The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-05-07
An Appeal from Former Presi-
dent Taft is Received by
Secretary Dudderar.

Taft is head, has been received by G.
W. Dudderar, secretary Of the Clarks-
burg Board OF Trade.
The appeal is made.in connection
with an invitation to all commercial
organizations throughout the United
States to send delegates to the first
annual assemblage OF the league,
which is to be held in Washington on
May 20 and "a. The communication
IS signed by William H. Taft, Alton
B. Parker, President A. Lawrence
Lowell, Of Harvard University, Her.
bert s. Houston, George E. Roberts
and Edward A. Filene. 1t reads in
part:
I'VE conceive the program OF the
League to Enforce Peace to be OF vital
importance. TO the uninterrupted de-
velopment Of commercial organiza-
tons, Of political and social institu-
lions and to the organization at the
close Of the war, OF justice and peace
throughout the world. The movement
is being introduced in every Amerl-
can city, and 1t is desirable that a
group CT representative men in each
shall have that intimate insight into
II which will be obtained from attend-
ance at the Washington meeting"
Outline Scheme.
Messrs. Filene, Houston and Rob-
erts, mentioned above, were members
OF special committee of the cham
Der Of commerce OF the United States,
which prepared report showing the
effect Of the war on American business
interests, an (Which outlined a scheme
interests, and which outlined scheme
peace, similar to that proposed by the
League to Enforce Peace, emphasize
ing the value Of economic pleasure as
sanction. This plan was submitted
to referendum vote OF the chamber
fof commerce last year. Extracts from
the report reprinted under the title
OF american Business and World
Peace" are made part Of. the comm,Inl-
cation signed by Mr.. Taft, Judge Par
ker and the others. Some OF its m ,re
striking paragraphs follow:
All Americans are profoundly moved
by the war, whether viewed from its
moral or material aspects. Especially
is this true of American busienss men.
who. through their business rela-
tions, are closely in touch with The
actual condiitns in Europe. Moreover,
the knowledge that war fundamental
| ~ Injuries the business structure and
the trained power OF the successful
business men to accomplish results
has created in TENN the will for more
lasting peace. -. ..,.
aNaxf gattIa~o,tv
AS business men, we cannot fall to
foresee that, IL this war Is settled as
all previous wars have been, without
n providing for the duly constituted
| authority" there will be added 20 its
enormous charges the still greater con-
tinuous charges due to rivalry in arm
aments and other preparations fol
the next settlement"
Under such conditions, we are
forced to believe that the European
nations, after the war, will be faced
with the insistent need for re-eslab,
lish their industries at almost any sac
ridce in order to keep up In the race
for ornaments and to obtain means O.
settling their debts, 80 as to keep
their credit food for the next war. Pre-
dict'ons by students of affairs already
abound that these necessities. will cause
them to make sacrifices of natural
profits, lower their scale Of living, ana
SO create competition of unexamplej
severity-a competition which also
would be particularly ominous for ouz
higher-wage market, that so far has
suffered least !. at H.. a, .4.t
Should q period Of unrest and I'M
certainty follow an unsettling settle
ment," the United States will not be
free to determine what increase, II
any, 1t will make in its ornaments
but may be forced into an abnormally
great increase, with CORRESPONDENCE
abnormal tax and other burdens.
Difference Of Opinion.
There is difference Of opinion as
to the employment Of force to compeI
any signatory nation to submit It's
. cause to an international tribunal be.
fore going to war. Your committee
. however, believes that the great ma.
jority OF the practical men of the Unit.
ed States, who hold themselves. re.
, sponsible for reasonable progress see
! the necessity of the employment of al
adequate pressure or force to compe
signatory nations to bring their cause
J before an international court or coun
) Gil Of Cancellation before going to war
: because, however desirable II may bt
theoretically not to use force, yet thu
/ history Of the last one hundred years
the many wars during that time ant
the events Of the present war hay,
made apparent the fundamental meet
} Of an international power to enforc,
, the submission Of international dis
8 putes to a court The alternative Il
/ constantly recurring wars and In tn,
: Interval between these wars the In
creasing absorption in preparations
= for war Of the resources of the princi
. pal nations OF the world. Fl. .si.
Your committee does not sugges
{ that the world can do without armies
? We do not think that 1t can, at tn,
: present stage OF civilization, any NOR,
1 than we can do without militia Blu
Just as. within the state. there ar,
: many things we, use, besides the mill
T tia and before we use the state mill
tia or call upon federal troops TO
the enforcement Of q law. or the execu
: ton of q court Judgment, SO there ar
I forces we can use internationally be
fore we employ our armies and ma
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