The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-18
SEES PERIL OF WAR
IN WILSON'S COURSE
Give Up Travel on Armed
ships. Urges Socialists
Presidential Nominee.
'LAW AND SENSE OPPOSED

Tine hrst statement upon HatioHN All"
international matteA since his nominal
ton for the Presidency by the Socialist
! party was ssued yesterday by Allan l..
Benson Of yonkers. Mr.. Benson says
in part:
II do no, believe Mr.. Wilson is a
! tvrant, nor have | any Information that
! would lead me to believe lie IL trying to
provoke war with Germany. hut ] do
believe he il entirely wrong N contend
ing tina, Americans be permitted TO ride
in safety upon armed merchant ships.
To accept wal to maintain such a right
would. IL seems to me. be the act OF
a mailman.
Mr. Wilson's contention is that in
ternational law gives Americans the
| right to ride in safety o armed mer-
chant ships. that international law can
not he changed during war. and that "
We were to abandon this right we should
also lose our right TO compel Great Brit
ain to cease interfering Illegally with
: our exports. and thus international law
would crumblc into dust.
Now, so far as international law
strictly construed. H. concerned. Mr.. Will
sun - llkNAt wv sc = 'b'
stops and our logic begins.
when international law and common
sense come into collision the nation that
chooses to follow international Law
rather than Coninon sense Is in danger.
why stand for law that IL bound to he
changed when it Is in conflict with COM
mon sense and may involve us in war
.rrmRnS's attitude.
Is il omino sense not 10 expect Ger
many to employ a naval weapon that
might he the means OF saving her life?
Put America in Germsuy's place. VIVA;
would YOU have America do IL her life
were in danger" Would you prefer
that she have on her tombstone Amer
tea observed international law-and
died
at sounds like sense to saN. AS Mr.
Wilson does. that International Law can.
not Ice changed during war. But suppos.
Mr.. Wilson, instead Of being President
had bee, u u fireman. suppose Il rule
adopted hy the Fire Commissioners SAID
that upon the turning IN OF an alarm
FROM a certain bon tie nearest frs
engine should go 70 thu scene, attach a
hose TO IN, nearest hydrint ana play the
hose upon he fire. Having done 80. sup,
pose Mi Wilson should discover that
rdsoIeue had been put into TN, waite
mains Would %, continue. 10 spray gdso
len. on IN. nie' Would he say. 'Th,
, regulation that repuires mr To- attach ,
hcsc 20 thc nearer, hydrant vas adup;e,
at = I~eg'lir meeting Of the Fire com
m%iss.oncrs held on August u, 1872. an,
that regulation Caunot bc changed durins
a ARE.
Nj Wilson il not required 20 change
international LAM duIirg VA. He II
urge only 10 cease obs, rving part Of II.
81 cannot 80. nov any one can Monde
that tn. T. glIsh Government arms 20
merchant shiI's. I cannot see how an,
one can wonder that the German Govern
mrnt N.Surs To- submarine British armed
merchant ships. what is remarkable /
that any American IN his senses shoul,
wish his Government TO rush IN between
the two fighters.
There j. another weak point in MI
Wilson'S reason foi standing as Ne doe
on tine submarine. question. He say
that 4 We were To- yield on this puin
Great Britain would pay u" attention =
ri' protest against her Illegal blockad
til ;hat tie ~ho,s s'ruCiuj. Of inteina
to0lt l.N would come tumhling down
trot' P"iidiu sometimes acknowledge
NJ Wilson's protests AMI sometimes 81
I foc. not. Sh. has never N.lded or an
way Indicated that sb. might ever well
10 his protests. After the war - Owe
she may hr " Hrs to pas some damages
q % she NIGH; not pay II this ';oN
+, l,ULuttut Wcr. TO ~"'ogn.z" Germany
gnt 80 nh t'Hrcd merchantmen with
ont warning Nv which would Il b
oaS.,r 80 get along W.thou;-damigc
from England or war with Germany
Would II bc worth while IN go 10 wa
with Germany To get damages fro'
Eng and"