The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-10-05

PANTS AND WAR
DANTS is supposed to be somewhat vulgar word.
but because there is a distinct connection be-
tween pants and. war, we crave your kind indu-
gence.
Premier Mussolini has launched his adventure
in Ethiopia. His planes raining bombs upon
Aduwa and other key places, and his infantry is
following up the barrage. The conflict is on.
Masscd at Suez and Gibraltar are squadrons of
British warships If they bar II Duces path to
Ethiopia, he has warned, he will fight. He can not
desert his army battling in East Africa.
And if war breaks out in the Mediterranean, be-
tween Italy and Britain another general European
war will become a grave probability.
1t is high time therefore, for the people of the
United States to begin some deep thinking. The
President must declare embargo on muniton
shipments to both beIlgerents-to Italy and Ethiopia
alike No difficulty is anticipated there. But what
if the war spreads? Suppose France backs Britain
and Germany backs Italy? Suppose Russia attacks
Germany and Japan attacks Russia? Suppose Po-
land joins on the side of Germany and the little
entente goes to the aid of France? And so forth
and so on.
The President may lay embargo NUM-
tions to each and all nations that join in the war.
Scrupulously he might forbid the shipment of
single bomb, tank rifle, cartridge, vessel, shell,
airpane, poison gas container, machine gun or what
not But there are scores of other things quite
important to any of these.
DANTS, for example.
L Some of the bloodiest wars of all time have
been waged without guns, planes or any of the
modern accoutrements. And they still could be.
But if you deprived all soldiers of their pants, they
would almost certainly refuse to fight.
Are we prepared-if the war spreads to Europe
to stop the shipment of pants, or the markings
thereof? Or to stop STEEL wheat flour, grains of
all kinds chemicals of almost all varieties, automo
bes and spare parts tires, oils fats, pork and other
meat products, shoes-in fact pretty nearly every
thing?
If we are to stay out of the next war, says Ber-
nard NJ Baruch d-boiled business man, will
have to stop trading almost altogether. Can we
do it? Will we do it?
If did cotton would pile up in warehouses and
even the streets of Southern towns. Wheat would
choke the elevators. Pigs and steers would clutter
up the pens. Prices would slump on the domestic
market. The entire agricultural area would be
stricken more perhaps, than it ever yet has been
The industrial sections of the country would like
wise feel the pinch Their foreign market gone, and
the domestic demand crippled by lack of the where
withal to buy, factories and mines would have to
vicious circle of depression start to get in its all too
familiar work.
Would the people hc.u trm under such economic
punishment? Few men in Congress believe they
would. Washington would be beseged by angry and
hard-hit citizens, from every section of the land
demanding that the vast market in the warning
countries be supplied. Then what?
Nations at war will not accept definition of
war materials. They compose their lists of
traband They may include pants as well as pistols
cotton as we'll as cannon. Are We them going to
insist on freedom of the seas? Are going to
ask bitterly what Nay IS for it is not to pro-
tect our merchant shipping?
THAT, in our opinion, is pretty much what We
l. would DO After all we are only human beings
We are about emotional any other
But, if intend to stop trading in order to
keep out of the next big war, it is imperative that
we start now trying to evolve plan. We not
simply forbid expectations wholesale and let it go
at that. We will have to find way to cushion the
shock to our citizens.
We do not pretend to know how it can be done
We do know it would be extremely complex and ex-
pensive. The government might have to buy the
exportable surplus of cotton wheat, meat lard and
the rest and burn it-as Brazil burned her surplus
coffee-or give it away to the unemployed
Stoppage of trade would cost this country pretty
penny. But so would war The late President Cool
idge said the World War had cost America, up to
the time he made his estimate no less than so bill
lion dollars. And before finished paying for it,
he declared, it would cost us so billion more
few billion dollars spent to keep us out of the
next war, therefore would make the price Of peace
dirt cheap-if it worked.
The government at Washington, it seems to U.s.
should start the best brains have in this country
thinking on this problem, and invite recommended
tons
To say eve must and shall" remain out of the
next war" is not enough. Levying an embargo on
narrow list of death devices is not enough Staying
out OF major war of long duration will be far