The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-06-10
PREPARING FOR A
WAR NO ONE WANTS

which is looked upon with horror by
every American citizen of good mind.
We are out in naval programme
which will give us within four years
the largest navy in the world. Larger
it will be in tonnage, ships and guns,
but three or four times as costly as
the next largest navy, which is that
of England.
The sentiment of the country is
against this colossal enterprise. Re-
ligious organizations have set aside
Sunday as a day in which sermons
should be preached for disarmament.
Economists see the danger in our
course. But in spite of all these OPP
posing forces there is a mysterious
power in Washington which drives
forward the naval programme.
The Senate, after debating for
three weeks, has passed a bill pro-
viding almost 100000 for the
navy. Borah offered a resolution sew
eral days ago making a declaration
for disarmament. The resolution was
made a part of the naval bill and
then the appropriation was made!
The whole United States navy up
to 1920, in all of its history cost
about $4,000. 100000.
The bill received the support of a
number of Democrats, and here is the
pitiable story of how the support was
gotten.
Charleston wants dry dock The
appropriation for the dry dock is in
the bill. South Carolina Senators
fell into line, and thus all along the
seaboard the chops of Senators are
CREASED with appropriations for har-
bors, dry docks and stations.
Along with the pork barrel bril-
gade is another force-the gunmak-
ers and naval store contractors, ship
yard owners and steel plate makers |
Whenever these forces can command
support they throw it behind the
bill. ll 7r~i
Whom are we going to fight? Not
England, because there is no possible
difference between us that would
lead to a war. Surely we will not
fight France. France has COM
small navy. Our sea pow
or today is twice that of France. We
will not continue in q state of war
with Germany. Germany has no ma
Wy at all. Maybe we are to fight |
Japan. Japan does not want to fight
this country. Japan has nothing to
gain. Japan now is Keeling under AMI
immense debt. Production in that
country is small. The people are
heavily taxed Already to-day our
navy is larger than that of Japan and
arger than any Japan contemplates.
We hold supremacy in the world
supply of gold. The Japs want to
get hold of some of that gold by trad
ng. There is every reason why Japan
should keep the peace with the
United States. To enter war with
America and lose it mean chaos in
Japan.
A Japanese writer insists that
var between the United States and
Japan would hurt both countries, but
t might be of commercial benefit to
England and France He also insists
hat it would be much favored in
Germany because the Germans would
zee in it the breaking up of the allies.
If we should have war with ia
IAN the money that he's come to us
nd the balance of trade in our favor
would disappear.
1t costs the United States twice as
1uch to fight war as 1t does Eng
and. 1t costs us three times as much
S it does Japan The last war, it is
cost us $4,000, 000,000.
'ur national debt lis now around
rs, 900, 100000. 1t is costing us
bout $4,000, 100000 to run the gov
fnmcnt. 1t takes more money to
I'm the United States government ev-
ry year than there is metal money
i this country.
So if we should have war with
apan or, any other country and it
lould last for year. the present
tie of taxes would be doubled, prices
ould go so high that the relation
etween laborer and employer, be-
veen consumer and producer would
, thrown out of balance. Another
ar within ten years would spell
laos for the United States. Why,
len, the $500, 900, 900 naval appro-
'iatiofi? 1t takes now 80 cents out
every dollar to pay for past wars,
e present armament and pensions.
We hear President Harding speak
G at conference to reduce arma-
emit, but in the meantime, the naval
II may be quickly showed up to him.
9 will sign it unless it is tagged in
e House.