The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-06-16
DISARMAMENT

THE ANGLES TO
DISARMAMENT
The House of Representatives
changed the Famous Bsrah resolu-
ton which had been unanimously
passed by the Senate, asking Great
Britain and Japan to join, with the
United States in a conference to
discuss reducing armament. The
House proposed that other nations
be included in the party. 1t is
claimed that President Harding, who
is charged with the duty to call the
International conference, was com
suited by the House leaders before
they decided to lay new covers on
the international dinner table. Sen
ator Borah takes the position that
Great Britain, Japan and the United
States have the only potential nav
les in the world, and sthat0therefore
disarmament lays in the hands of
this trio.
A great many people continue to.
wonder that our army >and navy ap..
preparations reach such tremendous
figures, and that they are never re-
duced, even though there is an in
sistent demand throughout the coun-
try for the semblance Of economy in
our military establishments. The
reason for this is largely due to the
perpetuation OF so-called "pro-
grams" Great ships started dur
ing the present year MAJ be only
half finished next year, and the Con-
gress must either leave them in
completed or make additional great
appropriations to finish them. And
then again, these battleships and
cruisers appear to be good deal
like Fords inasmuch as they rattle
to pieces all too soon. Congressman
join in protesting that there must
be economy, but when it comes to
casting their votes they are usually
found putting their okeh on the re-
commentators of the War and Navy
departments. The Senate evident
" believed when it agreed with
Senator Borah, that the reduction of
our navy could be guaranteed
through an arrangement with these
nations-the United States, Great
Britain and Japan. The Senate and
the House are in constant rebellion
against spending two-thirds of the
taxpayers money on military estab-
lishments and the expenses incid-
ent to them. But ever since Perry
fought the Battle, of Lake Erie and
John Paul Jones made the Ameri-
can navy famous, Congress has been
talking about reducing the expense
of ornaments, and only the echoes
answer when someone asks why
they have not done it.
The inclusion Of many nations in
O. disarmament congress may work
out all right. but there is good
deal of talk in Washington on the
effect that it is more likely to pre-
cipitate the same kind of conten-
ton that was found at the peace
conference, and that the result will
be battle royal that viii make
the League of Nations proposition
look like a sham battle in contrast.
THE TROUBLESOME
SHIPPING BOARD
Newspapermen throughout the
country are apt to agree that the
President is inviting Albert D. Las
ker, President of the Lord and
Thomas Advertising Company of
Chicago, to the position of head of
the Shipping Board, has exercised
good judgment in selecting an en-
gineer. He may know but little
about shipping, but advertising men
learn fast.
When the war was on, everybody |
who thought they could build ship
was told to ego to it." But when
the armistice was signed the order
forthwith went forth to stop" i'm
mediatedly" There are enough
spare ribs in American shiDyards |
TO equip boats for several genera
tions. However, the war lasted just
long enough 50 that the United
States Government had become own
er of innumerable steel ships, GEM
ent ships, wooden ships, barges, and
hullzs and tubs, What to do with
them was a momentous question, |
and it is not strange that stories
soon began to appear in the press
telling Of great fleets of marine
monstrosities being tied up in the
James and York rivers. Evidently |
no place existed for them in the
navigation unless it might be with
in the duties of the Shipping Board
to furnish roosting places for sea-
o1flls mud hons and other water