The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-04-07
H1lperiaHst Thunder

In his first public address since his appoint
ment to the cabinet, Mr.. Curtis D. Wilbur, new
secretary of the navy, has shown his teeth as
an imperialist par excellence.
Addressing the annual banquet of the Young
Mems Christian Association at the sumptuous
Willard Hotel, in Washington, Mr.. Wilbur de-
clared his naval policy to be for feet second
to none in strength. He assured his listeners
that ''the navy would be prepared to calm any
spirit OF hostility that may assert itself" and
that ''the army and navy have been the great
est agencies we have had"
In this address Mr. Wilbur was not mounting
any empty phrases. He was sounding a chal-
lenge and warning to the American working
and farming classes. 1t smacks of historical
irony and sad truth that man who has been
lchosen to fill the cabinet post of one who was,
in large measure, driven out by hostility to
the government should only few days after
his appointment, threaten to use the force of
government against recurrence of such hos
tility. But beyond this historical irony and sad
truth there is lurking a most serious danger
to the toiling masses of the country.
In the last decade the American navy has
increased in value more than 259 per cent.
This increase in wealth towers above the rapid
strides made by all other items in the posses
sion of the country or any individual 1t is the
best evidence of the determined policy of our
imperalist capitalist class to dominate the
world markets and achieve interchangeable
supremacy in the various spheres of influence
and investment. The rapid growth of the
military and naval forces in the last decade
have gone hand in glove with the steady in.
crease of financial and industrial power of oul
capitalists in the world market
Mr.. Wilbur is an old timer at the game Of
rendering services to the capitalist masters
Mr.. Wilbur halls from the golden state Of
California. Mr.. Wilbur was a member of the
California State Supreme Court which bears ;
large degree of the responsibility for the limo
cent Mooney and Billings still languishing be
hind prison bars today. Consequently wheI
Mr.. Wilbur speaks he means business profit
able business for the imperiaist class Of thi
country. His boast is warning to the masses
that they had better keep in mind what they
are up against in showing hostility to tn,
strlkebreaking government of the United
States.
Mr.. Wilburs plan to have a navy second t.
none is a challenge to the imperialist clioue
of the other capitalist countries to watch the
step and not tread on the toes of the pugna
} cious capitalist giant
Mr.. Wilbur's threat is note of arrogan
defiance to the oppressed peoples of the Philip
pines, Hawaii, San Domingo, Haiti Hondura
and other sections of the Orient and Iati,
-AiuSt.0a W sup nuu turing aspirations Tor free
J dom from Wall Streets imperialist domination
We hope and we know that the imperialis
thunder Of our new secretary of the navy will
not fall on deaf ears, insofar as the worJsin
! and farming class of the country are concerned
Too long and too often have the workers an,
farmers paid the price in blood and dollars I,
preserve the security and the profits of thei,
exploiters, the capitalist class
Morris Hilquit has discovered that Senate
La Toilette was always one in thought and &C
ton with the Socialist Party Victor Berge
was the navel string that connected both