The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-02-27
ABSENCE OF WOMEN
IN COUNCIL
CAUSES WAR
Rabbi Stephen S. Wise Declared To-day
In An Address Before National
Peace Conference, Taking
On as War Careless2"

Chicago, Feb. 27.-The absence OF
women from the councils OF state y
partially, If not largely, responsible for
the continuance of the plague OF war
upon earth, said DIR. stephen s. Wise
rabbi Of the Free Synagogue OF New
York, in an address to-day before the
National peace conference.
lis War Careless?' was the question
he discussed.
The belief that man was born a fight
ing animal and must forever remain
one, he called "the most immoral OF all
moral heresies', and he viewed diplo-
macy's hidden ways as one OF the ul-
innate causes not only Of the present
war but virtually Of all wars.
"The deepest cause Of the war, he
continued, "has been the faith that
mighty ornaments alone could avert
war, that the billions, not millions,
which the military powers of Europe
have spent in the last thirty years were
the premium which these nations were
paying for the insurance against war.
Is no nation ever to make a great ad-
venture in behalf of world-peace as many
nations seem to be ready to hazard the
adventure of world-war? Our opposl-
ton to war must become real and final
and inhexible. The time must come
when men viii have to choose between
killing and being killed. No govern
ment could constrain me to slay my
child. If my country bids me stay my
brother beyond the national frontier, !
should say nay, though the government
slay me. The time has come when
men must choose that they be slain for
refusing to slay another rather than go
forth to slay their brother at the be-
hest Of any government.
"A substitute for war must be found
and can be found, some outlet Fer the
passion of men to serve and strive to-
gether, some opportunity for the play
Of the social instinct which burns within
men and is ready TO merge the interest
OF the citizen in the interest OF the
country. Men must be given some great
and resistless call to service that merges
the individual in the community. II you
will not let men march and stand and
serve together, they viii stand and dis
serve and battle against one smother.
The new emphasis of the peace move
ment must be constructive, providing for
public and commonwealth service on the
part of the youth of the nation, to whom
Professor James plan must be offered
a year of service for the able'bodied
youth of the land.
II hold that the absence OF women
from the councils Of state is partially,
If not largely, responsible for the con
tinuance OF the plague OF war upon
earth. Is it less than incredible that
eight or nine nations are engaged in the
greatest wars that the world has ever
known and not woman in all these
lands has been consulted as TO whether
war or peace should be, though tens of
thousands of men OF women born have
died and the last great terrible cost Of
war in lifelong sorrow and suffering
will be by women borney
The last thing To be dreamed of in
connection with this war is revenge.
Only one thing could be madden than
the present warfare, and that were a
determination to inhict crushing punish
ment upon any one Of the contesting
nations. Out OF this terrible welter Of
blood and massacre. there must come
renewed and deepened respect on the
part of nations for one another, re.
newed and heightened reverence for ma.
tional dignities religious iutegrities, and
racial individualties"