The Washington times., 1916-01-29

.~ Ut - really, doesn't that
seem the only sensible
u way, to let the kings and
the ministers, and other
people in power who are to be most
benefited by tho change. do the
fighting, the actual warfare, for
what they WANT"
The young man who asked this
question didn't look a bit like
playwright. much less like a leading
man. Yet he with Marion Creighton,
wrote The Greatest Nation" play
which though romantic drama
manages to present the perfectly
plausible theory that kings. and not
peoples, should do the fighting for
the settlement Of national problems,
provided settlement cannot be
reached through less rigorous meas
ures. The anxious look on his
face seemed quite out of place. and
had Il MT been for 4 certain sin
cerlty and earnestncss OF manner
one would have Immediately con-
signed him to the pink tea brigade.
For those who have not seen the
new play, The Greatest Nation" at
the Belasco this week. a detailed de-
scription OF the author-leading man,
William Elliott. Is almost unneces-
sary because at first glance he seems
merely u replica of any modishly
dressed, clean shaven. polite young
man, with black hair worn pompa-
dour. In other words. he conforms
to the popular idea of how young
man should look.
But at second glance. and third.
and fourth. and 40 on. his more
than ordinarily high forehead be-
comes evident, the light in his eyes
deepens and flashes, and his simple
and direct way OF speaking impresses
far more than all Of the growing
pomposity In the world.
Wanted To Talk of His Play.
Il wish you would talk about the
play" he began as soon as we were
seated. My whole heart and soul
are wrapped up In that just now to
the exclusion OF everything else"
He settled himself and listened
eagerly to few remarks. with the
identical manner OF fond mother
hearing about her offspring
oh. yes" he admitted unhesitat-
ingly, Il believe in what have
written, aDSolutely.
Doesn't 1t seem sir pie, and
sensible. that idea Of having the
kings do the f'ghting? Why on
earth should hundreds ard thous-
ands of people be forced to give
up their lives for sorne;E.ng about
which they know little and care
less? Not for one morit mt wov.d
human beings at this st'-ge of the
history Of the world f1y a one an
Others throats ii they were not
made to do so.
The thousand and one lhjrgs which
have made people understand one
another and know one another -
postal service. improved transpor-
tation facilities. all internat tional
innovations. have sown the seeds o.
6rothersh,P brother the amSnS 1Sn.id the actual
When it comes to question o.
a change in policy it is not neces-
sary for the whole nation to takn
up arms and thrust the change down
the throat of some other nation with
the point OF d bayonet. Whenever
nations TO make decisions among
themselves. they have come to an
agreement through compromise, %
through competition which involves
only the parties vitality interested.
They. and not thousands of others.
'iN loittu " pdy tiC PSho y anu No
the fighting;
Why War Is Made.
Put ny some queer msunder-
standing it has become the custom
for governments. and the heads OF
governments. to take national pred
judiceS personally. to consider wal
as the only means of settling diff
culties and to use otner human
beings as the mediums for the eX-
preston of their Will. The resnl.
is war-War from which any one Oi
the individuals engaged would PEI
haps escape il it were possible to
do SO in honor.
Whenever a ruler is so narrow
minded as to be unable to see and
accord benefit to his peoples. If 1t
happens to threaten to undermine and
endanger his personal standing
just then is he no longer fit to be
ruler. The Abstract general good
for which he is supposed to stand