The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-12-05
NYE HEARING
SHOWS COLT
IN WAR ROLE
Six-Year Preparation
for Conflict Brought
ONT In Testimony
BY Seymour Waldman
tDaiIy worker washington Buroau)

WASHINGTON, D. O., Dec. 4.-As
early as 1908 American arms and
munitions manufacturers antici-
pated the large profits to be made
from the sale Of munitions and
armament to the various European
governments that were preparing
for the imperialist world war, cross
examination of Samuel M. Stone,
President of Colts Patent Manu-
featuring Company, by the Senate
Munitions Investigating Committee
disclosed today.
The munitions hearings, which
were resumed today after the
Roosevelt administration had adj
journed them just before the recent
elections to avoid expected en-
barrassmentS, were held before a
large gallery of spectators, news
papermen, and munitions manufac-
turers attended by their retinue of
lawyers, chief editors and other
servants. Newspapermen noted the
presence at the press table OF
William Maple, former professor of
journalism at the University Of
Missouri, who now works directly
for the dupont ammunition and
textile dynasty as managing editor
of the latters two Wilmington, Del,
newspapers.
u. Manufactures Tie
The first round of hearings
showed the close working arrange
ments between the munitions and
armament companies and the vari-
Gus U. S. government departments
for the purpose of facilitating sales
of armament and munitions to
clients all over the world.
That this tie-up continues even
during the hearings was illustrated
the other day when the printed
record of the first round of wit
nesses revealed that four exhibits
duplicating the U. s. and Colon
bian governments and the briggs
Ordnance Company had be en-
stricken from the record.
After Stone insisted that his firm
had no reason to believe, in the
years preceding 1914, that war was
coming, despite frequent trips to
Europe where officers Of the firm
conferred with the Cars officers
and capitalists and with other
European governments, Chairman
Nye confronted Stone with the lat
ters own affidavit made in 1926
showing the opposite.
Expected Big Business
"The officers and directors of the
company felt assured OF a large
amount of business in firearms
manufactured under our patents
and because of this knowledge and
their confidence in the future of
the company practically every
member of the board of directors
materially increased his stock hold
ings in the company, purchasing
stock from time to time at market
prices whenever the stock was avail
able, and in some cases borrowing
money to make the purchases,
Stones 1926 affidavit declared.
Were you preparing for five
years or more for a market you felt
confident was going to exist?" Nye
inquired after reading the affidavit
to Stone.
81 shall have to rest on the at
fidavit," was the reply.
HAS anything happened tt
change your mind since them"
IT believe not" Stone answered.
I'm 1908 you and your company
were preparing for a wartime ship
ment of arms" Nye told Stone.
IT refer you to my affidavit,
Stone replied stubbornly.
Says "Abuses Exist"
Manley Hudson, Bemis professor
OF International Law at Harvard
University, preceded Stone on the
witness stand. He declared, ut is
admitted abuses exist and that they
create serious international prob
lem" Hudson, in arguing for I'll
censing system" pointed to Great
Britain,s use of such system. How
ever, he did not point out that Eng
land is one of the worlds greatest
IToaf:n,yod ~, pono 0l