New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-11-15
Rabbi Attacks from Pulpit
Administrations De-
fence Policy.
PHONES PRESIDENT
JUST BEFORE SERMON
David Starr Jordan, at the Free
Synagogue, Derides Possibil.
ity of German Aggression.

d.. Stephen S. Wise, long a friend
and ardent supporter Of the President,
yesterday morning attacked Mr. Will
sons preparedness policy. Speaking
from the pulpit of the Free Synagogue
on Peace Preparedness versus Mill
tary Preparedness" this attack came a
few minutes after DR.. Wise talked with
the President over the telephone. Both
h, and DR.. David Starr Jordan, presi-
dent Of Leland Stanford University,
who preceded him, urged that there was
nothing for the United States to fear
in go far as outside attack was con-
cerned.
Difference in judgment from the
President Of the United States ought
not TO be interpreted as criticism,
said DR.. Wise. "Mr Wilson would not
have his utterances regarded as
oracular and indisputable. Much as we
honor and admire the President, we are
not 10 be his blind followers; nor may
IL be demanded of us that we hold our
deepest convictions in allegiance be-
cause of a Presidential word. IL will
yet come 10 light that the truest friends
of the President are they who now dare
to point out that he is mistaken; who
pray that he may retrieve his step be-
fore il is too late.
THE President has, alasl lent the
prestige of his great Office and Of his
equally great character to the cause OF
military preparedness. II the proposal
Of the President had been made two
years ago the nation would have set it
aside with little patience. But world
war RACES to-day, due TO many causes,
chiefest among which was the measure
OF military preparedness abroad. This,
more than any other cause, made war
inevitable"
Dr.. Wise said that there had been the
influence Of politics in the declaration
of Mr.. Wilson that the country should
adopt a policy os military prepared
ness.
mo thinking man will be unmindful
of the terrible cos, which might have
been involved in the Presidents taking
a position against the military pre-
paredness programme makers" he
said. "Who does not know that Mr..
Wilson's failure TO echo, however hest
tatingly. the cries of the militarists
would have been seized by score Of
Dental possibilities ready TO initiate
themselves into the Presidency through
preparedness advocacy?
LET US for the first time in history
enter upon a campaign of peace pre-
paredness. No one great peace pro-
gfamme has yet been advised. That re-
mains to be done. The order OF the day
for our democracy is the leadership of
the world in the direction OF peace pre-
paredness."
Speaking on "The Long Cost of War;
DR.. Jordan pointed out that those per-
sons are punished most among the citi-
zens of nation who had least TO do in
starting war. He declared that the main
cause of the present war was the effort
of the "big men" in England, as we'll as
in Germany, who desired to break down
the forward march Of democracy.
at was the fear that the Bundesrath
would go in the way of the House Of
Lords that was the cause of the war in
Germany" said DR.. Jordan. There are
two arguments against war: First. the
taking of blood is wicked, for no war is
or can be noble. Secondly, there is the
Ions cost of war 10 argue against it.
There is no need of further Mill
tary preparedness. No nation, not even
Germany, would make an attack on us
would ever even think of doing it.'