Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-05-04
President Taft's Regrets.

The following is the text of let
ter written by President Taft to Secre.
tary Royal L. Melindy OF the national
gsace congress and which was read at
4 "a u opening Of that body today:
ss =, srse srs siiesar Ssrs, sss'ss
as9ts greatly regret that am unable
to attend the coming national peace
4 congress at Chicago and there to ex-
press my earnest sympathy with the
object OF the assembling of SO many
distinguished men in the interest OF
world peace. That progress has been
made in the matter Of peace every
where by international action and by
the moral pressure OF the peoples OF
the earth, any one who has examined
the record must admit. It Is true that
armaments go on increasing in cost,
but it Is also true that the burdens pre-
sented by this competition In arma-
ment are growing heavier end heavier,
and the problems for solution consis-
tent with their increase become more
and more difficult. The possibilities
Of war now arising come chiefly from
Responsibilities of government and
In those countries where stability Of
internal control is lacking. The
United States has contributed much to
the cause of peace by assisting coun-
tries weak In respect to their internal
government SO as to strengthen in
them the cause Of law ana order.
This relationship Of guardian and
ward as between nations and coun-
tries In my Judgment, helps along the
cause of international peace and in
dicates progress in civilization. The
policy of the United States in avoiding
war under all circumstances except
those plainly inconsistent with honor
of its highest welfare has been made
SO clear to the world as hardly to need
statement at my hands. | can only
say that SO far as my legitimate in
huenee extends while at the head Of
this government, 1t will always be ex-
erted In the full In favor Of peace, not
only as between this country and other
countries, but as between our sister
nations.
Very sincerely yours,
William H. Taft"
The World Petition.
A world petition, having for its pur-
port the abolition of war and substi-
tuition Of pacific means for the settle
aiASliS " llISAIa OlllCultlSo, WillC1
! will be presented to the third Hague
! conference, was discussed by Miss
Anna B. Eckstein of Boston. one Of
che speakers at today's session of the
second national peace conference. The
petition already has between four and
five million signatures, declared Miss
Eckstein who urged that 1t be made
70 represent majority world vote
when 1t Is submitted to the third
Hague conference by delegation of
4 peace workers from all over the
world
Miss Eckstein said
"The world petition is the outcome
Df pressing need, a democratic duty,
a practical experiment and an idea
concerning national integrity and
honor. The pressing need is theS aho-
lition of war and substitution of paci-
flc means for the settlement of inter
national difficulties. It is the most
= pressing need of today for two rea-
plsons s first, because preparation for
Ytwar has grown SO expensive that it is
1driving the nations with alarming
rapidity toward the abyss of bank
ruptcy; and, second, because war II
self has become ineffective as { means
of deciding international controversies
since war between two of the lead
Ing powers today would mean mutual
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