Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-24
OFFICE ESTABLISHED
BY PEACE SOCIETY
ANTI-JAPANESE SENTIMENT. TO
BE C0UNTERED
National Organization Recognizes
importance of Pacific Coast and
Picks Special Man for Work
In Los Angeles

The American Peace society, which
last week established offices in Los
Angeles under the direction of Robert
C. Root, Pacific coast representative Of
the society, is taking active measures
in the interes tof universal peace, to
counteract the anti-Japanese sentiment
prevalent in the western states.
The Southern California branch was
organized last March. The persistent
entails had a great deal to do with the
establishment of a coast branch of the
main society, which has headquarters in
Boston and has been in existence since
1928. The ultimate object of the society
is the substitution of arbitration for
war. AS a preliminary to this end 1t
is sending out literature to the high
schools of the state and engaging pub
lie speakers to create more friendly
sentiment toward all nations and disa-
buse the public mind of the idea that
war is necessity.
"It Is the purpose of this society to
endeavor to counteraCt just such senti-
ment as Captain Hobson endeavored
to create by his speech at the Denver
convention" said Mr.. Root yesterday.
"I once heard him deliver an address
in this city and I heartily desired an
opportunity to get on the stage and
answer him. remember that he then
said, If I had per cent Of the money
spent in this country for liquor
would build a navy and maintain the
peace of the world In that remark
he out-kaisers the kaiser, for he leaves
out the Deity altogether
eff I were called upon to diagnose
Captain Hobson's trouble I should call
it bad case of exaggerated Ego and
still give him credit for his perform
ance at Santiago. He is not a repre-
sentative in congress, but misrepre-
sentative. He goes about stirring up
strife with a friendly nation when he
has no business to do so. He said
Roosevelt was deeply Inundated In the
San Francisco matter. Is 1t humiliat-
ing for the chief executive to insist on
the carrying out of the stipulation OF a
treaty with friendly nation?"
Literature Distributed
Mr.. Root has for several years been
superintendent of peace for the
Friends society of California, and be-
fore coming here was prominent edu-
Gator in eastern cities. The society
has alreaoy sent out 10000 pages of
literature to the schools of the state,
to public men, clergymen, professors
and jurists. Some of the pamphlets
written by experts, which can be had
by application at the home office in
the Severance building, are: "Is
Japan Menace to the United States ?"
by Rev. j. H. De Forrest, ID. D., for
.thirty-three years a missionary to that
country; 1.-THE Absurdities of Militar-
ISM" by Ernest H. Crooby; Successes
and Failures of the Second Hague
Conference and many others.
In the recent annual report of the
American Peace society the reasons
for the establishment of q branch of
the society on the western coast are
given plainly as follows:
During the past year it has become
increasingly evident that the Pacific
coast is to play hereafter a very great
part in the relations of the nations, es-
pecially between the east and west. We
feel the time has come to extend our
,labors to that field in an organized
way. We have therefore established a
Pacific coast agency at Los Angeles
and chosen as our representative Rob-
ert G. Root, a man of ability, energy,
good judgment and devotion to the
cause. One of the most imperative
duties of the hour is to maintain good
relations between the United States
and Japan and China, and we expect
this new agency to prove most valu-
able in this direction"
Officers of the Southern California
Peace society are: President, Dr. W.
V. Coffin; vice presidents, Prof. H. N.
Wright, Rev. Baker p. Lee, Miss
Frances Foote. Rev. H. H. Guy and 1.
w. Pedrick; executive committee, Rev.
Hugh X. Walker, Rev. Arthur S.
Phelps, Rev. Andrew f. Mtichell sec
retary and treasurer, Robert c. Root.