Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-20
ATTACK BY BRYAN
ON ONEX-PRES|DENTS
Protests Against Forms of Pre-
paredness Advocated by Roose-
welt and Taft.
LABOR MEETING
Use of Force in international AT
fairs Inimical to True In
tereSts of Nation.

NEW YORK, June Ia.-Wi!liam Jen-
nings Bryan. addressing "A labor peacc
meeting at Carnegie Hall here to-
night. attacked former Presidents
Roosevelt and Taft as leading sponsors
of organizations which stood for the
use Of force in international affairs.
and which the former Secretary of
state declared were in,nical to the
true interests OF this country and to
the cause of international peace
Mr.. Bryan began his address by de-
claring that he could find no more fav-
orable auspices than those Of tonight
for beginning the work which he felt
IT his duty to perform-aiding in the
crystall!zing of the sentiment in favor
OF peace In support of the President in
MS EFFORTS 10 reach an amtcable settle
ment OF all diflculties that may. dur
ing the war. arise between this coun-
try and belligcrent powers"
He alluded 10 the labor element" as
an honorable appellatlon" and de-
clared that no advocate Of peace could
have deeper interest in it's prescrva-
ton than the laboring man who. with
out any pccuniary interest in war.
recognized that it was hurtful to him
az bringing about enforced idleness in :
crcasing taxes. and in calling upon him.
probably among the first to take up
arms. and leaving the aftermath of war
10 be borne in great measure by him
or his family. Therefore, Mr. BRYAN
argued. 1t was natural that peace
movement should begin with the labor
ing man. and that organized labor, be-
cause OF its readily operative ma
hinery, should take the lead in such
n movement.
PROTESTS AGAINST
TWO ORGANIZATIONS
Those who work in the cause Of
peace will find IT necessary" he said
to combat the forces of militarism as
well as TO do educational worl. in be-
half of the principles upon which the
hope of permanent peace rests and
deem this an opportune time and place
10 invite you to enter n protest against
TWO organizations. which are already
asking the support of the public
Both of these organizations are Of
fcered and manned by men of great
respecta bility.
one OF these organizations has for
Its object n large increase in the army
and navy. Ii has set itself the task
OF providing for the national security.
and IT is busily engaged in minimizing
the force and effectiveness of our
army and navy, in order to furnish
arguments in favor of the enlargement
OF both.
"ExPresident Roosevelt is the most
potentia! factor in this group. and it is
quite natural that, on account of his
prominence. his great ability. and his
a. ,sEx l..
general policy OF the organization.
He speaks with all the force of con-
viction, and discredits not only the
Justice. but even the motives, OF those
whom he contemptuously describes as
pacinsts and advocates OF peace at any
price. He more than intimates that
they are physical towards. and that
their attitude on international pucs-
tions is due to fear of bodily injury
1T is entirely possible to credit him
with the purest motives and the sin
cerest patriotism. and yet resolutely
oppose the methods which he would
employ for the safeguarding of the
country. If fireman insisted upon
pouring oil upon a fire. he might he
separated from the service as mat
ter of precaution, and yet he might
possibly escape criminal punishment
on the ground that he was so anxious
TO have part in the fire that he did
not take time to inquire as to the in
flammablc character of the liquid used.
EXCLUDED FROM LIST
OF NATIONS ADVISERS
$50 Mr.. Roosevelt might be excluded
from the list OF the nations advisers
on all matters relating to peace or war
on the ground that he is so anxious to
get into any contest that involves blood
letting that he cannot he trusted to
deal with any phase of the subject. The
preparedness which he advocates would
destroy our nations moral influence"
Mr.. Bryan declared that Mr.. Roose-
velts plan of making this nation "a
rival of the powers of the Old World
in military and naval preparation" would
involve indefinite increase in expendi-
ture for ships and men to be continued
so long as other nations continue to
increase.
Mr.. Roosevelts plan, Mr.. Bryan said.
would make the United States "a vast
armory with skull and cross bones
above the door. and the designing
architect Of the system will go in and
out in uniform with the proud con-
sciousness that our nation no longer
contains mollycoddles or weaklnEs"
Mr.. Bryan declared. however, that
there was no danger OF Mr.. Roosevelt's
organization securing numerous fol-
lowing when it's real purpose becomes
known" and he urged the lahoring men
Of the country to see that its purpose
was clearly understood and give the
President assurances OF support to
"counteract any influence that the
jingoes may seek to exert"
The other organization to which I
refer Is Of more recent origin. In fact,
1t has just been born. and its most
conspicuous sponsor is ex-President
Taft. whose devotion to peace will not
be questioned. He has associated with
him men who have been prominently
Identified with the cause OF peace; men
whose names give to any cause with
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