The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-01-15
Former Secretary Foster
Favors Campaign of
Education.
BELIEVES PUBLIC
INCLINES TO WAR
Only Chance, He Says, for Legis-
lation Is Through Popular
Clamor.

NEW YORK, Jan. I5.-That public sen
timent IS IN favor Of war as the best
means Of settling international disputes,
and that the advocates OF universal
peace and arbitration are far in the
minority, was the bold declaration Of
John W Foster, former Secretary Of
State. In an address before the mem
bers OF the National Peace Society fol
lowing luncheon -lere today
Foster declared the proper way for
. the advocates Of universal peace 10 work
was not 10 devote their time 20 endeav-
orins to force Legislation, but 20 work
among the masses and create q senJi-
mCnt for peace which would Of itself
. force legislation
II had been expected that Andrew
Carnegie, president Of the society, would
I preside, but he is confined TO his home
with a sprained knee, caused by a
recent fan, and sent a letter of re-
gret
IN his address. after admitting the
magnitude of the task society has on
hand, AR Foster declared little hope
could De expected from the present Sen
ate ard quoted a Senator whom he
DID not name. TO that effect He also
. quoted Major General Wood as saying
the army should be enlarged and
strengthened
Says Sentiment Is Wrong
such sentiments as these uttered
By The Senator and The general he
continued, ARE but a reflex Of the pop
UIar feeling in our country, and ir IS
one which must be changed before we
may expect any substantial and per
manent realization Of the principles Of
the peace sOCie-y.
our opponents assert that war not
only is inevitable. but sometimes is
necessary, that arbitration Is merely a
method of adjusting minor international
indiIsrences. and that political uueS-
ti0us, involving national policy, honor.
or territory must IN the extreme resort
be determined by the arbItrament OF
war and tlat war Is not an uumiNCi
evil as lt stimulates patriotism, makes
men more vITile, reduces the redundant
population ana Is healthy stimulus
among nations.
Mr. Foster defended the Revolution
airy war, which he declared does not
fail within the category OF foreign
wars and in this discussion ventu-ed
the assertion that II Canada today de
sired TO set up an independent govern
ment II would meet with mo armed
opposition from Great Britain
Past Wars IudefensibIe.
He said the war Of ISI2 and the Mexi-
can war were indefeusible, and that the
civil war grew ont Of conditions which
could not have been forseeu. but should
have been avoided by purchasing IA
slaves and setting them free
The Spanish war. de asserted. was pre-
.IUIfdteI Joy the blowing Up OF the
Maine. and Is said 10 is by no means
certain that iI-s explosion did not orig
D.. D. o. Fl. H H.. "H
would have been no need OF this war,
Ee said. had it not been that popular
opinion forced the conflict when dipIo-
macy was stiII available and would have
prevented conflict
TU conclusion Mr. Foster said.
This review, I think shows that all
oi the foreign wars an which the nlted
States has been engaged were brought
on ay OUT own UTecipitale action that
they were not inevitable and that they
might have been avoided Hv the exercise
Of prudence and deIiberation.
Remarks By Other Speakers
Prof John Bates Clark. of the De
uzItment of Economics Of Columbia
University. discussing the peace move
ucut. said
The peace movement at its inception
was highly IdeaIiSJic and 10 the aver
axe PhllIstine was a thing OF dreams
and VISIONS OF late years il has be
come emiuently practical and its con-
summation IS probable in the near fu-
Lure-
Etrs- Lucia Ames Mead, OF Boston,
criticised Secretary Meyers recent
statement that our navy was cheap
FORM or insurance - u DStfug during
our history only S0-OO12 Of every dol
lar o Irrational wealth.
Marcus NJ Marks. member Of the
Roosevelt Industrial peace committee
and president Of the National Associa-
uon OF Clothiers- made an appeal to
business men to take a more active
personal interest in the organized
peace movement Attention was called
10 the duty Of men Of aairs in COOP
Grating with the professional men TO
promote practical work directed to-