The Connecticut labor news., 1922-02-17
TAKE PROFIT OUT OF
 WAR. IS JOHNSON'S WAY TO KEEP PEACE
Machinists' President Wants Private
 Munitions Making Stopped.

In the current issue of the official journal of the International Association of Machinists. President William H. Johnston makes an earnest appeal "to take the profit out of war; so far as this country is concerned by ending pri- vate manufacture of munitions, thus con- fining such work to Government navy yards and arsenals.
 After calling attention to the resolu- ton adopted at the Rochester conven- tion of the Machinists, in which an ap- peal was made to the organized metal workers and related crafts of all na- tions to effect an agreement for con- certed action against the forces which made for war, and his own efforts to give practical effect to that declaration, President Johnson says: "It is common knowledge that the desire for profits in armament manu- factures has i'll the past contributed no small share to the causes for war"
 In support of this statement he quotes the following report submitted to the League of Nations by a special com mission of experts appointed to inquire into the results of private manufacture of arms:
 l. That the armament firms have been active in formenting war scares and in persuading their own countries to adopt Warlike policies and to increase their ar1naments.
 2. That armament firms have attempt ed to bribe government officials, both at home and abroad.
 5. That armament firms have dissemin- ated false reports concerning the military and naval programs of various countries, in order to stimulate armament expendi- lures.
 4. That armament firms have sought to influence public opinion through the con- trol of newspapers in their own and for eign countries.
 ,. That armament firms have organized international armament rings through which the armament race has been accen- tuated by playing off one country against another
 6. That armament firms have organ ized international armament trusts which have increased the price of arnaments sold to governments.
 President Johnson expresses regret that the conference on limitation of ar maments, which recently adjourned in Washington, failed to give considera tion that failure, he says, only increases the importance of labor doing its part.
 He insists that it is up to Congress, and the Secretary of the Navy to rem edy the problem by definitely agreeing that herea fter the Government will manufacture its own munitions in navy yards and arsenals.
 This can be done," said MT. Johnson, without sacrificing a single military, naval, or industrial advantage to which the United States is legitimately entitled. Private profit in the munitions business, and all the ills which follow in its train, can be eliminated from the manufacture of war equipment"
 He points out that the facilities of the navy yards and arsenals for doing this work "are not only adequate but the best in the country, if not in the world, and, above all else, the organiz- ations of employees i'll these plants are among the finest by training and experi- ence the country affords"
 The Machinists are expected to con- duct a nationwide campaign in support of President Johnson's proposal.