New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-13
A WOMANS PLEA FOR PEACE
Aims and Hopes OF the woman rea
"A Conference of Nations Urged

to in our propaganda is our fight against
military training in the schools. MISS Cay
lord seems TO think that military training
teaches boys "self-control and respect Tor
authority" and that lack Of such training
would result in their becoming anarchists.
MAY ask her r she has never observed that
anarchism is most prevalent IN autocratlcally
governed countries, just those countries
where respect for authority rs inculcated
bv a strong military system? There IS Tor
instance. almost double as much violent
crime per capita in Berlin, where such DIS
cipline as Miss Gaylord advocates foursnes'
"a exists in London, where there is almost
a total lack Of IT, The only respect Tor
authority which s worth two cents rs that
which is largely. al least voluntary, not SUD
mi,ted 10 because Of force, but acquiesced m
intelligently as the consequences OF liberal
education. This is the basis upon which a
democratic government exists. If we must
have military training, let US have u for
grown men, not impose II upon children
under the pretence OF physical and moral
DEVELOPMENT The consensus OF opinion
among eminent educators and directors OF
rhysical training is overwhelmingly that mil
itary training for the young IS a useless
sham. resulting only in reducing the militia
tive and individual responsibility OF the
child while giving him inferior, or actually
harmful. exercises; and worst Of all, impress
ing him with military ideal In other words
the accomplishment Of a desired end by use
Of force, By nficting death, by compulsion,
not arbitration by strategy, not frank deal
ing; by violence, not by intelligence. While
We recognize that force has still necessary
place in the world, its application should be
more and more carefully circumscrrbed, and
its use not encouraged, but the reverse.
80 This leads me to my last point Miss
GAYLORD speaks of the Central Powers as a
mad dog" Suppose, for the sake of argu-
ment. that We agree 10 that. Is II better 10
have a long, exhausting struggle with such
malevolent powers, hoping to hurt and maui
as much and more than We are ourselves nurt
and mauled. not trying TO see what is the
cause Of the Central Powers running amuck
or 70 use our experience and knowledge OF
humanity 10 give sick nations chance to re-
cover? Is il not better TO try TO understand
the German psychology than merely TO COM
bat its symptoms? Germany can be under
stood only if we see her as a victim Of the
false teaching handed down by government
officials, philosophers and professors. who
represent her TO herself as the intended VIC
q
momentary danger from her great nelghbor,
Russia The effect of this was fear COM
plex, whose inevitable reaction Is aggression.
The crushing" of Germany would impress
this conviction on her for all time and render
her permanent menace to the world.
In conclusion. Miss Gaylord says that we
Give on the surface, are opportunists who
brush away grave national perils really too
unpleasant TO materialize.' | should say that
the contrary is the fact We have held study
classes and forums 20 discuss international
problems in which America is involved. We
have urged in all our public writing and
speaking consideration Of the causes OF
strained relations with other governments, to
the end that we may have clearer and more
constructive foreign policy. We believe hum
bly that we are doing our part toward keep
ing America in the path of peace and helpful
ness and we are thankful TO believe that we
are in the majority.
GERTRUDE NJ. PINCHOT.
New York. Dec. IL, 1916.