Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1921-09-07
Strong Appeal For Disarma'
ment.

ment.
1t would seem that what was cost
in bloodshed and agony would be
enough to bring men to their Senses
but not until costs in money began
to stagger them did they begin to
seriously consider the abolition OF
it. To play on the money string car
ries further than most any other.
AT least that has been struck. Taxes
for war has almost ruined the most
of us. The late war has cost US IN
money 22,625 millions, which is ~
billions. Do either of those figures
mean anything to you? They are
beyond comprehension and yet that
is what the war cost US in money
alone. Now add, still dealing in mon
ey values, all the destruction, and de-
preston in business for years to
come and what have we? Ours was
no victory. We were said to be VIC
torious, but in truth we all quit from
sheer WEAKNESS, from exhaustion.
We all knew then when we had
enough. And today the people are
outspoken against war, and Will
sooner or later demand disarmament
of congress-; and yet, our represen-
tatives in congress are talking about
air armies, a%mphibious things that
bigger and bigger deadnaughts and
can sail out of sight in the ETHEREAL
blue and drop bombs on the unsus-
uecting, or skin the waves or sink
beneath them at will. And while they
build we groan, groan, groan under
"a burden of tax that is grievous.
So %grievous that it takes away, not
only the education of u children,
but their very bread. Before anoth-
er year there will be land for pub
lie cutlery from the steps OF u
and Generalization will be only some
more of the results of the late war;
and yet our president and congress
play at peace. The Republican party
promised a reduction of taxes, econ
omy! economy! was their watchword.
There is no hope of reduction OF
taxes until some of the expenses are
cut off. What about public health
and development? What about gov
eminent expenses, agriculture, high
ways education and research!
lean we cut any of these? If we
should wipe them all out, after all
we would have 90 per cent. OF our
taxes left, for that is the demand Of
past and future wers Our govern
ment is contemplating building what
they choose to call Capital Ships,
in fact the contrasts have been al
ready given. There are to be 16 OF
them. The cost of one, of each one,
of these is equal to the cost of. two
or three of our largest universities.
For the 16 ships costing around ~
to 40 million a piece we could erect
SO universities, we could graduate
So 900 men and women a year, and
enroll no less thar 100000 pupils,
we could build high schools and equip
them with everything needful to
advance civilization. We r instead
TO leave our ambitious youths large
ly to scuffle for themselves and
build ships that at best IAN not
meet the demands of the navy lon
ger than five years if that.
Write your. representative in
Washington that you are for peace,
that you see no solutions to the pres
er; problems except disarmament.
The women of the whole world are
organizing peace organizations, and
expressing themselves as wearied OF
war. The American men and women
must lead off for disarmament, and
to do that we shall have to make
congress feels the pressure of u ar
gument, by letters and kilograms and
personal interviews. Every mar and
woman in America has a part in
bringing this to pass.
Don't let it be said Of you that
you failed to do your part.
E. A. D.