Pueblo chieftain., 1921-04-09
fBy Frederick j. Haskin)

l WdSnlnEIOT, u ~. sNP'' -.
women's World Disarmament COM
mittee. which is bent on putting the
disarmament question before the
people in mass meetings all over the
United States, is the latest political
, activity of women to get under way
| here. 1t will be watched with inter
est because. aside from the import
ancc of the subject it has tackled, it
will show what tho women can do in
the way of mobilizing public senti-
ment. ~.
Tho women are in favor of dis
armament. Further. they believe that
the great mass OF the people are also
l.: favor of II. They believe that when
she people arc shown how much
armament costs. and what might
otherwise be done with the money,
| the people will be still more in favor
of disarm amcnt. In word, their OBJ
tect is to clarity the sentiment in
favor OF disarmament and make it
evident to congress
Whether one favors disarmament
or not, 1t can scarcely be denied that
this move to stimulate public discus
sion of IL is "A good one. II the arEu-
ment in favor of competitive ship
building is tho best one it will doubt
less win.
In the past. peace and disarma-
ment have been urged on tho grounds
of sentiment, with many allusions to
widows. orphans and wounded Tho
new organization talks statistics,
with the idea of showing that neith-
or this country nor any other is in
| shape to spend millions of dollars on
battleships that in "a year or two may
be obsolete.
The committee is composed of
women all over tho country. 1t is en-
| tircly women's group because the
? -.
ton found that while plenty of men
hig business men. politicians. finan-
ciers-werc Wiling to endorse tho
project. they were not willing to be-
publicly lined up as adhorents-not
until the demand for world disarma-
mont is well established. Senator
Borah of Idaho. and Representative
F'rear of Wisconsin, however. agreed
to speak at a mass meeting to discuss
disarmament
Tho great expcnse of maintaining a
militaristic government is one OF the
main arguments set forth by the
women's committee. II holds that n
large percentage of the people want
this expense cut. that the people in
general do not want a militari5tic
government. but that big army and
navy programs continue to be plan
ned because tho people do not make
their sentiments known. What the
committee expects to do is to hold
mass meetings and conferences and
interest people in letting their con-
grcssmen know what they think
about disarmament.
To Fight Navy Bill
we arc concentrating on tho nav
al appropriation bill" ssys Miss Em-
ma Void. chairman for the district
of Columbia. because the naval bill
will be one OF the most important
matters before congress when it con-
vcncs this month. There are only
England. Japan. and tho United
States. or tho three, this country Is
the only one that can continue a big
building program without bankrupt
cy. and'wc can afford IL only by civ
ing up all ideas of progress in cduca-
peace time science. Wo hear nothing
hut how the country must rctrcnch
in its expenditures. and the only
place TO rctronch when an army and
navy arc being built up is TO cut
down n fcw thousand here and there
on education and seieno instead of
adding n few thousand to meet the
demands OF ordinary progress. That
ls what 1t means when VIC ccono-
mize.
England ha. cut do,n on her na$,l
building. Japan n building In fever
ish sort OF attempt TO keep tho United
States from entirely outdis'ancinT hrr
Neither nation has the funds to put
into hattlcships and the United States
can raise the funds only at the OK
pcnsc OF progress and by heavy taxa
tion that must grow heavier as We con
tinuc.
Right now there is proposed a tax
on everything that is bought not lust
luxurics. but proportionatc tax on pins
and needles. chairs. coffee. and every
thing clec that stores carry. This Is
obviously not necessary to pay the
S+si .Io.ono for non military government
projects. But something OF tho sort
will he necessary IL in addition to this
civil appropriation. and over 3, 90 900.
900 to be paid on past wars. wc add
1856 100000 TO be invested ir the Army
and Navy.
Resides working to have the naval
appropriation limited. tho womcn's