The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-12-09
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. THE PEOPLES FORUM 8:
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DISAR M Am e MT.

Just as we approach lne eve Vi IHIlst
mas, at time when we should herald
Peace on Earth, Good VIII TOWARD
Men When we are confronted witt
the horrors of the great European war
| We are called on to measure ouI
strength and prepare for the fray.
The Ardmore Chamber of Com
merce is in receipt of a letter of No
vember 20, 1914, from Hon. Augustus
=. Gardner of Massachusetts, enclos'
ing copy of his speech and resolution
Oh. j. 32) providing for national
security commission to investigate into
the question of the preparedness of
the United States for war. introduced
in the house of representatives Oct. 10,
1914.
He asks that our chamber of com
merce prepare suitable resolutions di-
rected to the senators of our state and
the congressman from our district,
urging them to support the Gardner
resolution.
presume this request has been
made OF all commercial organizations
throughout the United States. In Civ
ing our answer, let us count the cost
For many years the nations have
been vieing with each other in build
ing instruments of murder and de-
struction
1t is true, our nation has not kept
pace with some others in naval equip
ment and other preparations for war
Neither are we engaged in the great
conflict of the nations.
He that lives by the sword,
shall perish by the sword"
Only few months ago the Utopian
idea to abolish throughout the world
the manufacture of weapons for
private gain seemed ridiculous. but is
now regarded as sober possibility.
1t is obvious that private profit in
the manufacture of these instruments
of death should forever be at an end.
That is the real enemy. At the very
core of this worlds disaster lies Krupp-
ism, agitation, preparation. Behold the
result So long has it been that to
prepare for war was the way to keep
the peace The war has come. Prepa-
ration has exploded, and all Europe is
in bloodshed
The United States of America is now
more than ever an anti-militarist ma
tion and holds in it's hand the power
to sanction or prevent this most ur-
gent need of mankind.
The first step looking toward uni
versa peace is the cessation of the
manufacture and sale for profit of all
armament, both in America and else
where
Every class of firearm and every
kind of explosive should be made in
government work shops and sold by
lut government. lneIe SlOulu Dt
record of each gun and none should be
permitted to go untraceable.
Anything you prepare for you will
get Men who tote" pistols find a
place to use them.
The nation that prepares for war
finds an excuse for fighting.
If two countries can make an agree
ment as the United States and Eng
land did soon after the war of 1872
and reduce their armament to mere
police protection on the Great Lakes,
and this agreement holds good for a
hundred years, why cannot all the ma
tions of the earth do likewise? Why
should nations be more savage than
individuals?
War lays waste green fields and
stills the hands of industry, pillages
the land of its resources and gives
nothing in return. War sets neighbor
against neighbor in deadly combat and
incites the brother to slay his brother
1t respects neither innocence old age
or virtue. War is He'll"
FELlX X. WEST.