Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-09-16
Questions Morality of u. S. in
Sanctioning Proposed Anglo
French Deal.
NATION INCONSISTENT IN
ATTITUDE ON MUNITIONS
Public Service Head in Address
at Spring Lake Criticises
Administration.
Special to the Evening star.

the Public Service Corporation, and
Prank A. Vanderlip, president of the
National City Bank, of New York,
delivered the principal addresses last
night before the thirty-sixth annual
convention of Edison companies in
session here, Each said that corpo-
ration regulation had reached a dan
geroun stage, but Mr.. McCarter sup
piemented his address by criticism OF
the Wilson foreign policy and OF the
pending Anglo French loan.
Mr. McCarter, In the course of his
talk, said:
1--WE are assembled together for
conference under conditions whlch
render 1t difficult, If not impossible, 10
forecast the future by the experience
of the past. The history of the worlo
is, of course, replete with wars, IN
Guiding some of great moment. Be-
rious wars have occurred within the
past century, it Is true. but during
that period of time the better forces
of mankind have happily been the
more engaged in a policy of con-
than In the devastating ravages oi
war. The result has been marvel
GUS development in science and In in
Ventions contributing to the welfare
of the human race far exceeding any
similar development In any given Pc
riod of the worlds history.
World War Impossible.
sExulting in the fruition of our new
civilization, we had come to look
upon a world war as an impossibility
in this enlightened day. Human ma
ture. however, requires an outlet for
its pent-up feelings and conditions,
and so great was the prosperity OF
the world--and of this country i'll par
ticular at the close of the nineteenth
century--that with the coming of the
new century there sprang into ex-
jstence an economic war, through
which this country and a large por-
tion of the civilized world has beer
passing for fifteen years and which
Is not yet finished. And now a
year ago there was superimposed
upon this condition of affairs the
present mighty conflict, involving
practically all of Europe directly and
daily threatening the peace. prosper
ity and comfort of this nation. SO
say we are met together under con-
ditions that have never been paral-
leled. I'VE are actively engaged in
and cannot escape from the economic
var-the batteries of the enemy being
largely leveled against the kind of
business In which we are all en-
gaged-and as patriotic Americans we
realize the delicacy of our position
with regard to the European conflict
] hold no brief for either side In this
great European controversy. I be-
lieve 1t to be for the ultimate peace
and happiness Of the world that mill
itarism in its offensive sense, by
whomsoever practiced. should be
checked beyond that I do not go.
claim to be o reasonably intelligent
man, and yet, for the life of me,
do not know what this war is all
about, If peace negotiations we're
started tomorrow what the questions
to be determined as basis of settle
rnent would be, but 1 do know that
our much vaunted civilization has
been disgraced and set back one thou
sand years.
"I believe that this country should
maintain an attitude of strict neu-
trality In law and in morals l am
unable, differing perhaps with the
majority of my countrymen in this
acy that threatens a disruption OF
diplomatic relations with Germany,
doubtless to be followed by a declara-
tion of war by one party or the other,
because q certain small number OF
Americans, in defiance of express
warning and thoughtless Of their
country's welfare, have insisted upon
making use of the ships of belliger-
ents, either as passengers or crew, In
accordance perhaps with their strict
rights in the premises accoNfng ia
the moss covered principles of inter-
national law, which they invoke for
their protection, while the same di-
plomaoy permits American commerce
bound in good faith for neutral ports
to be held up and sent to prize courts
by the acknowledged mistress of the
seas, and while this country Is en-
gagged in a tremendous expansion in
and speculation over the manufacture
of munitions of war, deliverable tc
one side only, and while. to cap the
climax, the great bankers Of the
country are now meeting with an
official commission representing two
of the great foreign nations for the
express purpose of lending these for
eign nations a huge sum Of money
with the proceeds of which this ter
rible conflict may be further carried
on.
One Must Be Wrong.
IF President Wilson was right up
wards of year ago when he forbade
the expectation of firearms into
Mexico, because, as he said, the better
Dractice of neutrality required it, then
the present policy of permitting this
70 he done on the present wholesale
scale must be wrong. If President
Wilson was right last fall in request
ing American bankers not to make a
foreign loan, then this present nego-
tiation must be morally wrong to the
extent that it's proceeds are to be
used for the munitions of war. Inso-
far as is made in good faith for
tho res Grafton of a stable rate o1
axehange or to pay for normal
omount of food-stuffs and other
american manufacturers. not mum
tions of war, it is, of course, legiti-
,,ate OF course. l want this country
10 he prosperous and its manufac-
tures to thrive, but not at the ex-
,,anse of what is right and just. We
have heard much In this country
dnrinq the progress of the econon1ic
@ fo which / have referred, aboS.
,e.ai,,tsd money" What shall we say
80 The wealth acquired by AMERICANS
in furnishing munitions OF war SO
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