Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-08-01
WHO. OWNS MBXICOG
CBy United States Senator Robert M


La Follette.)
The plain citizen has no determining
voice on the issue of war or peace
For more than so years money has
been powerful enough to force war
upon any country at any time. The
student of world politics will find that
practically all modern wars have been
dictated by great financial interests.
As long as capital finds it's best field
for profit in its own country, the peace
Of that country is reasonably secure
But whenever the financial interests
have acquired such a control of the
national resources of their own coun-
try and such mastery over the indus
trial and commercial affairs of their
own people that they can exact profits
at will, such interests seek new fields
for their surplus capital.
This excess capital which has been
ground out Of an exploited country
and it's people-if retained at home
would reduce interest; and farmers,
merchants and small business enter
prises could borrow upon reasonable
rates.
But the masters of finance consider
little else besides their own profits.
The people of the United States do
not want war with Mexico. The Mex
lean people do not want war with US.
And both President Wilson and Car
rama have manifestly done everything
in their power to avert war.
What is it, then, that menaces the
peace of these neighboring countries?
1t dates far back of the Columbus
raid That outrage upon the residents
of one of our border towns was the
logical outcome of conditions for
which the Mexican people were in no
wise responsible. Worse than that.
/ The Mexican people were really limo
cent victims of traitors in our midst
For it is charged upon the highest au-
thOrity that the raid was inspired and
arranged for in our own country!
Do you get the full meaning of that
statement? Benedict Arnold was not
more guilty of treason.
The secret service of this govern
ment has a long arm and strong
arm. The net may yet be drawn on
the "higher-up" 1t is fair to assume
that President Wilson did not disclose
all the facts in his possession when he
declared officially few days after the
raid that
There were persons along the Dor
der actively engaged in creating fric-
ton between the government OF the
United States and the de facto govern
ment of Mexico for the purpose of
/ bringing about Intervention in the in
sterest Of certain owners of Mexican
properties"
There you have it! The gentlemen
who want war with Mexico are the
gentlemen who have Mexican prop
critics" They are very powerful lot.
They own most of the United States
and a good slice of Mexico. They are
our captains Of industry; our masters
Of finance. They own or control our
great newspapers. They are for
strong Mexican policy" a strong
foreign policy" a big army, a big navy.
They pirate about patriotism"
They clamOr for preparedness"
They have tried to plunge the coun-
try into a hysteria of fear that we are
going to be thrown into war with Ger
many or England or Japan. They
have congress ION the run"
These privileged interests are not
taxing the people of the United States
for their great army and navy scheme
to fight Germany, England or Japan.
They have other plans for the present.
They have the irons on the American
people. They control the prices of
labor and the products of labor. They
control the cost Of every necessary of
life. They own the coal, the oil, the
timber, the water powers. Their
profits are so enormous that they must
lower interest rates or else-invest in
foreign countries. The timber, oil,
coal and mineral wealth of Mexico and
of the Central and South American
countries are most inviting in every
way. The governments are poor; the
labor is cheap as slave labor.
There is just one risk. And that is
a large risk The governments are
most Of them weak. Revolutions in
many of them are frequent; property
rights are insecure.
But a scheme has been worked out
by the masters of finance to make
foreign investments as good as a gov
eminent bond. Just put the stars and
stripes back of them,
There was a time when the slogan
of munitiOn makers was: Trade fol-
lows the flag" That put the CONNER
ciaI interests behind the navy. But
new needs, new deeds" That slogan
has been completely reversed. The
cry now is: The flag follows the in
vestment"
We will protect our citizens abroad
Assuredlyi That is our bounden duty
If we are to uphold the standing and
dignity of our government among the
other nations of the world-strong or
weak But, If the protection of "citi-
zens" were our only concern, there