The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-10-21
BOMBARDING MARS

Although the time is short, public opinion is be-
ginning to find expression in determined, definite
way prior TO the assembling at Washington Of the
delegates to the conference on disarmament. Ar
misce day will soon be here, the time set for
the opening OF this very important gathering Of
world statesmen but the conference itself is ex-
pected 10 last possibly as long as two or three
months, depending entirely on the turn affairs
take
A hopeful sign is the interest being manifested
all over the United States and Canada in some
plan for making known to the delegates of all the
countries just how the people Of the North Amer
lean continent feel about the matter. For In
sance the San Francisco Chamber Of Commerce
has expressed the convictions of its membership
on the question of armament limitation in state
ment and resolution mailed to every newspaper
and trade body in the entire United States The
request is made that there be a concerted approva!
of the subject-matter contained therein, it being
taken for granted that every right-thnking man
and woman in the country shares the views ex-
pressed However the caution is given that either
enormous consequences and significance of this
coming conference, the united expression of the
business interests of the country may not be made
with clearness and force" And here follows
significant paragraph
THE business interests of Great Britain
and Japan have brought great pressure upon
their respective governments and should
not only back our president in his program,
but join with the business interests Of other
countries and assist them in bringing about d
proper result. The conference will be gov
erned either by political business consid-
erations. and must to it that the
latter predominates.
In preparation for the resolution adopted by
the San Francisco Chamber Of Commerce, the
following declaration states the situation exactly:
I'm 1895 at the first Hague conference, an
unsuccessful attempt made to stop the
growth OF ornaments The rivalry
tinued; military and naval budgets grew year
by year. More and more taxes imposed
to provide for unproductive expenditure.
Fears and mutual suspicious kept pace with
these war preparations and finally in 1914
the great explosion came
But the war to end war has left the
burden of ornaments more staggering than
ever.
''In some countries the paper currency has
beGome worthless investments have been
contiscated; credit has disappeared; trade
is at standstill.
Even in the United States the heavy tax
alton for unproductive purposes has begun to
restrict consumption The people are spend
ing less because the tax-gatherer is taking
more.
Nor can American business men afford
to neglect their foreign trade. Our exports
were valued at nearly eight thousand mil
lion dollars in 1920, and more than half
went to Europe. They shrinking
rapidly.
The present depression cannot be expect
ed to disappear unless the burden of arma
ments is substantially diminished.
For illustration, reduction OF military
and naval expenditures by even one-half
would set free probably not less than four
thousand million dollars annually for trade
and credit would speedily revive with an
increasing sense of security.
"If the armament rivalry among the allies
continues. further confscation of wealth is