Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-05-04
National Peace Congress Meets
In Chicagoto Advocate Ter
mination of Wars Among
Nations.
TAFT SENDS LETTER
URGING ALL POWERS
TO CULTIVATE PEACE
Noted Men and Women of the United
States Meet to Perpetuate the Olive
Branch as Opposed to the Sword.
CBy Ass0siatsa Pr.ss.l

CBy Associated Prsss.)
CHICAGO. May S.-The second national
peace congress was opened formally here
today. Orchestra hall was well filled with
delegates. Robert Treat Paine. Of Bos-
ton. president OF the American Peace So
ciety, was in the chair.
Addresses OF welcome were made by
Governor Charles S. Deneen and by May
or Fred A. Busse, of Chicago.
Rev. A. Eugene Bartlett, chairman OF
the reception committee, welcomed the
delegates TO the work Of the congress and
told tim Of the arrangements that had
been made for their comfort and conven-
fence.
Taft Sends Letter
letter from President Taft was read
by Secretary Of the Interior Ballinger,
who had been degelated TO represent the
administration. Miss Anna b. Eckstein.
OF Boston, announced a world petition
TO the third Hague conference. DR.. Ben
5amin F. Trueblood, secretary of the
American Peace society, told OF the pres
ent position Of the peace movement, and
Dean w p. Rogers, Of the Cincinnati
Law school, spoke OF The Dawn of Uni
versal Peace" In his address OF welcome
DR.. Bartlett said:
We welcome you to the serious work OF
the conference. Large have been the ex-
penditures. but we expect you TO do your
work so faithfully that the achievements
OF this gathering will be UNNECESSARILY
greater than its expenditures This con-
gress must be more than a spasmodic
expression OF protest against wa and a
resolution that disarmament woulC be de-
sirable-
A Worldwide Peace
1t should inaugurzte still more ef-
fective campaign OF education Of the peo-
pie in the interests OF permanent. world
wide peace The burdens of war are
borne BY the common people and in the
end the verdict OF war or peace must
rest with the rank and file OF the peo-
pie"
Exercises Of many kinds were held in
this city yesterday as a preliminary TO
this session. Special peace services were
held in all OF the churches In the morn
ing. In the afternoon there was a labor
demonstration and the Socialists held sew
eral meetings. In the evening big mass
meeting was held under the auspices OF
the Sunday Evening club.
The congress will last for three days.
Tn following is the text OF a letter writ
ten by President Taft TO Secretary Royal
L Melendy OF the National Peace con-
ing Of that body today:
MY Dear Sir: / greatly regret that 7
am unable TO attend the coming national
peace congress at Chicago. and there to
express my earnest sympathy with the
object OF the assembling OF so many dis
tinguished men in interest Of the world
peace. That progress has been made i'm
the matter OF peace everywhere by inter
national action and by the moral pres
sure OF the peoples of the earth, anyone
who has examined the record must admit.
1T is true that ornaments go on in
creasing in cost. but il is also true that
the burdens presented by this cOmpa-
tion in armament are growing heavier
and heavier. and the problems for So
luton consistent with their increase, be-
come 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.
America for Peace
The United States has contributed
much to the cause Of peace by assisting
countries weak in respect to their inter
nal government so as TO strengthen in
them the cause Of law and order. This
relationship OF guardian and ward as be-
tween nations and countries. in my
judgment. helps along the cause Of inter
national peace. and indicates progress in
civilization. The policy of the United
States in avoiding war under all circum-
stances except those plainly inconsistent
with honor or its highest welfare has
been made so clear to the world as hardly
to need statement at my hands 1 can
only say that as far as my legitimte
influence extends while at the head OF
this government, IL will always be exert
cd in the full in favor Of peace not
only as between this country and othe-
countries, but as between our sister ma
tons.
Very sincerely yours,
WILLIAM II. TAFT
Paine Makes Address
Some power which the world will heed
must take the initiative in proposing peace
10 the world" said Robert Treat Paine
OF Boston. in his opening address at the
peace congress today.
Continuing, he said:
We meet here in Chicago in hopes
that Chicago viii move the United States
70 take this initiative. for which the
whole world waits.
Action OF this character has in Il a
little noble audacity. When the world
was weary Of the bloody fight between
Japan and Russia. at last America made
bold 10 intervene; remember how cordilly
the world approved and how this inter-
venIlon was sustained till az last il tn
umphed and peace triumphed over war.
President Roosevelt felt the sympathy
OF the whole civilized world rally behind
him
Mad Policy of War
Even so far a long time the world
has condemned the mad policy OF war
Rare outbreaks Of actusj war occur, yet
nj peOries are coming % condemn the
folly OF peTpetually Increasing prepare
lions.
The cost Of this annual burden Is
bsnkrupting the nations
The wealth OF the world refuses any
longer 10 be wasted.
The second Hague conference with its
glorious union OF all the forty-fOur ma
tons on earth could not quite agree on
the details Of the supreme court OF ma
-'""s drafted BY Hon. James Brown Scott