The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-10
COST OF ARM|NG
WORKS FOR PEACE
TAFT Believes Expense Of War
Will Mean Its Elinlina-
ton.
PEACE CONGRESS MEETS
Letters Received From President
Ambassador Bryce and
Other Notables.

| Hartford, Conn, May 9.-The New
England Arbitration and Peace Con-
gress began It's first session here to-
day. The congress was called to order
in the hall Of the House of Representa-
itives. Dean Henry Wade Rogers. of
the Yale Law School. presided. and
addresses were made by Mr.. Rogers
and by Benjamin F. Trueblood, of the
American Peace Society The delegate
body was large and enthusiastic. Off
cial recognition of the Importance of
the gathering was given tonight when
letters were read from President Taft.
Secretary of State Knox, Ambassador
James Bryce, w. j. Bryan and Sam
uel Gompers, OF the American Fedora
ton of Labor. The letter from Presi-
dent Taft was In part as follows:
II have on more than one occasion
expressed myself as being in favor Of
International peace and in favor of ar
bitration to secure 1t. and also dwelt
on the subject in my inaugural adj
dress. That does not mean. however.
that 1 am in favor OF a country giving
up that which we now use for the pur-
pose of securing peace. to-wit. our
army and our navy, because i believe
that the expense of armament is work
ing toward peace.
"I earnestly hope that your meeting
will be productive of much good in the
promotion of permanent peace, and I
wish you every success in your efforts
in this direction"
II assure you both personally and
officially that am in sympathy with
the movement for the arbitration OF
controversies between nations as a
means of calming irritation and of
preserving peace" declared Secretary
of State Knox IN letter.
Letter From Bryan.
William j.. Bryan's letter expressed
regret. at being unable to attend. IN
addition. Mr.. Bryan said:
II am in hearty sympathy. however
with the arbitration movement. hope
that your meeting will indorse a prop
osition which introduced at the Lon.
don conference four years ago. and
whichfwas afterwards indorsed at the
| New York Peace Conference. 1t is d
| declara tion that all questions In dis
| pute between nations should be sub
mitted to an impartial international
| tribunal for investigation and report
before any declaration of war or com
mencement of hostillties. This leaves
the parties to act Independently after
the report. but Ii we can secure time
| for investigation and report on the
| Il
| fculty is almost certain.
II believe that this plan will really
go further than arbitration agree
ment, because in all arbitration agree.
ments an exception is made as to ques-
tons that affect the national honor
and that exception Is often sufficient
Ito nullify the agreement, because ques.
tions of national honor are dragged
| In to Justify the declaration of war
An investigation would separate al
questions of honor from pecuniarS
question. and thus expose the sordit
reason. which Is usually Al the bot
tom of war"
President samuel Gompers, Of th'
! American Federation of Labor. in hi
letter said in part:
81 want to express the hope tha
| the Srowing Intelligence of thc-eom
bined forces of the workers of th'
| great movement of the. citizens gen
orally will make for the early realiz
Ing OF a worldwide peace.
/, Stands for Peace.
/ "Organized labor stands for peace
industrial as we'll as international
carplng critics to the contrary notNiSh
standing. We want ,ipternationa
peace. All mankind Yearns for IT. hu
manity demands 1t. ,..,,is.
II am firmly convinced that II {
growing tendency toward internationa
fraternity among the workers OF al
lcountries Is manifested, the more gen
laral recognition of8 the identity Of in
H tercsts of the toilers is, established
the world over that these practca
methods Will contribute more than al
else TO the enhancement OF nntyersa
- Irynn t,nued mn T"rT,hird paIe>a =, n