New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-25
ENEMIES OF PEACE.
Speakers Before army Society Score
"RefOrmers Without Sense"

The cause Of universal peace received some
hard whacks AZ the annual meeting Of the Ma
rional Army Relief Society. held yesterday af-
rernoon at the home Of John Bigelow, No. 81
Gramercy Park The Rev. George r. Van De
Water. rector Of ST. Andrews, who was one Of
she speakers characterized the reformers who
convened last week in New York as well IN
tentioned extremists"
We are a long way off from universal peace,
be said. 'Tt would be a grand good thing II
humanity by taking hold Of hands and saying
We win love each other could make the thing
come 70 pass. but humanity isn't made that way
I'd crawl on my hands and knees from here 10
che Battery II by doing it 7 could let all the
liquor IN the world out through a spigot INFO
she sea, but as know that is impossible won't
crawl These peace reformers are very earnest.
but they lack common sense. The common
sense reformer works along the lines that are
effective"
Dr.. Van De Water spoke Of the work the Army
Relief Society is doing in giving educational
advantages TO soldiers children "one OF the
pathetic things in Washington. he said. is
the sight OF white haired women. daughters of
soldiers many OF them. wearing their lives out
IN I'll paid positions. If a society like this had
been formed at the close Of the Civil War these
women would have had the help they needed.
Army officers and ministers are about the
only people who are poor and not ashamed Of II.
It's no advantage 20 be obliged 70 pretend
that one is better of than one Is, but there
comes q time when poverty is hard When an
officer dies and leaves his family poor-and II
must be remembered that life insurance pre-
rniuns are high for army men-it Is rather
hard for his son to become an obscure clerk or
n trolley conductor when he grows up. as has
happened in cases know. simply because the
To Tf7a
son an education betting his place in life
General J. W CIous, legal adviser for the
society. was even more energetic than DR.. Van
De Water IN denouncing those who hold that the
soldier is not necessary.
THE first duty OF a people" he said. rs de-
fence OF their country. There is little logic IN
she perverted doctrines OF the peace societies.
these apostles OF a new civilization. A certain
bishop lately called the soldier a non-producer
n that is so bishops are non-producers. too
The police are non-producers; so are firemen
They are no more necessary than is the soldier"
Captain Pierson. now stationed at West Point
made short address When I received my
commission was rather proud he said, but
after reading what some people are saying
nowadays we feel as Il we ought TO cut the
titles of" lie spoke of the administration Of
justice in the Philippines by the army officers
when the war was over. when I saw how
quickly cases were tried and crimes punished
18th justice and exactness," he said. land re-
Elected now much those trials would cost in
New York, what excuses Of insanity would be
brought forward. I felt that the army was
% some use. after ALL
The women who listened applauded these
sentiments heartily. The reading OF the various
reports preceded the speeches. Mrs James b.
Burbank. for the educational committee. re-
ported that eleven girls and nine boys had
been beneaciaries Of the society in the last year
Several have been made self-supporting. Three
four high school graduates are being helped
20 training in technical lines. two are study
ing music and one boy is being prepared for the
United States Military Academy. The relief
committee reported substantial benefits given
the families Of dead soldiers Il was unani-
Tnously decided that what the society needed
was more advertising. The members agreed
that army officers. as a whole. were curiousy
ignorant OF its existence.
They are hoping for an augmentation OF funds
from the annual garden party TO be held at
: Governors Island on May 2S. General and Mrs.
. Frederick Dent Grant are doing all IN their
power TO insure the success of this affair The
officers clubhouse is TO be thrown Open 50
that even IL the weather proves inclenent the
rain.
Following is the list Of the officers elected
by the National Army Relief Society at yes
President. Mrs. Henry Bischoff: vice-presi-
Gents Mrs. Richard Aldrich, Miss Edna Storm
Mss Grace Bigelow; corresponding secretary
MIS- stephen Mills; recording secretary Mrs
Wright p Edgerton; treasurer, Mrs Cornelius
n Bliss Jr. Mrs. Bisch0f was also elected one
or the managers. The members got into a
fansle over the question Of whether they could
! nominate the same person for two offices and
had 70 appeal 20 their legal adviser before tbeZ,
could decide.