The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-29
PEACE JUNkET
IS CONDEMNED
PrOminentKansas Editors Ridi-
cuIe Henry FOrd's Scheme.
Both Scott and White Take
Shot at 1t.
! CHILDISH and IMPAIRMENT
Is the Way the lola Man Char
acterizeS 1t. s.
eCOmmendS Wilson for Refusing
to Give 1t Recognition.
CHILDISH and IMPAIRMENT

Kansas is not wildly enthusiastic
over the Henry Ford peace junket
and the encouragement given the trip
by Governor Capper, who for three
days considered seriously some meth
cd that might permit him to make the
jaunt. Even William Allen White,
representing the progressive IDEAS:
and Charles f. Scott, representing the
conservative thought of the state,
agree that the European peace trip
is the most silly and impairment
junket on record.
When Governor Capper finally
wired the automobile manufacturer
that he could not make the trip, he
fastened to assure the Detroit mil
Honaire that his sympathy and best
wishes were with the expedition. Now
when the governor turns to the edi-
torial pages of the Kansas press, he
will find that the editors are poking
gentle fun at the effort of handful
of Americans to tell the European
rulers to stop their foolish Fighting.
Both Scott and White, who have net
agreed on a public measure for many
days, are unanimous in their verdict
on the European peace jaunt.
What Scott Says.
Expressing his view ef7ssthe trip,
Scott said: .ss-
what can Mr.. Ford and Miss Ad-
dams and the ninety-and-nine others
who are to make up the party-all OF
them going as Mr.. Fords guests
and Emperor William and the dozen
other presidents, princes and poten-
tates who stand at the heads of the
warning nations that they do not al
ready know? Shall they say to them:
This is q horrible wari 1t is costing
thousands of lives every day. 1t is
filling your lands with mourning. 1t
is desolating your fields. 1t is pfling
up staggering loads OF debt Don't
the kings and the presidents and the
princes know all that already, and
know it more poignantly that Mr.
Ford and Miss Adams can possibly
know it? And then when Mr.. Ford
and Miss Adams have impaired this
information what is it going to effect
for them to add; And what is more,
this awful war of yours shocks us
dreadfully Won't you p-l-e-a-s-e
stop it," What will the kings and
the presidents and the princes say to
that? 1850
with their lips they will doubtless
make some polite reply, for that is
the way of the great of the earth But
IN their hearts will they not deeply
resent the implication that the war.
this frightful world conflagration in
which substantially one-half the hu-
man race is directly involved, came
from so trivial a cause or is leading to
so inconseQuent a conclusion that its
continuance or cessation depends
upon the request of shipload OF
junketing foreigners! And in their
hearts will they not despise the shall
which have inspired the idea that be-
cause one is an American millionaire
he can charter a ship and take over
a hundred men and women and put
a. stop to a war in which not men and
money merely, but empires and dynaS-
ties and the destinies of 'natiens are at
stake!
at is reported from Washington that
President Wilson refuses to give the
party any sort of official recognition.
and for that contribution to the self
respect of the country he is to be
much commended For. admirable as
is the motive that doubtless prompts
garded by those to whom its petitions
are to be addressed as an intolerable
fmpertinence,~ to be forgiven only be-
cause it is SO utterly childish and
naive" Z.
Whites Suggestion.
Now William Allen White of EN- |
poria adds this kindly, tender sugges- |
ton:
WAR means horror and injustice |
and cruelty and harbarism.s But dis |
honorable peace. a mere laying down |
of arms to pick them up some other
day, will be a diSgraceful peace, and |
Governor Capper and Mr.. Ford will do |
better to stay at home and let nature |
run her course. There is g. peace that |
is more important than the peace of |
Ford; 1t Is the peace OF God which |
passeth understanding When it
comes it will bring victory for democ-
racy, and until it does come twill be |
better for this war to wage a hundred !
years. For there will be no peace un-
til that great peace does come. and |
what is a century, when Thousand |
years are but a watch in the |
night 2''