New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-18
Present Forces Ample, He
HOldS-TreatieS His
War Cure.
RELIES ON TAXES
TO HELP CRUSADE
Thinks He Could Succeed in Eu-
rope as Individual Where He
Failed as Official.
[From The Tribune Bureau.l

Washington. Sept l7-William j.
Bryan will make a vigorous fight
against any increase in the army or
navy. He made this clear to-day in
several talks eliminating in an ad-
dress TO a committee of editors of for
eign language papers. who called to
urge him TO go abroad in the interest
of restoring peace in Europe.
The former Secretary Of State re-
CARDS the whole theory of preparedness
as an invention of the war god, and
considers that few more peace
treaties would put this country in a
position where it need not worry over
, whether it has any army or navy at all.
lie told the foreign language editors
that he might attempt, personally, while
abroad, to bring about by conversations
what he had failed to accomplish by
correspondence ratification OF
peace treaties with the United States
by Germany, Austria and Belgium.
That Belgium might have small re-
gard for any sort of treaty, especially
whore Germany was concerned, did not
appear to trouble him at all. lie firmly
believes all that is necessary to obtain
perfect peace and contentmert is fo-
every nation to have one of his well
known breathing spell" treaties with
every other nation.
He indicated he might make trip
to the neutral countries. first, in the
interest of peace, and, incidentally, he
told the editors. 10 get information to
use in "the work that lies before us
here, namely, the maintenance of neu-
trality and the prevention of a pre-
paredness that provokes rather than
prevents war"
Says defence" Means War.
az tt;uk the military preparedness
which is being advocated by the Ma
tional Defence League and the Navy
J League would provoke war instead of
preventing it," he declared. "We can
not have the preparedness which they
| are asking unless we subject ourselves
/ to the leadership of the men who be-
lieye in il, and they would not only
provoke future wars, but they would
lead us into the present war If they
| could.
"If we were surrounded By nations
greater than ourselves ard separated
from them by an imaginary line it
might be worth while to consider what
nations so situated should do. But our
nation is not situated or surrounded as
Switzerland is. and | see no reason for
the cultivation Of the military spirit
in this country"
One of the lines he would take in
going before the country against the
increased national defence proposal
was indicated rather clearly by Mr..
Bryan. This was to attack any plan
which would raise sufficient revenue to
provide for an adequate army and
navy
"ff you want to get acquainted with
tho difficulties that lie in the way of
the military preparedness propaganda"
he said. lust suggest the method by
which the increased revenue necessary
is to be raised. If you attempt to raise
it by increasing the tariff. the tariff
reformer will object. II you try to
raise il on beer and whiskey, the brew
cries and dstilleries will object. II
vou attempt TO raise it on incomes,
those who pay these taxes will object.
1t is much easier TO scare the army
and navy contractors into the advocacy
of preparedness than it is TO scare the
taxpayers into taking up this unneces-
sary burden.
Blames Nervous People.
81 do not see that there is any
reason for changing the policy Of the
country in this respect. The fact that
some of our people are excited and ner-
vous is one of the evil effects Of the
war in Europe. A year ago the people
Of this country were Mortified at the
butchery and slaughter daily reported.
We were congratulating ourselves that
we we're so far removed from the
struggle. If the American people had
obeyed the Presidents appeal and OBJ
served the spirit Of neutrality IN
speech we would not now hear so much
Of military preparedness and the policy
of getting ready TO fight
"A portion Of the press has taken
sides. and the discussion Of the war
from biassed and partisan standpoints
has led TO the present situation 80
that we have some papers which seem
eager 20 get US into war with one side
in order TO help the other side.
"The preparedness which is now be-
ing advocated not only cultivates the
spirit that leads TO war, but involves
an expenditure which the people VIII
not submit 10 unless convinced that
some nation is getting ready 10 attack
us and we cannot single out nations
=. a ,,.o,are againzt them without max
inc hatred national policy"
In his talk 70 the foreign language
Continued on page 3. column