The Monte Vista journal., 1916-02-19
ny EDWARD HEATING
Congressman from the Third Colo.
RADIO District.)


Washington, D. C.-fhe gentle
men who make profits out of war"
Il 70 beginning to show their teeth.
They insist that any plan for Pre-
Ina redness" must include guarantee
|of dividends for them.
A few weeks ago, in one of these
[,etters, l told how President Wilson
had given his Endorsement to Senator
Irr,mans scheme for government
(owned amor plate factory. Tillman
la Chairman of the powerful Senate
[Committee on Naval Affairs and he
host no time in reporting bill ap-
|nropriating $11,o00,O0o for the con-
|struction of plant which would pro-
|duce 10000 tons of armor plate a
year.
When it became apparent that
majority of the members of the Com
| mittee favored the Tillman Bill, the
|chiefs of the "armor-plate trust"
host their tempers. They sent Sena-
|tor Penrose of Pennsylvania to warn
the Committeeman that they must
mot do such a revolutionary thing.
"If the government builds an arm
|or-plate plant we will advance the
price of armor plate 5000 toni"
Twas the threat delivered by Senator
|Penrose. In this way, Penrose as
|serted, the trust could wiring $780,
100000 extra from Uncle Sam be-
fore the government plant could be
completed and put into operation.
In other words, If the government
refused to be robbed picce-meal, by
paying the trust an exorbitant price
|for armor plate, 1t would be robbed
lon wholesale scale, through an un-
|pl ecedentcd and entirely unjustif-
able advance in price.
TILLMAN'6 IRE AROUSED
The arrogance of the trust aroused
every drop of fighting blood in the
aged Senator from South Carolina.
He announced that he would press
|his bill and insist on an early vote
Supported by the President, the
chances are he will win in both
houses.
Then, what? Will the trust dare
Ito carry out it's threat and brazenly
|'hold up" the national government
as road agent might stick up"
stage driver?
II 1t does 1t will not be the first
time that the "armor-plate trust"
has been involved in reasonable
transactions. Twenty years ago a
congressional committee investigated
the trust and found that armor plate
FOR which the government had paid
exorbitant prices contained elbow
holes" These blow holes" had
been plugged" by the trusts repre-
Bentatives and the defective plates
we're placed on American warships.
When the country became in
volved in war with Spain, the trust
Immediately advanced the price of
Rrmor plate to its own government
but reduced the price to foreign gov
ernments.
by Its latest outburst, the Trust
seems to have "over-played its
hand" When the nature of its
threats became known to members
pr Congress. much indignation was
Expressed.
One prominent member said: "Il
nave been opposed to government
ownership. Now l am for 1t. We
must show this greedy combine that
doesn't own the nation"
FREEDOM FOR F1LIpINos
The principles of the Declaration
o' Independence are to be extended
20 the Philippines. The little brown
man is to be given O chance to gov
erh himself. The Senate has passed
"nat is known as the Clarke Amend
neha giving the islands absolute
in four years, unless
o"eress changes its mind. 1 hope
.ne House will so amend the bill as
70 cut out all Ifs" and give the Fill
'plhos definite promises.
me archipelago has been an ex-
DensiVe white elephant" 1t has
''' us thousandc of men and mil