The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1920-06-17
WAR EXPENDITURES
STIRLING FACTS SHOWN.
CONTINUED from Page %

ing to return to power the political
party responsible for an administra-
ton which expended the peoples
money in the manner disclosed by
this testimony?
Empty Treasury and Huge War Debt
Democratic politicians all over the
country try to embarrass republicans
by asking why republican congress
has not done more for the soldiers
The answer is simple.
A democratic administration, by
the methods indicated above, left as
an empty treasury and a war debt of
s25. 900. 100000.
Every republican in congress wants
to do more for the soldiers, and we
will do more as soon as we can get
funds. but first we must meet the fix
ed charges as they come due against
the government left by a democrat
ic administration.
An Expensive 5lunder.
The testimony taken by the con-
gressional committee further shows
that prior to the signing of the arm
istice we had sufficient mator vehi-
cles in France for ambulance service,
for the transportation of munitions
and supplies, and for other purposes
sufficient TO win the war; that under
the terms of the armistice we receiv-
ed a large quantity of motor vehicles
from Germany. However, the records
of the war department show that be-
tween the signing of the armistice on
November II, 1918, and the 5th day
of June, 1919 the war department
representing this administration, dur
ing a time when hundreds of thous-
ands of soldiers were being brought
home. transported to France S9,993
new automobiles. and after they had
been delivered upon French soil the
representatives of this administration
sold such automobiles to the French
government for 20 per cent of the cost
price, and allowed that government 10
years in which TO make payment
therefor
Government Boosted Food Prices.
The testimony taken by the COM
mittee shows that prior to the signing
Oh lilt 0llnlSAlAt lllt val hNlittA NAAANAAN
had ordered food supplies for an
army of 100000 men. The testi-
mony further shows that as a matter
of fact, the war department had COM
Wandered 40 per cent of all the food
stuhs of the United States. Within
six months after the signing of the
armistice more than 100000 men
were demobilized and returned to
civil life. and yet as the testimony
shows, the war department still re-
tanned and refused to release upon
the markets for the use of the peo-
pie of this country the enormous
quantity of foodstuffs which it held.
Mr.. Hare, director of sales of the war
department. testified before the com
mittee that it was not until June
1919, that the war department declar-
ed a surplus of foodstuffs. Mr.. Hare
was asked to state the policy of the
war department in disposng of its
surplus foodstuffs, and in reply ne
said:
1T was the policy of the director of
sales to dispose of the surplus prop
erty of the war department so as to
disturb industrial conditions of the
country as little as possible"
A "People Be Damned" Policy.
The testimony shows that as late as
June. 1919. the department was still
debating the question as to the best
method of disposing of its foodstuffs
so as to disturb Industrial conditions
as little as possible. and it appears
that industrial conditions as used 10y
that department. meant the price of
foodstuffs in the markets of the Unit
ed States. 1t was decided that to re-
lease such an enormous quantity of
foodstuns upon the markets would
disturb industrial conditions In the
food market
Helped Keep Prices High.
Congress had voted 500, 700, 600,
which the president placed at the dis
posal of Mr.. Hoover. for the purchase
of food TO feed the hungry in Europe,
and the war department concluded
that in order to dispose of the supply
of foodstuffs without disturbing "in
EODlAAAOLo III TINS ANAAAAA ~ ~
was advisable to cable Mr. Hoover
urging him to use the hundred million
dollars appropriated by congress for
the purchase of foodstuffs held by the
war department. thereby preventing
such foOdstuXs from being sold into
the markets of the country, with the
consequent danger of disturbing such
markets. And this was done in the
face of the fact that the war depart |
ment at that time had hundreds of |
millions OF dollars worth of canned |
meats and other foodstunfs already in
France. and for which the army had |
no further use.
In response to this request Mr. Hoo
YER purchased 22292 $50 pounds of /
cured meats from the war department |
and transported them from this /
to Europe in order not to dis /
.urb Industrial conditions in this
country. and that. too. at a time when
he people all over the country were