The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-10

on war contracts, an economic em-
barge may seem an absurd measure
to adopt. But ask the cotton growers,
who had their market cut from under
them by the war; listen to the human
appeal of unemployment in the great
cities and you will agree that the queS-
ton at least has two sides. Indeed. is
there anyone who does believe that if
a balance were rightly struck in this
country, our interests would be best
served by war in some other country,
and this quite apart from any ques-
tions of humanity or civilization? Let
It be trial balance of commerce long
and it will show heavy debit against
war. So why shouldn't business,
which has been binding the world
more closely together for centuries. be
employed to protect the world against
the waste and loss of war?
Commerce the Force.
.'Now. 1 realize that Colonel Roose-
welt, name and a man much hon
ored in Kansas, has proposed an in
ternational police force. But the trou-
BILE with an International police force
is that If large enough to be effective,
it is apt to provoke the war it is or
sure, on the other hand, could be put
in operation from within by each ma
ton without expense and it's power
would be as sure and irresistible as
gravity.
Surely wars have got to stop.
When non-combatants and neutrals
are sent to the bottom of the ocean
as in the Lusitania; when the freedom
of the seas is denied our commerce,
although we are at war with no on;
when we and all other neutral nations
are called on to bind up the wounds
and repair the waste of war, we GER
talnly have a stake in maintaining
peace, but tine entire world has q
maintaining
to maintain it is the way each indiyid-
ual nation maintains peace within it's
own borders-through compulsory
courts. What the world needs and
wants is a great world court where
differences can be adjudicated. Such
court has been set up by the world
and it can be made effective by the
world through economic pressure
Resolution Passed.
Mr.. Houston inclosing ready reso-
luton prepared by the United States
chamber of commerce and in which
the members of the Topeka CONNER
cial club today concurred. The reso-
luton which follows is self explana-
tory:
Relieving that commerce as the organ
1zed business life of the world is interde-
pendent because international and believ-
of the worlds peace, therefore. be it
of the United States that the next Hague
Conference be urged i'll the interest of peace
TO provide as a penalty for the infraction
of its conventions that an embargo shall
be declared against offending nation
by the other signatory nations as follows:
l.. Forbidding offending nation from
buying or selling within their territory or
In territory under their control.
EorDlddlng an OFFENDING nation from
or of any other forms of debt within their
territory or in territory under their control.
Resolved. That the president and the
board of directors of the Chamber of Com
to take all possible and proper means at
their command to secure the adoption by
posal to apply the economic pressure of
commerce as the most efficient. humane
and civilized means of insuring the worlds
peace.
William 0. Jones, vice president of
the National Park bank, New York,
and formerly engaged in the invest
ment business in Topeka, was another
guest today.
''As a former resident of Kansas
and Topeka after an absence of many
years this gathering seems like real
home affair to me-" he said.
After the tense times of 1913, in
valiant soldiers. l rejoiced in the pros
perity that came through the 1914
crops. In former days it was bleed
ing Kansas; now it is booming Kan
sas. Some one recently said the only
trouble with Kansas is her blooming
Kansas is nothing if not in the
forefront in affairs of all kinds. Kan
sas is the agricultural experiment sta
ton for the entire west. Try it on the
dog first and if it works take it to
states
HonOrcd by Governor.
Arthur Capper, governor of Kansas,
at the conclusion of the dinner today
at the Commercial club quarters in
honor of Mr.. Houston appointed that
gentleman delegate to the World
Court Congress to meet in Cleveland
May 1914. Before he left for the
east Mr.. Houston was given the prop
er commission to act for Kansas I'M
der the great seal of the state.