Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-01-21
Let &. S. Make
" ar Equipment,
Urges Senator
CumminS, of Iowa. Demands
Removal Of Private Profit
From Americas Problem of
National Preparedness

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19-lGlimination
OF private profit as an influence for wal
by government manufacture of all war
munitions was urged I'm the senate to-
day by Senator Cummins OF Iowa, Re
publican lie pleaded for prompt adOp-
ton of his resolution which would au-
thori2e special committee to inquire
into the most feasible plan for acquir-
ing and constructing plants to supply
the army and navy with all arms, am
munition and equipment, including
ships, and 70 report on the legislation
necessary 10 prevent private manufnc-
turc of such products.
II agree that war may come to this
country" Senator Cummins declared,
but if Il comes it must be the result
OF the calm, dispassionate, loyal pur-
pose to meet the awful scourge because
there is no other way of defending our
civilization, our institutions and i. our
honor. I 10 not assert that every per-
son or corporation which may profit
from war would incite war, but do as
sert that all such PERSONS and associa-
tions are not competent. to judge the
controversies which may lead to con-
hict, and inasmuch as they cannot be
removed from the great panel. or the re-
public, they ought to be removed from
the business out of which the interest
grows. 1t ought to be made impossible,
SO far as the power OF the government
is concerned, for any man or corpora
ton to make money out of war.
NEED AMERICANISM.
I'VE need just now, above all other
things, q rebaptism in Americanism. To
me Americanism means fidelity to
American interests, loyalty TO American
institutions. pride in our past and conf
dence in our future. It means a spirit
that commands men TO live for their
country, and, if necessary, to die for it,
but l for one am not willing that
Americanism shall be defined and stand
ardized by millionaire munition makers
or by the brokers, bankers or hackers
who share their blood-stained profits
I'm this critical moment what is the
attitude of the makers of arms and
munitions? Without exception, so far as
know, they are insisting upon the most
comprehensive program which it is pos
sible to conceive, and they are employ
ing through all the channels and all the
Observation-Disclosures which mould public
thought, all the forces at their COM
nand for completeness of preparation
that would turn this country iuto a
military camp and practically destroy
all ambition, save the ambition to over
SOinS " LOTCe VI arms the eDIlre
world"
Without discussing preparedness in
detail, the senator said that he believed
that somewhere between the armed
camp of William. of Germany, and the
open dove cote of William, of Nebraska,
there must be an honorable abiding
place for a great nation which is pre-
pared to lead the world toward peace
but will not submit to injustice or in
dignity"
HUGE WAR PROFITS.
Emphasizing the effect of the Euro
pean war on private munition makers in
the United States, he told the senate that
since the war began there had been III
new corporations organized in this coun-
try for the manufacture of munitions
and the value of arms and munitions ex-
ported in fifteen months had aggregated
$161.964,27S. He submitted a table
showing the following estimates of the
amounts of war contracts Of some OF
the larger corporations:
American Car and Foundry, $4,000, 900
American Locomotive =. .... $50, 000, 900
American Steel Foundries, SIS, 0O0, 600
Baldwin locomotive Works, s10O,00O,O00
Bethlehem Steel company, IL 900 shells
per day, together with field guns and
other like arms.
Colorado Fuel and Iron company 3d.
900 tons of steel rounds
Crucible Steel of America, $40, 600 900
General Electric =. =. SOS, 000, 900
New York Air Brake, =. S2O 242,00O
Westinghouse Air Brake, $2O, 100000