Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-11-03
MRS. LaFOLLETTE
GIVES LIVE TALK
PUBLIC OPINION is MOST
VITAL FACTOR In
DISARMAMENT

VOr OF OlSdrIndmeHL bearing on WASH
ington from now until the time the
doors of the Pan-American building
are closed upon the World Conference
for the Limitation of Armaments will
be the great factor for bringing about
worth while results from this gather
ing, is the opinion Mrs. Robert NJ La
Toilette expressed last evening at the
city hall. The council chambers were
filled to overfiowing with crowd anx-
ious to hear what the speaker had to
say on this important question
Beginning her address she read the
preamble of the Versailles peace
treaty in which Germany binds her.
self to disarmament. When Germany
affixed her signature to this pream-
ble," said the speaker, "twenty-seyen
other nations, Includes her allies and
ours, also bound themselves to dis
armament when Germany shall have
accomplished disarmament. The Unit
ed States did not sign this treaty, it
is true, but we are bound neverthe-
less by a moral obligation"
Flags Program
Mrs. LaFollette fiayed the naval pro-
gram of the country, declaring that
the battleship has been proved obsc
lete and worthless. The battle of Jut-
land, while it was the greatest naval
battle of all history, in no way af-
fected the outcome of the war. A large
navy is not necessary for a nation
like ours. No nation could, for in
stance cut off our food supply and we
are not dependent for existence on i'm
ports which would have to be protect
ed in case of war.
"In 1916" said the speaker, this
country started out to build the larg-
est fleet in the world. This program
was put over on the country on the
ground that it was to prevent war. In
eight months we were at war with
Germany. During this war the con-
struction of battleships was discon-
tinued and building concentrated on
anti-submarine craft. War has proved
to us that preparation does not pre-
vent war and does not insure peace.
Germany was prepared and what more
evidence does anyone want that pre-
paredness does not insure victory.
"The only theory | can give for this
big race for more ornaments is that
it was the outcome of a panic such as
follows all great disasters. 1t is said
In this case it was the men. How
else can you explain the proposition
of former Secretary of War Newton
ID. Baker for a standing army of $780,
900 men and for two million men in
training? The secretary of the navy
was even worse. He wanted the big
gest navy in the world.
How did congress take this? Did
test against this huge expenditure?
Not to my knowledge. Congress took
the matter seriously and is responsible
for the naval and military policy we
are pursuing, and which is costing us
for the army three times, and for the
navy five times what it did before the
war"
Public opinion
Mrs. LaFollette toll dof the defeat of
former Secretary of War Bakers. plan
for universal military tanning though
the influence of public opinion against
1t. She said that the danger of this
is behind us if we continue to be vigil
liant and emphasized the Importance
of public opinion.
The seaker used chart to demon
strate the percentage of the cost to
the government of the military pro-
gram. Sixty-eight per cent of gov
eminent expenditures goes to pay the
cost of past wars. This cannot be
changed now. Twenty per cent pays
for the preparation for future wars
leaving but twelve per cent for all
other purposes. She stated that all
our ideas for future advancement
must be neglected if we continue to
pay this twenty per cent for future
wars.
She told of the influences that
brought about the calling of the world
conference and of the part the Wom-
ems Committee for World Disarma-
ment and the League of Women Voters
played in this. 1T is the unknown
quantity of the power of the women's
vote" she declared, that is proving
the great factor of pressure on the
administration"
Mrs. LaFollette reviewed the selec-
ton of the delegates and stated that
there should have been someone on
the list to represent the progressive
element. In view of the interest of
the women in this question they
should be represented. She also urged
pupiiSlts iOI Tue SSSSlOHS, saying IIdl
the debates should be open to the pub
lie and be made matter of record.
Not Too Much
Declaring that the people should not
expect too much from the conference
and should be prepared for some fail
Gres, she said. do not think that the
fate of disarmament is sealed by any
failure of the disarmament conference.
If the representatives of the different
governments fail to agree. it is up to
the American people to agree on
campaign and to keep it up in this
country until we have the nation back
TO prewar basis"
Mrs, LaFollette was accompanied by
Mrs. John j. Blaine, wife of the gov
ernor of Wisconsin. and Miss Edith
Thompson, secretary TO Mrs. LaFol-
lette, each of whom gave brief talk.
Judge Louis Marchetti acted as chair
man of the evening.