Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-06-17
PREPAREDNESS
PR0v0KES WAR
Former Secretary Bryan
Argues Against Militant
Philosophy.
ISSUES SECOND OF
THREE STATEMENTS
Declares United States is Fortunate in
Being Unprepared-Hoids That Pre-.
paredness Means Disposition to Fight
When Conflict Might Otherwise Be
Avoided-Points to Europe to Sub
stantiate Arguments.

.
preparedness provokes rather than
prevents war, and that the upheaval in
Europe was the result Of the false
philosophy that might makes right"
second Of his series of three statements
on "The Causeless War" submits an
argument against military preparation
by the United States and praises the
course Of President Wilson in the in
ternational emergency.
IF any nation is without excuse for
entering into the mad rivalry to enter
into preparations for war. 1t is the
United States" said Mr.. Bryan. "We
are protected on either side by thous-
ands of miles Of ocean and this pro-
lection is worth more than any num-
Der of battleships.
Preparedness Is Disposition to Fight.
1--WE have the additional protection
in mum bers OF men ready to form an
army of defense, and 1t is known that
we would have the money too-more
money than we would have il all the
surplus earnings Of the people had
been invested in armament.
I'VE not only do not need additional
preparations, but we are fortunate In
not having It, since 1t seems nation
can not have what Is called prepared
ness without having along with 1t the
disposition to use 1t on the slightest
provocation.
Points to Europe.
"The leading participants in the
present war were the nations best pre-
pared, and ] fear it would have been
difficult for lis to have remained out OF
the conflict il we had been as well pre-
pared.
Happy are we in having a president
who believes in setting the old world
a good example instead of following u
bad example which 1t sets in this
disaster. What an unspeakab!e mis-
fortune it would have been if, in such
an hour as this. the nation had been
under the leadership of president in
famed by the false philosophy which
has plunged Europe into the abyss Of
war
In the preliminary discussion OF the
course Of the European conflict, Mr..
Bryan, in a lengthy analysis OF the
situation. argues that it is no war OF
race or religion, and declares:
Results Of False Philosophy.
IF I have correctly analyzed the sit
uation the war is the natural result OF
a false philosophy The fundamental
precept of this false philosophy is that
might makes right"
Leading to his argument against pre-
paration for war by the United States
he says:
1--WE dare not trust the peace Of the
world to those who spend their time
In getting ready for wars which never
come. Half the energy spent in pre-
pairing for war would prevent wars II
used in propagating the principles
which make for peace. Instead Of pre-
pairing for war preparedness provokes
war because it is impossible to coerce
the people into bearing the burdens In
cident to continuous and increasing
preparation without cultivating hatred
es IL it were a natural virtue. There
must be some one to fear; some other
preparing nation that must be repre-
sented as plotting for war.
All Are Prepared.
"How can preparedness prevent war
If all prepare? Each step taken by one
nation toward more complete pre-
paredness excites other nations to ad-
ditional purchases and new levies until
all have exhausted their producti,f, in
dustries.
"The doctrine that preparedness will
prevent war Will not stand the test OF
logic. and the conflagration in Europe
shows that 1t fails when tested by ex-
perience."