The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-10-12
"AMERIcA FACES DECISION"
Whether 1t Will Lead South America to
World War.

San Francisco, Cal, Oct. l2.-WomeI
had complete charge Of to-days after
noon meeting OF the International Peace
congress. With Mrs John f. Merrill
presiding, the program included address
es by Mrs. Lucia Ames Mead, author, OF
Boston; Miss Eva Marshall Shontz, OF
Chicago, organizer of the Women's Peace
party and Mrs. Robert j. Burdetts.
Mrs. Mead said:
america faces to-day decision which
affects not only ourselves, but the whole
world. This decision will settle the
question, whether the safest nation in
the world will set the example for South
America and Asia of sole reliance on ex-
plosiyes for defense, or whether it will
insugurate new policy, assume world
leadership and save the Orient. the Lat
in republics and exhausted Europe from
policy that will lead to a world war.
If we must take reactionary course,
so must others; if this exhausted Europe
means new menace DO us, it means men,
ace to all other lands as well. If we
decide TO follow Maxim and Plsttsburg
orators, all the world must soon give its
mind to the machinery Of terror. We
must spend not only two dollars out OF
three for war past and future, but, with
an empty treasury by January, we must
tax citizens not only to feed bread lines
but to pay two dollars and half out
of every three TO prepare more muni-
tions that will yield more bread lines
here and everywhere.
"This is a time which commands ev-
cry patriot solemnly to choose whether
this great nation shall lead Asia upward
or drag her with ourselves down to the
level Of terror and conscription on which
Europe will live if we follow her past
example.
"Mere technicians dealing with me
chanical and material problems are
asked 10 decide our defenses not accord
ing to our dangers, but according TO 9TH
er nations armament. Our enormous
and nearly unique military defenses,
and the geographic and psychological con
ditions are ignored. Men ordinarily sane
are like panic-stricken child who
shrieks. Suppose lion came up the
front staigp, what should | dor
"The submarine, which has prevented
any British ships for a year from BAN
harding the German coast, shows why
rife practice for us is superiluous as de-
Tense from invasion. II we must keep
up present expense, at least let appropri-
ations 20 for such coast defenses against
hypothetic invasion. Dispense with new
battleships and cruisers for offence. Give
our school boys, instead Of rife practice,
lessons in a league TO enforce peace and
the power Of international boycott.
"A possibly victorious Germany would
expose her unguarded land 20 10000
600 revengeful foes IL she shipped her
army 1900 miles over sea. II she won
huge African colonies and Constantine
pie, who would hold them downi For
years 20 come her crippled people would
have no men 10 spare. And " she fails,
how could she hurt u.s. How could Jap
an, absorbed in Asia, touch U.S.
"All patriots want preparedness. but
real preparedness for real foes. What
the mad militarist 'espert demands, II
granted, win tip the scales Of eiviliza-
ton downward, and mean the end Of
Americas moral leadership. Il win mean
that America has no courage TO blaze a
new Part toward world freedom"