Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-11-23
Why Disarmament is Inn
perative.

perative.
The latest available report of the
expenditures of the United States
Government for g full year is more
than year old. This report, however,
reveals an expenditure of money for
war purposes so out of proportion to
the amount devoted, to the works of
peace, that any person reading it
must come to the conclusion that it
is time for disarmament and the. re-
duction of war forces throughout the
world.
During the fiscal year ending June
80, 1920, the United States Govern
ment spent S5,6s6, ,O05, ,7O5. Of this
amount S3,S55,4s2,570 was credited
to the expenses of recent and previ-
ous wars. The War and Navy Depart
ments for the year, exclusive of war
debts, cost the, people of this country
s1,424,13S,676. The expense of ordi-
nary government functions, which in
cludes the executive, legislative and
judicial departments, was only $751;
OS7,222.T he Government also spent
S1S6,2O3,557 on public works, and
only the insignificant sum. OF S57,-
O9S,660 for research, education and
development. Of this vast total of
more than five and half billion dol
lars, the ordinary expenses of the
Government consumed only $40 per
cent, while 2.97 per cent was used
in the construction of public works,
and 1.O1 per cent for research, for
education and the development of
our natural resources. The Govern
ment of the United States exclusive
of expenses incident to past wars and
the preparation for future wars, cost
the tax payers $424,3S4,439, less
than one-half of billion dollars.
1t is understood that the expendi-
lures of the Government for the fis-
cal year ending June 20, 1921, were
somewhat less than that just referred
to. But the reduction has been so
small that the ordinary citizen has
failed to note any difference in the
amount of his taxes or the cost Of liv-
ing.
We are legally and morally bound
to pay the debts we have contracted
in the prosecution of war. Until the.
powers of the world can agree to live
in harmony, we must have a navy
capable of giving US full measure
of protection against any aggressive
act of any other nation. The United
States, however, is in such COM
manding position among the powers
that most citizens are honest in the
belief that at least partial disarn-
ament and a sharp reduction in ex-
penditures incident to further prep
arations for war can be made.
The countries of Europe are prac-
tically bankrupt. Their money is not
worth face value. Some of it is almost
worthless. The United States, be-
cause of it's great wealth and natural
resources, is the only solvent nation
among the great powers of the world.
However, should we continue our
preparations for war and force other
powers to do likewise, because of our
example, it will eventually bring
about revolution and anarchy, the in
fluences of which will cause serious
disturbances in our own country.
There never was time in the his
tory of the world when the majority
Of citizens of every nation were so
thoroughly convinced of the neces-
sity for finding a base for permanent
peace. The United States, through it's
representatives at the disarmament
conference now in session in the city
of Washington, should not lose the
opportunity to lead the world in the
cause of peace.-Farm & Ranch.
TL Era,oy; 20 not T3oad