uated that the League is supported
by people who are interested in the
sale OF war materials to the Navy.
They are entirely mistaken"
Mr.. Dadmun. in letter published
in the January, 1916, issue of Pear
sons Magazine, reiterates that the
men back Of the Navy League "are
men who will not profit by the re-
suits Of the leagues propaganda"
What is this Navy League? Who
re its directors?
'ound Navy
1. In the
&c statement
s.e official organ Of the
-,y League Of the United States"
| turn now to page 50 of the issue
Of February 1904, where find
list Of 70 men who ere nance. as the
found ers' OF the Navy League.
Now, then, let Us see who they are.
note in the list of founders the
name Of the Midvale Steel Co. The
United States Government since 1903
has bought from the Midvale Steel
Co, 49, 392 tons Of armor, and we
have paid for it a3l average of 1920
a ton, in all $40, ,375, ,S58 for the sim
gle item OF armor plate alone, not to
say anything about other millions of
dollars worth Of contracts that have
been given to the Midvale Steel Co.,
for other things used by the Army
and the Navy; and if the Navy Lea
gue's proposed $500, 900, 900 bond is
sue goes through, Midvale will stand
to draw some more millions.
Let US see if there are any more
| war-tralfickers here. Is Charles M :.
Schwab. whom I see listed as one of
the founders war traficker? Well
ne is president of the Bethlehem
Steel Corporation, and we have
bought from Bethlehem. 95, O07 tons
OF armor at an average rate Of $445
a ton, and have paid Bethlehem for
armor plate alone S42, ,344 ,937. That
is the second member of the armor
ring.
Now there is another member of
the armor ring and that is the Car
negie Steel Co. Let us see if we find
them also among the founders of the
Navy League Yes: see the name
of J. P. Morgan. The late J. P
Morgan was the organizer and g
director of the United States Stee
Corporation, which controls, accord
ing to Moody's Manual, the Carnegie
Steel Co. We have bought from the
Cargenie Steel Co., 80, 1913 tons o1
armor plate paying TN average S44:
a ton, or a total of 500, 783, ,497 fol
the single item of armor plate: anC
if the Navy Leagues proposed $500
600, coo bond issue for battleshlp
goes through they will receive still
larger contracts. So that you Sc,
the three firms which have a mono
ply of the manufacture of armor ii
this country are all founders Of tn
, Navy League; they are all represent
, ed as the founders of the Navy Lea
que, and we have bought from then
, 2333 1885, ,339 tons Of armor plate, for i
, an average Of $439 a ton, Or tota
Of $102, 504 ,292.
Remember that figure, S439
: There have been 10 official estimate
. by Government officials as to tn
7 cost Of armor plate in a Governmen
| factory, and the average of thos
estimates is S251 ton: and had w
: mar anufactured this armor in a Gov
, ernment factory, which the Nav
l League has cold shouldered, [ thin
am we'll within the bounds of cor
/. servatism when | say we could hav
e saved to the American taxpayery a
r the very least S35, ,OG0'G00.