South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-06-22
WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

comment has been elected by the dec
laratiOn of Thomas A. Edison that he
knows how 10 produce agencies of de-
structiOn that are much more terrible
in their effectiveness than any now
employed in the European war, and
he is being highly praised for his eX-
pressed determination TO withhold
this lethal knowledge from mankind
unless this country be attacked 10y a
foreign foe. While we may appreci-
ate Mr.. EdisOns humane sentiments
and cordially endorse them, q spirit
Of fOrehandedneSs causes us TO wish
that he might commit his recipes for
destruction TO writing and entruSt
them TO the government TO be used
only in case of this country being in
vaded by an alien army. Mr.. Edison
Will not live forever and it would be
lamentable were he TO carry with him
TO the grave information that might
be used successfully in national de-
Tense. IL has long been the belief that
some day would be produced an agency
of slaughter SO malignly awful that
il would put an END to war. In truth
there is q legend 10 the effect that for
more than hundred years past there
has been guarded jealousy in the
archives OF the British war department
formula whose employment would
wipe off the earth in an hours time
the most powerful army the world
might muster, formula whose SIMS
ter posi- bilities are so far reaching
that England has been afraid to en-
ploy ii against her enemies.
This is probably a mere fairy story,
for the advance in science has been
revolutionary during the century past,
vet its closest students have utterly
failed 10 even approximate a man
killer such as we are asked to believe
has been hidden away by the English
government for generations.
II is possible. even probable, that
Mr. Edison can do what Me claims 10
be able to do but if he really can and
wished TO have his methods adopted
I'm warfare he would find his strongest
.-opponents not among the peace doves
but among the dogs of war. Soldiers
would combat il for the reason that 1t
would seem TO jeopardize their pro
fession and 60 greatly increase its
hazard. A soldier Is only human and
il IS not to be wondered at that he
objects 10 have his job reduced 10
denth-trap proportions. Military lead
ers have strenuously opposed such IN
nOvatiOns as the airship, the subma-
dine. the use of high explosives, the
gas bomb. and various other deadly
devices in the game Of war. Their IN
production has been forced 10y civilian
heads of departments who have real
lied the possibilities presented and
who have overruled the objections OF
the military leaders
II is terrible TO think of the intro
duction OF power i'm war that would
in an instant deyastate q square mile
vet possibly its employment would
spare the future generations from
eartb's greatest curse. If the sacri-
nee of a single generation can relieve
succeeding generations from what will
otherwise prove TO them blight and
n curse by all means let us witness It's
Introduction at once. Mr.. Edison. al
ter an. might do well 90 reconsider his
determination. and in the name OF
humanity and ages yet 10 ne. release
- secre+ for. immediate use 10 all Of
ne var maddened mObs of the old
world II might be better so.