The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1915-05-01
FROM THE POINT OF THE PEN
From the Paterson Guardian.

A month after the European war
began, Americans started predicting
that it would be short-lived. As time
wore on and the war was still being
waged for nearly half a year some of
the wiseacres began to shake their
heads. Then came a period when it
was heralded throughout the country
that thousands of innocent souls were
actually starving OF the other side of
the water. When this became known,
rich and poor alike raised vast sums
of money to be sent to the relief of
the sufferers. In this work the peo-
pie of this city shared and to this
day the echoes of the grand work
done locally have not died away.
The goodly people of this grand
old town are quick to respond to any
charitable movement, as has been
evinced on many occasions, its peo-
pie have literally contributed to the
support of the various hospitals, have
opened their purse strings for the
Y. NJ. c. A. and the Y. w. C. A. and
kindred other institutions. In the
time of flood and fire those who were
not harmed or financially injured
came to the succor of those who had,
and Paterson took care of its own.
When like calamities befell other
cities in the Union the Silk City was
quick to respond and held its own
with cities of its size in the liberality
of its donations.
The city is shortly to receive an
other appeal. but this time it is quite
on original lines. Five hundred pub
fishers have banded together to see if
they cannot devise some les of
ending the terrible conflict in Europe.
They point out that the continuance
of the war instead of aiding America
has harmed it financially. This state
ment is being proved daily by the m
barge that is being made against ship
ments to the other side. The new
idea, a far reaching one, it being the
idea to work from ocean to ocean is
to attempt to stop the war. This
seems like a huge undertaking, but
its operators claim they have the So
luton of how to stop hostilities. Their
plan is to ask manufacturers and
workmen TO cease the making of pow
der and bullets. 1t is a novel n and
naturally if the soldiers in the trench
es had no munitions of war the con-
fiict would have to end. The move
ment is to be nation wide and it will
be bitterly combated by some and alb
ly supported by others.
Right here in Jersey and all told
not twenty miles from Paterson an ar
my of 5000 workers is laboring night
and day grinding out powder for Eu-
ropean use. 1t is estimated that in
other parts of the country 10000
more are engaged in like employment.
How many skilled workers are manu-
featuring arms in various parts of
America is a matter of conjecture but
it will mount up into the thousands.
If the appeal of the peace" workers
should be granted then comes the
question how will people thus thrown
out of work find other employment.
All of this is to be fully explained
in detail by a prominent social work
err who is due in town shortly and will
not only speak in behalf of interna-
tional peace but will point the way
that it can best be accomplished. This
worker will tell that with the ruth
less destruction of homes in Europe
and the killing of men there is no
hope of an end to the war as long as
men remain to battle and America
continues to send ammunition to the
front. The organization which is a
merger of many that collected money
for relief in Europe claims, it now
sees that it is of 10 further use to
send relief such as food and clothing
to the other side of the pond, as that
intended for those left at home, while
l@, 0.oC xxvAxo n fhn frnnf xIrnC
in many cases confiscated by either
one of the warning forces.
There are many persons in Pater-
son who like to get into any nov
ment that tends to benefit mankind
and it will be interesting to note who
will take the initiative in the attempt
to bring about peace when its pro-
moters come here. Most of those
identified with the national organiza-
ton at nresent are foreign-born, and
they are doing their utmost to ter
inmate the war, for many of their
own are fighting for their home and
country. Following a series of meet
ings throughout the country a COM
junction with President Woodrow Will
SOHs Iulo3 oeOpo VIII W
taken to have a cabinet of prominent
men go across the pond and intercede
with the European powers. 1t is a
Christian-lik idea, and if the plan
works out will be loudly applauded
by the American people. wit6al It is
a vast undertaking, but the leaders in
the movement claim they will ac-
complish results.