New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-30
COLONEL REVIEWS
PACIFICIST RAPS
nti-Preparedness Advo-
Gates Likened to An
Gent PerSianS.
WOULD COZEN MEN
WHO LIVE SOFTLY
Peace Talk Like Tissue Paper
Against Tidal Wave" SO.
biologists Told.
lFron The rnbun. lsursau i

Prom The Tribune Bureau
Washington. Dec. ga plea for pre-
paredness by Colonel Roosevelt, read
before the American Sociological So
ciety here to-day provoked warm
outbreak by several pacihsts who were
present. The trend OF their arguments
was that preparedness for defence
would be turned into aggressiveness.
Colonel Roosevelt's paper was read
by Chairman Edward A. Ross and was
entitled Social Values and National
Existence" 1t pointed out the fate of
nations that failed to arm themselves,
and said:
an the thirteenth century Persia had
become a highly civilized nation, with
a cultivated class of literary men and
philosophers. with universities and
great mercantile interests. These lite
rary men and merchants took toward
the realities Of war much the same at
titude that is taken in our own country
by gentlemen of the stamp OF Messrs
David Starr Jordan and Henry Ford.
unfortunately for these predeees-
sors Of the modern pacitists. they were
in striking distance OF Genghis khan
and his Mongols. and, of course, as IN
,ariablv heppens in such cases, when
the onrush came the pacitists theories
were worth just about what tissue
Daper barrier would amount TO against
2 tidal wave
Among those who discussed the pa
per were Dr.. John Mez, of the Amerl-
can Peace Society; Miss Mabel Board
man. of the American National Red
Cross: Professor +. c. Hayes. Of the
University of Illinois. and Professor j.
O. Dealey. of Brown University.
Sees Fallacy in Coloners Talk.
DR.. Mez said he took it that Colonel
Roosevelt thought that the "only thing
worth while discussing was the cues
ton of national preparedness This
said Dr. Mez, would turn the Amerl-
can Peace Society into an armament
] league.
There is a fallacy in Colonel Roose-
velt's theory" Dr. Mez said, which is
common to all militarists and those who
think it is necessary to maintain arma-
ments for peace purposes. These peo-
pie overlook the question OF attack as
we'll as defence, and devote their argu-
ment to the question of defence
There was applause when he spoke OF
me ancient IltLUOOo VI Dibbt &VA ~ ~
vocated by Colonel Roosevelt" and also
when he declared: "The general idea
that Belgium. Persia and Poland and
other countries have suffered is no rea-
son TO believe that the instruments
which have caused that suffering should
be increased.
Chicago and New York are able with
safety to abolish their police forces can
we talk about the abolition of war; and
he adds that the pacltists must neces-
sarily condemn a police force Just as
much as Trey condemn armies, Ut,
Mez continued.
"Now. this would be perfectly true II
we actually used the police force Of
Chicago against that of New York, and
vice versa. Fortunately for us, such
disputes as may arise between such
cities as Chicago and New York on
questions Of commercial and trade RI
valrv are no longer settled by sending
the police forces Of those cities against
each other. They realize that the legal
methods of justice and law are better
and less costly than the ancient meth
DDS of brute force"
Miss Boardman Commends Defence.
Miss Boardman spoke for the work
of conservation Of humanity" done by
the Red Cross.
al agree in the idea of necessity for
national defence" aid Miss Bosrdman.
"But where is the line TO be drawn be-
tween preparedness and milltarsm!
England's idea of national defence lies
in navy large enough 10 command the
seas and dictate terms of commerce 10
nations with which she is not at war.
Germany finds preparedness IN ma
ton in arms, and thus can disregard
the rights of neutral nations.
"How far preparedness for national
defence leads TO preparedness for ma
tional aggression is question. Ma
tonal defence undoubtedly is right, but
must be wisely administered so as not
20 be temptation 10 war"
"Only defensive war is justifiable,"
said Professor Hayes. 1T is always
justifable TO repel the blackhander, but
never is il iustifable to be a black
handler" ne agreed with Colonel
Roosevelt up to a certain point, how
ever, but said that, while European les
sons were valuable, IT must be remem-
bered that Europe was now barbarous
and misguided because of its misedu-
cation al the hands of military au-
tocracy
"Roosevelt's citations from history"
said Professor Hayes, "have overlooked
the great element of change. All great
steps in advance have been called i'm
practicable up TO the moment Of &C
complishment.'
Preparedness is all right, but we
don't know where IL will end said
Professor Dealy.
Infinitely the most important fact