The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-07

newspapers as wars preventive" The Nebraskan proceeded strongly and not without bitterness against that doctrine, and aroused intense interest by excaim- ing:
 If we had been as well prepared as they (the nations of Europe) believe we, too, would have been involved in that ter rible conflict, lusting for blood. Such pre- paredness would inevitably lead us into war We cannot transplant the European tree of hatred without preparing to par take of it's friut'
 He declared that the advocates of "pre- paredness'' would capitalize the patriot ism of the nation,'' and very plainly in sinuated that some of them have ulterior motives in warlike agitation. He added that such advocates would restore the duel system of honor,' under which be- cause of some insult, real or imagined, one would be forced through the power of public opinion, to forget his wife and babe who needs him. and walk out to the fields to kill or be killed.
 "Some 50 years ago." he declared, "a prominent Georgian was challenged. He answered by writing: have a wife who needs me and a Soul which I must save; you have neither. Therefore. our meet ing would scarcely be on equal terms. The nations should follow the lead of the Georgian and when challenged reply that they have the lives of millions of boys to preserve; the cost is too great"
 Happy Reference to President
 At this juncture Mr. Bryan expressed great happiness in that we have no jingo in the White House." and proceeded to pay the President very pretty com pliment by declaring him lover of peace and a man who tries always to find peace full solutions for all international com plications. And then he proceeded to rid icule in mild manner the jingoes, the advocates of preparedness, the criers of wolf and the prophets of yellow peril"
 'They tell us," exclaimed the speak CT, "to beware of Japan-of Japan. nation which is not thinking of fighting US. And then they tell us to beware of one of the European countries coun- try which is not dreaming of moving against us with arms. And then, when we have declined to tremble at their direction, they point to Belgium, and warn us to profit through its terrible fate. How can any balanced mind think of Belgium and the United States in the same instant, with the difference In the population of the two, the diff ference in their resources? And then Belgium Is separated from be1ligerent nations by an imaginary line the Unit ed States by the Pacific on one side,
 
 if you cannot appreciate the difference between an imaginary line and an ocean, recall with what difficulty Eng land has transported across a 20-mile channel it's armies into France. And then compare that channel with the Atlantic.
 Doing Plenty Now
 "If you listen to those who would warn us to prepare, you might con- ceiye the idea that at present we are doing nothing. As a matter of fact, We are spending each year in prepar- ing for war $250.000,0 900. A battle ship costs s15,Oo0,000, or only $s,000, 900 less than the magnificent system of paved highways under course of con- struction in California. And, whereas battleship might be destroyed in Is minutes. the roads will last. forever.
 If we acted on the instruction of the jingoes we would spend in 10 years $b,00O. 100000. If we put that sum into good roads, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, there would extend 100 high ways each only 12 miles from the otn- CT; and from Canada to the southern coast chain each 12 miles from the other. And it would happen that no man in America would be at a greater distance from a good road than six miles.
 Five billion dollars! Why, the capital and surplus of all the banks of America amounts to only $4,O0O,OOO,- 900. And with the $5,00O,00O, ,OO0 the jinEoes would have us spend. we could duplicate the capital and surplus of all American banks. and still retain $1.O0O,- 100000 with which to celebrate ever lasting peace and prosperity"
 Way Out of War
 "The Way Out of the Waf," or "The Road to Everlasting Peace" was the third and final topic of the orators dis cussion. He declared that the remedy for the situation was not annihila- tion; annihilation, he declared to be impossible. He said that the "way out was not in the creation of . despot