The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-03
NATIONAL PEACE
CONGRESS BEGINS
More Than 1000 Delegates and Wis
itors in Observation-Disclosures
of National Disputes Is Urged.

CHICAGO, May S.--With more than
a thousand delegates and visitors IN
attendance the second National Peace
Congress began today. The congress
will continue until Wednesday even
ing when II concludes with banquet.
Foreign diplomats will vie with Amer
lean publicists In extolling peace and
advocating the disarmament OF the
world The assembly has for it's pur-
pose an awakening OF the worlds con-
science for general agreement 10
abolish war. Arbitration OF national
disputes 10 urged as cure for the
evils OF fratricidal strife.
The congress Is composed Of four
sharply defined elements;
Humanitarians. who are prompted
by religious and benevolent motives;
labor leaders who believe the working
classes bear all the Ills and reap none
of the profits of war; commercial lead
ers who think universal peace viii in
sure greater prosperity and increased
productivity. and academicians and
Socialists who urge the establishment
of cooperative brotherhood of man
with the abolition OF war incidental to
steps for the general good.
Preliminary crowded meetings were
held yesterday and last night in all
the downtown halls at which numer-
Gus addresses by the advocates of
peace were delivered The silent pro-
test" by the Socialists in Grant park,
where the park board refused to per-
NIT public speaking. was held yester-
day afternoon, but the Socialists could
marshal only 1000 persons instead of
| the 10000 they wanted. The 1000,
however stood for an hour and half
in perfect silence. as a protest against
the action of the park board.
An address by Secretary of War
Dickinson. president of the peace con-
gress, was read to the gathering. Mr..
| Dickinson pointed to the progress to-
wards universal peace made through
the meeting AT The Hague some time
ago. NO event that has transpired in
history" he said. has even approach
! ed the profound and lasting effects
that will flow from these conferences
upon the peace of the world
| President Taft sent this letter which
was read to the meeting.
Il greatly regret that | am unable
to attend the National Peace Con
gress at Chicago and there to express
! my earnest sympathy with the object
OF the assembling OF so many dis
| tingUished 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 anyone who has examined
| the record must admit. II Is true that
ornaments go on increasing in cost,
| but ~ is also true that the burdens
| presented by this competition in arm
! ament are growing heavier and heav-
! Ter. and the problems for solution con-
sistent with their increase become
more and more difficult The posi-
I biities OF war now arising come chief
( " from Responsibilities of govern
ment, and in those countries were sta
/ bility OF internal control Ia lacking
/ The United States has contributed
much to the cause of peace by assist.
( ing countries weak in respect to their
I internal government so as TO strength
/ en- in them the cause of law and or
DER This relationship of guardian and
ward az between nations and coun
tries. in my Judgment, helps along the
cause OF international peace and indi'
cafes progress in civilization. The pol
/ lev OF the United States in avoiding
war under all circumstances except
those plainly inconsistent with honor
or It's highest welfare has been made
so ciear To the world az hardly ia
need statement AT my hands. ! can
only gay that so far as my Legitimate
influence extends while ri the head oi
this government. II will always be eX-
erted TO the full in favor of peace. not
only as between this country AMI 9TH
I or countries. but as between our sis
Tor nationG "