The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1915-05-21
REV. AYERS WRITES ON
LUS|TAN|A SINKING

u1A, EUItOT.
Much is being said by the people
and press with regard to the sink
ing of the Lusitania, a British ship
by German submarines, and also as
to what action the president of the
United States ought to take in refer
ence to 1T. AS l see it the United
States is not responsible for the safe
ty or destruction of vessels owned
and operated by other nations. But
it is argued there were Americans
on that vessel. l ask who caused
them to take that perilous voyage?
They were not in the employ of
this government they were not sent
by this government; they went of
their own free will and accord after
beng faithfully warned not to get
on board.
They knew before they started
that the ship on which they were to
travel would pass over a very dan
gerous zone, the region and shadow
of death; and yet despite the warn
ing and the knowledge of these facts,
they ran the risk, they sailed and
sailed right into the jaws of death
and lost their lives.
Who is to blame? They travelled
on British ship, manned by a Bri-
fish crew, and floating a British flag
"a ship that could easily be recog-
niSed by Germany, their enemy, with
whom they are at war.
Now in the face of all the facts
why should President Wilson make
demands upon Germany? Why not
let Britain attend to her own bust
ness; it's her ship and passengers
that are lost-not ours. Is it pos
sible that it has become the duty of
the president of the United States to
insure the lives of all Americans
who see fit to visit foreign lands, on
foreign ships; who venture into a
realm of war, of danger and of
death? But they tell us that there
were innocent women with their
helpless babes clasped to their bos-
oms who went down amid the mighty
crash of broken sinking ship. May
i ask softly and tenderly what pos
sessed those innocent women
with their sweet babes to plunge
right into land engaged in the
most deadly conflict ever known?
They must have been women of mea
They must have been women of
means and intelligence; we'll aware
of the danger to which they would
be exposed Why take such a trip
at such a time?
They certainly were not poor wild
ows and orphans seeking a dwell
ling place among the tombs" Such
class surely would not leave a
country of peace and plenty, to
dwell in land of war and want.
Really was it not reckless on the
part OF intelligent men and women
to take such a risk. And yet one
editor says all eyes are turned to-
ward Washington, waiting to see if
President Wilson will make demands
upon Germany or back down, and
adds: that public sentiment de-
mands prompt action on his part.
Now allow me to say just here that
II there is such character of pub
lie sentiment in this country | have
failed to find it; and l have talked
with a number of leading men, doc
tors, lawyers merchants, manufac-
turers and others, and not a man OF
that class have l found. All agree
with me that it is none of Wilson's
business.
If railroad train is wrecked in
the United States the President is not
called upon to investigate the matter
and if the friends or relatives of the
injured see fit to sue for damage
they don't sue the wrecker, they sue
the company that operates the trains
But, those men whose eyes are
turned toward Washington and fix
ed upon the President would have
him investigate the sinking of a
British ship, and then leap over
England who owned and operated
it, and pounce upon Germany, the
wrecker, for damages.
Germany didn't want to hurt a
single American on that ship; SC
far from it that she urged them not
to come to that place of torment. "
She gave timely warning before
hand not to embark, but they heed