Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-30
RELATION OF WAR
TO SOCIAL VALUES
Roosevelt Says Might Which is
Servant of Right Must Oppose
Might Which is in Wrong.
PAPER IS READ BY PROF. ROSS

WASHINGTON Dec. ga pa
per by Theodore Roosevelt on 80
cial Values and National Existence
furnished a theme for an animated
discussion today before the American
Sociological society in annual session
here. II was read by Prof. Edward
Poss of the University of Wisconsin,
president OF the society.
Infinitely the most important fact to
renember in connection with the war and
snIlitarism In relation to moral and social
values" wrote MIR. Roosevelt, ':s that "
an interruptions, warlike and militarisuc
nation is not held IN check by the war
like ability OF n neighboring nonmilitaris-
tic aud well-behaved nation, then the
latter will be spared the necessity OF
dealing with moral and social values,
because Il won't be allowed TO deal with
anything. II seems 70 me positively
comic 70 fail TO appreciate, with the ex-
aTsSls OF Belgium before our owes, that
the real question upon which modern
peace loving nations have to face Is not
how the rnilitaristic or wariike spirit
within their own borders VIII affect these
values but how failure on their part
20 resist the militarism Of an unscrupu-
ious neighbor will affect them"
Purpose Index of Morality.
Discussing the mental confusion Of the
average citizen who thinks war In Itself
is wrong. Mr.. Roosevelt wrote that war
could be defined as the use OF force be-
tween nations and that the question oil
whether 1t was right or wrong depended
purely upon the purpose for which and
the spirit in which II was waged.
There are. of course, persons who be-
lIeye ali force Is immoral; that II u Inn
moral 10 resist wrongdoing by force he
added. 1T have never taken much inter
cat In individuals who profess this KIND
NJ morality; and dc not know the ex-
tent TO which they practically apply IL
Rtit. Of course, n they arc ris.t In the
theorv. then e Is wrong for a man TO en-
desvor by force TO save his wife or sister
or daughter from abuse. or 20 save hi
children from abduction and torture. i
was A waste OF time TO discuss with an,
man a position Of such folly. wickednesI
and poitroonery.
Force Sometimes Logical.
III the man who objects TO war oh
jects 70 the of force IN civil life hi
position IL logical. although absurd AM
wicked. II the college presidents, poll
ticlana. automobile manufacturers AM
the like, who during the last year or tw'
have preached pacificism in It's most ig
noble form, arc willing TO think out tn
subject and are both sincere and fairi'
Intelligent, they must necessarily con
demn police force or a posse comitatu
Just as much as they condemn armies
and they must regard the activities o
the shariff and the constable as bein
essentially rnllItaristic and. therefore, (
be abolished.
when we have discovered a metho
by which right living may be spread .
universally IN chicago and New Yor
that the two cities can with safety abo
ikh thosr police forces. then and not unit
then II win be worth while 70 talk abou
the abolition Of war "
.'The soeiologIcai society meets 8
washington this year" continued III
paper. "only because the man after who
the city was named was willing to so
war. II he and his associates had NJ
gone TO war there would have been
possibility OF DISCUSSING Social Value
in the United states for the excelle
reason that there would have been !
United states II Lincoln had not be-
willing 10 so TO war, to appeal 20 4
sword, 10 Introduce milltarism on a Il
inendoua scale throughout the Unit
states. the sociologists, VINO win list
20 this paper, II they existed at all. wo'
not be considering the social valu
enumerated above. but the social valu
OF slavery and such governmental a
Industrial problems as can now
studied in the Central American repu
lics."
washington and LiacoIn,
al present In this world and for
immediate future" wrote Mr.. Roo
welt IN conclusion. 1T Is certain Il
the only way successfully 10 oppose
might which is the servant OF wrong
by means OF the might which is the 8
want OF right"
Speakers on the program TO disc
Colonel Roosevelt's paper included
John NJ. Metz. or the American PEI
soeiety; Miss Mabel Boardman, OF
American Red Cross society; Prof. Y.
Hayes. OF tho University OF Illinois 9
Frot. J. q. Deaiey OF Brown unlyerslt!
HHMUO NEppuNC