New-York tribune., 1911-11-20
WOULD CHECK ARMAMENT
w. Bourke Cochran Says It Is
Cause of High Prices.
NATIONAL LUNACY, HE SAYS
Tells Metropolitan Temple Audi,
ence the Hague Peace Confer
ence Should Settle Disputes.

Speaking on International Peace be
fore a large audience at the Meuopohtah
Temple, 1lth street and seventh avenue,
last night, w Bourke Cochran, declared
that the stupendous sum OF money spent
by this country for armament was respoh1
sible for the high cost Of living
Mr.. Cochran is one Of the vice-presidents
Of the International Peace Forum, or
which John Wesley Hill, pastor Of the
METROPOLITAN Temple, is president ana
President Taft is the honorary president
Mr Cochran said, In part:
There is no question so important to the
people at the present time as me queSt.O4i
Of the high cost Of living. The direct rea-
son for the high cost OF living is traceo u
the waste OF the treasury oi tne co9huy
the waste Of our money IN thG HllI sJiisb
petition beween the nations TO & esIa''''sii
armament greater than one another;
Ayd unless this continued oulNlnS u u
armament ceases the cost OF HNlnS WIZ heeP ~
on Increasing Why is il that the cost OF
living has kept ON increasing IN the teell
OF conditions that make for over prices 3
Crops have never been so aDGnGsdnt' a,,5 IA
dustrv has never been so uourlshhhs' Gnu
Vet We are compelled 10 pay more Tor the
ihirrs we need than ever before
The reason IS a destructive force IN op-
grafton that IS spending the money faster
than the industrial capacity Of man can
make it, and that destructive force is tne
building Of more armament, Whlch Is
nothing more or less than national lunacy.
II IS suggested that the tariu is Inc
cause Of the high cost or living. Ley nc me
say before going further that am ulteIiE
opposed to q tariff OF protection. But
say that the tariff Is not responsible for
INC high cost of living, which IS not local
hut worldwide And the entire reason
for the situation we find ourselves IN lhe
scrapins and pinchcd living, the anxiety OF
our mothers and the dark despair OF our
families Is the waste OF money spent IN
military preparations.
Last wear two billions Of dollars was
spent on armament Here is the waste
that crusnes the people and takes the very
life blood out Of nations. Think O! WnaL
this money would have done toward rellci
from the terrible grip Of high prices.
How can this awful demOraiizine craze
or international lunacy in the spending oI
money that is a dead loss be stopped
think the best way TO stop II all would
Let that riounal intervene in all cases
and not only in cases where II is asked OF
allowed 10 intervene. Let II settle al
questions. whether of this so-called ma
fioual honor or not. If this was done
she countries IN A controversy would have
30 submit testimony, and from that tesu'
,nony The Hague would render a falI
and iust decision. This would mean only
8 slight extension Of power, and II coulo
be so easily done. ,,s.
II would stop that awful flow Of hie
blood from the wound in the side of civil
szation II would mean the diversion OF
hands now making tools OF destruction e
-nakinE tools Of production, and WoulC
take the terrible shadow that is hangnl
over US away. Let justice, our grahuss|
possession, rule in these diSpuates.