Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1909-05-03
PEOPLE WEARY OF FIGHTING
ROBERT r., PAYNE SAYS y THAT
CONSTANT PREPAREDNESS is
eANkRUPTING NATIONS.
MANY sign WORLD PETITION
FOUR MILLION PEOPLE SIGN
NAMES TO INFLUENCE couN.
TRIES TO END WARS.

Chicago. May 8. Some power
which the world will heed. must take
the initial in proposing peace to the
world" said Robert Treat Payne of
Boston, in opening his address to the
peace congress today.
"We meet here in Chicago in the
hopes that Chicago will move the
United States to take this initiative
for which the whole world waits"
Action of this character has in it
q little of noble audacity. When the
world was weary of the bloody fight
between Japan and Russia at last
America made bold to intervene and
remember how cordial this interven-
tion was sustained. For a long time
the world has condemned the policy
Of war Rare outbreaks Of actual war
occur, vet all the peoples are coming |
to condemn the folly of constant |
preparations The cost OF the annual
burden is bankrupting nations and
the wealth of the world refuses longer
to be wasted. Some nation, some
power, must take the initiative in
proposing scheme which may ban
ish war;
A world petition, having for its pur
port the abolition Of war and substi-
tuition of pacific means for the settle
ment of international difficulties,
which will be presented to the third
Hague conference, was discussed by
Miss Anna r.. Eckstein of Boston, one
Of the speakers at today's session OF
the second national peace confer
ence. The petition already has be-
tween four and five million sigma
lures. declared Miss Eckstein, who
urged that it be made to represent a
majority-world-vote when it is sub
mitted to the third Hague confer
ence by a delegation of peace work
( ers from all over the world. Miss
Eckstein, in her address. said
@The world-petition is the outcome
of a pressing need, democratic du-
ty, a practical experiment and an
Idea concerning national integrity and
honor. The pressing need is the abol
ition of war and substitution OF paci-
fic means for the settlement OF inter
national difficulties. 1t is the most
pressing need of today for two rea
sons: First, because preparation FOL
war has grown SO expensive that 1t Is
driving the nations with alarming
rapidity toward the abyss OF bank
ruptcy; and, second, because war 1t
self has become Ineffective as
means of deciding international con
troversies, since a war between twt
of the leading powers, today. would
mean mutual economic ruin before
decisive victory and defeat could b'
reached.
"The democratic duty is the dut.
evolving from the democratic righ
now enjoyed by most peoples, Z
have a voice in the shaping OF thei
national and international affairs. l
is the duty to exercise this right.
"While it is not as yet within hr
man power to prevent attack upol
the life of every individual, it is
simple matter today to provide abs'
lutte immunity from danger by extel
nal forces for the life of the forty
four nations of the world. All that
required Is that the plenipotentiarie
of the forty-four nations' when NEE
ing at the Hague for the third confe
ence. sign a convention stating tha
it shall be a universal law that n