The Detroit times., 1914-12-21
Vice-President of Detroit Vapor
Stove Co., in Lengthy Tele-
gram, Appeals for Real
Neutrality
CASE LIKENED TO
BOYS IN SNOW FIGHT
u. s. Makes the SnOwballs, But
Disclaims Intent to Aid
the ThrOwers

Edwin p. Harms. vice-president OF
the Detroit Vapor Stove Co.. has sent
lengthy telegram To President vii.
son decrying the fact that the United
States. neutral nation. is sending am
murition to the fighting nations. and
at the same time Is helping TO care
for the newly made orphans and wild
ows. Mr.. Harms argues that I'm the
interest Of humanity the United
States ought to do everything In its
power to stop the war instead, OF fur
nishing means TO continue IL and de-
stroy lives. His telegram follows:
Detroit, Mich. Dec. 81. 1914.
President Wilson,
Washington. d. G.
My Dear Mr.. President:
r,ar3u YOUR opposition to building ,in6 sub ss
wsr ror Is sorsfn we ,aksn ADMIRE
your decision and you have the APP
proval OF the nation.
There is another matter fully as
grave as that before us now. This
time IL appears TO me tho state depart
ment has made n hasty decision. In Its
opinion the United states remains neu-
tral by sending ammunition to the
nghting nations. ! would like to have
the men composing tie state depart
ment bark back TO boyhood days, and
swer the question at hand. They do
not have 10 be learned judges In this
simple problem: SupPose the boysJwere
on one side We're yattantiy fightins afid
making their own snowballs as they
fought, and the boys on the other side
were hghting, and also making their
own snowballs. But bark. there are
some boys not In the aght but tlHy
are furnishing snowballs for one side.
They are doing everything but actually
throwing snowballs. This is the posi-
tion the United States finds itself In
now. Any school boy would tell you
that II you are making and furnishing
snowballs for one side. you are on that
side OF the fight
Another illustration comes to me.
Two burglars are caught trying to
blow open a safe and one was holding
doing the Job. When these two cul-
prits are brought before the Judge.
lantern: "You were only holding the
lantern therefore | can not sentence
you To prison. you were not really en-
gagged IN this burglary. You go free:
The United states Is In the same po-
sition as the burglar who is holding
the lantern. IL we stop now TO furnish
ammunition. the historians can remove
the stain on our actions somewhat by
saying. "At the start OF the war the
United States was assisting the allies
with munitions. and still claimed neu-
tIuiity put tne BONeTnHlent soon uc-
cided that this amounted 10 the same
thing as actual participation in the
war itself. and ordered II stopped.
Again, | say to ask any schoolboy.
and he will point out the clearness
OF the case. Let US 20 on the side of
fairness and neutrality now, and say
that since all the lighting nations can
not supply themselves equally well
with our munitions we are compelled
for the sake OF neutrality 10 stop sup
plying IL to any nation. This latter
case would also have the advantage OF
bringing the war to an earlier close.
There are only two ways that the
United States could be neutral One In
to see that all the countries get In
actual possession of munitions from
us The other Is to see that none gets
IL from us. Furnishing ammunition
when only one side can get II. Is just
everything but actively engaging In
the war on that side. No country could
accuse us OF not being neutral when
we would not furnish ammunition TO
any nation whatsoever. That would
be true neutrality.
Here comes the most pathetic and at
the same time the most ridiculous part
tion to Europe thereby helping to
make more widows and orphans, and
at the same time we are also sending
relief funds and food for these newly
made widows and orphans.
Are you with me, Mr.. Wilson? IL so.
help the state department to see the
light. You surely would have the
nations support in this
Yours very truly,
EDWIN p. HARMS.
vice. president Detroit vapor Stove Co.