Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-12-08

congress, after giving due considera
tion to the advice of military ex-
perts and the available public reve-
nue.. Nothing is more Iaudable than
the cooperation of the agricultural.
and industrial resources of the
country for the purpose of supply
sing the needs of national defense.
In time of peril the people employed
in these interests volunteered in a.
most self-sacrificing way, often at
the nominal charge of a dollar a
year. But thee army and navy are
not supported for the benefit of
supply concerns; supply concerns
are supported for the benefit of the
army and navy. The distribution
of orders for what is needed from
different concerns for the purpose
of keeping up equipment and organ
ization is perfectly justified, but
any attempt to prevail upon the
government to purchase beyond it's
needs ought not to be tolerated. 1t
is eminently fair that those who
deal with the government should do
so at reasonable profit. However,
public money is expended not that
some one may profit by it, but in
order to serve public purpose.
While our policy of national de-
fense will proceed in order that we
may be independent and self-suffi-
cient, 1 am opposed to engaging in
an attempt at competitive arma-
ments. No matter how much or
how little some other country may
feel constrained to provide, we can
of being dictated to by others, but
of adopting our own standards. We
are strong enough to pursue that
method, which will be a most whole.
some model for the rest of the
world We are eminently peaceful
but we are by no means weak.
While we submit our differences
with others, not to the adjudication
of force, but of reason, it is not
because we are unable to defend our
rights. While we are doing our
best to eliminate all resort to war
for the purpose of settling disputea
we can not but remember that this
peace we now enjoy had to be won
by the sword and that if the rights
Of our country are to be defended
we can not rely for that purpose
upon anyone but ourselves. We can
not shirk the responsibility, which
is the first requisite of all govern
ment, of preserving it's own integrity
and maintaining the rights of its
own citizens. 1t is only in accord
ance with these principles that we
can establish any lasting founda
tions for an honorable and per.
manent peace.
1t is for these reasons that our
country, like any other country
proposes to provide itself with an
army and navy supported by a mer-
chant marine. Yet these are not for
| competition with any other power
For years we have besought nations
F., to disarm We have recently eN-
pressed our willingness at Geneva
! to enter into treaties for the Emi'
tation of all types of Warshlps ac-
cording to the ratio adopted at the
washington conference. This offer
is still pending. While we are and
shall continue to be armed it is not
as a menace, but rather common
assurance of tranquility to all the
peace-loving people of the world
For us to do any less would be tt
disregard our Obligations, evade ouI
responsibilities, and jeopardize oui
national honor.
veterans =.
This country, not only because Il
is hound bv honor but because o1
tho satisfaction derived from it, has
a1wnvs lay,shed it, bounty upon it,
veterans For years service pen
sion has been bestowed upon th'