The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-07
Nebraskan Fails to Display OratOrical Fire for Which He Is FamOus-Theatre Is Filled to Capacity
WARM WELCOME, BUT NO DEMONSTRATION
 FOR THE COMMONER
Hints Advocates of Prepar- edneSS Have UlteriOr Mo- tives-OtherUses to (Which Money Could Be Put

We cannot transplant the European tree of hatred without preparing to par take of its fruit. "
 This sentence was the climax not of an address on the frightful slaughter across the seas-but of an invective against the doctrine of preparedness delivered last night at the Jefferson the atre by William Jennings Bryan.
 The Nebraskan discussed the war-the "causeless war" he called it-but the only subject in the treatment of which he dis played the oratorical fire for which he is famous was that of preparation on the part of this country for the possible con flicts of the future-against jingoism and for everlasting peace.
 The distinguished speaker was present. ed by ex-Senator Frank s. White as a citizen of the world whose convictions and enunciation of those convictions-had cost him the highest official position in America. The theatre was filled to its capacity; but while the audience extended the "Commoner'' kind, warm recep- tion, there was nothing done on it's part which could be construed as demonstra- ton.
 No Sparkling Oratory
 MT. Bryan in the beginning, spoke kind- ly of Birmingham, referred with certain tenderness to his former visits. and men, tioned the name of the late John w. Tomlinson in connection with a sentence expressive of deep regret in that he had lost real friend. And then in nar- rative fashion he undertook the discus sion of his subject, ''The Causeless War" The address was characterized chiefly by the earnest plea for peace it con- tained, by the choice of the orator $ language and his wonderful articulation not by sparkling oratory and thrilling eloquence of the "cross of gold and crown of thorns' variety. The speaker. as a matter of fact apparently attempted not at all to beguile through passionate ut terances or persuade by means of art full language. As an advocate of peace, as a citizen with a message of hope and love to deliver, it was obvious that the Nebraskan had previously concluded that earnestness. sincerity, must be the dom- mating characteristic of his speech rather than the ornate and spectacular features which he has hitherto employed. As a result. his audience last night might by other tactics have been more entertained more delighted, but it could scarcely have been more touched, more nearly per suaded, brought more in attune with the spirit of the speaker.
 Address in Three Parts
 Mir Rrvan divided his adraas futo fbraa parts-the war as 1t is and it's injury to the world; the false philosophy out of which the war has grown and its re- suits; the way out or the road to per- manent peace.
 He declared the war the biggest-not the greatest-the world has ever known the biggest in the number of inhab ants of the belligerent nations, the big .gest in the number of men enlisted, the biggest in the cost, the biggest in the destructiveness of the implements em- ployed Thus he pictured the war as it is. It's injury to the world he declared to be not only it's effect on the nations engaged but on neutrals in that it dis astrously effected trade, and caused of lenses to non-belligerents by all bellig- erents which did not through malice in- tend to offend. In this connection he ex- pressed the conviction that international law had been written for nations at war, not for those engaged in peace; and he expressed the hope that in the near fu- ture certain necessary and remedial amendments might be achieved.
 In the language of the speaker the false philosophy of the war was the philosophy of might makes right or as paraphrased by Cartoonist McCutcheon,
 Dynamite makes right" He contended that there could be no other cause for the war save that the rulers had de- termined that might makes right" for, as he said, 1t is not a race war, a relig- ious war, or family war. Under this topic he declared that no nation, no individual, could adopt the philosophy of might makes right" without abrogat- ing those commandments which proceed against coveting, stealing and killing. The one hope of good which might emanate from the titanic struggle, in the opinion of the speaker. is based on the fact that the declaration of each nation that it was not responsible for the initiation of the conflict has proved that war is no more considered as a cause of honor. but as horror for which apologies are neces- sary.
 Discussed Preparedness Earnestly
 And then MT. Bryan discussed with earnestness preparedness" that doctrine advocated by certain public men and