Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-07-28
IT'S OUR BUSINESS
TO keep OUT OF WAR
So Thinks United Press Man
Back For a Brief
Vacation.

w. G. Shepherd, United Press cor
respondent in the European war, Is
back to see a brother who is i'll. In
terviewed by Minneapolis Tribune
reporter he said, among other things:
"The United States does not realize
the situation in Europe. The warning
nations are simply mad dogs. They
have gone beyond the stage where
any appeal to reason can influence
them.
Therefore, say, from a first-hand
knowledge of the conditions in Eu-
rope, Of the state of mind of the bel
ligerent peoples, and of the influences
actuating them, that the United States
should accept the situation as it is and
keep out of the German submarine pa
troll limits.
"Mr. Bryan is 1000 years ahead of
his time. He has taken by far the
most advanced view of the situation
and has the clearest insight into the
true course the United States should
take. If the European statesmen in
July, 1914, had his viewpoint, there
would have been no war, hundreds OF
thousands of lives would not have been
sacrificed, billions of dollars worth OF
property would not have been destroy.
ed and the civilization of Europe
would not have been set back hun
dred years.
81 have just finished reading Mr.
Roosevelt's address in San Francisco
He is all wrong on the question. That
kind of talk which he is INDUCING in
is the worst kind Of thing for our re.
lations with the nations at war. There
is only one enemy with which the
United States should go to war and
that enemy is war itself. There Is
nothing that has come up in the pres.
ent war affecting the United States
that would justify our going to war
We should keep out of it at all haz
ards.
I'm this question of American rights
in European waters, Germany OF
course wants to prevent munitions
made in America from reaching he1
enemies. On the other hand, England
wants us to make the Lusitania af
fair an issue so as to cover her own
weakness in submarines. We are toe
busy with our own affairs to compen
safe England for her mistake in arm
ament."
II would like to repeat that it Is
our big business to keep out of the
war. The American people are put
ting such implicit trust in President
Wilson and leaving to him the decis
ion as to Germany because they know
he will not drag the country into the
war. From what have seen I cal
think of no justification for any ma
tons going to war except it be in de
Tense, to repel invasion.
"England has been debating to thu
United States, fully as much as Ger
many, as to how we shall travel thu
seas; she has been making it a. poin
to transport ammunition on her pas
senger ships carrying our own people
No Freedom of Seas.
I'VE can't expect full liberty of tn,
seas in war time. 1t isn't German,
that prevents our having it, it is tn,
war itself, the necessary development
of war. Except for the fact that GU
sympathies lean to England becaus,
Of our common loss in the Lusitani;
disaster, we have as much reason :,
criticize England as we have Ger
many.
eyes; the feeling is very bitter II
Germany against the American sell
ing of munitions to the Allies. thinl
the only thing we can do in justice i
to keep on selling. It would be
most unneutral thing to stop it now
If the Germans raise the question O
ethics Of the practice aside from it
conceded lawfulness, then what hav
they themselves to say about KILN,
women and children in sinking tn
Lusitania?"
what do you think of the notes ez
changed between the United State
and Germany" he was asked.
! "Dienity is Costly"
1--WE should not stick to foolish die
nifty in our position" he replied
"There is a way for American lives t.
be perfectly safe on the sea, il W
accept the proposal of Germany in it
second note. We have taken just &.
much from England, why not fro1
Germany? Why stand on foolis
rights with these mad, demente
peoples of Europe. It will get us ne
where, unless into trouble.
Meet German Proposal.
Germany doesn't want war wit
the United States. She won't star
it. She will take a good deal from u
without starting anything. So lon
as she thinks there is one chance 4
a million Of our having trouble wit
France or England, her game will b
to hold off and await Developments
AS to submarine warfare, German
has pointed out how it may be cor
Quoted without imperilling our pei
pie, and I think we would do well t.
lay aside foolish dignity and meet he