Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-09-16
PEACE CONGRESS NEAR.
Thirteenth Meeting Of International
Organization to Be Held in Boston.

on the Sd Of October tn" Thirteenth
International ePace congress will con-
vene in Boston. Only once before. at
the Worlds Fair in Chicago has this
international congress been held in
America, and it's coming here this year
is a matter of profound Importance.
Since its meeting in Chicago two con-
flicting currentS-One toward arbitra-
ton and one toward reckless, inordi-
nate increase of naval armaments-
have advanced with marvellous rapid
ty. The whole question of peace and
war has become of startling moment.
The public is more ignorant upon the
economic political aspects Of this than
upon any other public question Hun
dreds who could name every battleship
and cruiser. and give their speed and
every mechanical detail about them.
are as crude us boys III Il grammar
school in their judgment on questions
of International Justice and safety.
1T is not too much to say that the or
ganization Of the world IS the most i'm
portart subject FOR Americans to con-
slider today. In saying this | 90 NOT
forget the drink problem or that we
spend as much annually on liquor az
upon boots and shoes and breadstuffs
combined. But hundreds or thousands
OF dollars and scores of thousands
OF dollars and scores Of thousands
OF workers are already enlisted in the
fight against the liquor power Neither
do forget the struggle between labor
and capital. But this commands the
attention of every thinking man and
woman in the land. Its importance is
not likely to be ignored whatever else is
ignored. Nor do | forget the CRYING
need for more and better common
schools in country which has $780,
goo illiterates and in which the average
school teacher gets Il miserable salary
Of only $27O a year.
AS President Eliot says. we need to
spend ten times as much on education
as we do But every parent and tax
payer in the country is already inter-
eSted in that subject. 1t is quite
otherwise with the problem Of |
war, which is more Fundamental ana |
far-reaching than any of these three |
niehtiohed. Let our country be en-
broiied IN war or feel obliged to main |
'h'h huEe ornaments to prevent it, and |
every charity. reform and school is |
crippled. Today our army and navy
are costing us as much as all our pub !
lie schools, to wit, 5000. 100000, and in |
eighteen years the cost of our navy has |
increased seven times as RAPIDLY as our
national wealth. Not one in, a hundred
KNOWS anything of these facts or
dreams that world organization is n
near possibility and when fully
achieved will end war between nations.
however long it may still take to end
the possibility of civil war and human
cruelty and wickedness.
The visit to America last winter Of
Mr.. Thomas Barclay of the British
chamber of commerce in Paris did much
TO arouse the interests of boards Of
trade and chambers Of commerce in the
united States in arbitration. A COM
mittee of 100 leading business mon of
Massachusetts, with Richard Olney as
chairman, was found to develop pubIic
interest in arbitration. No more in
teresting session was held at the
Mohonk arbitration conference last
June, than that devoted to crisp.
earnest. five minute speeches from men
u national reputation in the financial
ana commercial circles of the land t
IL IS hoped. that the peace congress in ;
oc'oher VIII De the initial step in ma
-iohal campaign of education. To this
Emu large meetings to be addressed nv t
some or tie speakers at the Boston CON-
sress win be held in New York
and Chicago. following ~ :
congress. INC
The opening of the Congress- a. To- !;
mont Temple. Boston, on Mondsv ~. =
; VII oe preceded on Sunday night by il
on esea so etia, peace festival in Bos-
~ peau,hul symphony hall The G
handel ana Haydn Oratorio society, i