Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-12
David Edstrom Phophesiea,
Conflict at Close Of
Fighting Abroad
AN IDEALIST BUT
NOT A PACIFIST
World Renowned SCULPTOR
Thinks United States
Should Be Prepared

~ ASCOA SA fsFf
America must be prepared aHx1
ready to meet any foe that may
spring up to attack her, for II sh1
does not she is sure to have troubl6
with some foreign country after til
present European war is ended 98
Thus spoke David Edstrom. the foij
mer Ottumwan who for the past twel3
ty-one years has been living in EuronG
and much Of this time has been a.
friends and companion OF royalty an
diplomats in numerous foreign cat
tails. As sculptor Of internationo
fame he has had entry to the set thQ}
really knows the political affairs .
Europe and to great extent the eJI5|
tire world.
Mr. Edstrom keeps informed on sth1
world politics and showed desire t1
know the national political situatlo1
as 1t is reflected here. One OF th1
hrst questions he asked upon his vi1l1
to The Courier was, "How are pOlitic
here" Informed that this section n
the country is for preparedness M
expressed himself freely on the wiz
dom of America being prepared
"The stronger will overpower TIL
weaker II the latter has what the fof
mer wants and Is unprepared to resia
the stronger. This" said he. "a
largely human nature and the countrY|
Is but reflection of that OF whicf
1t 1s composed. Man after all II but
q brute controlled by laws Of orde{
and regulations that govern him.
Every boy who has ever gone ~
school or who has had to work knoWl
this II he is unable or unwilling
defend himself he may suffer blOo11
nose at times But not so frequents
If he will defend himself and be fgf
pared to combat the boy who wout
attempt to run over him. We have Il
fight for what we get in life and II f
but natural to fight to retain whrt WI
get. What is true of the individu1
is true Of the nation. S2
Fight for Lost Commerce.
II do not pose as prophet but
know whereof speak when say the
America faces a conflict when I'M
countries Of Europe, bankrupt by thl
terrible war now raging, cease fIEtta
ing and behold America rich thrOuG
war that they carried on among then
selves. 1t may not be bloody wai
but it will at least be a cOmmercfS
war for the gold Is leaving Europe ari7
coming to America. The countr32
with which the nations of Europe. NOV
in war, have been doing busineol
have largely became American trS2
ing points.
THAT these nations will fight to Il
gain their lost commerce is but natuT
and they will fight either singly l
Jointly against the United States
win back the trade that they will neS
more than ever after the presen
bloody conflict has ended. It is VET
probable that they will combine force
to fight America for the countries thal
comprise the entente allies today haV(
all been enemies at times prior to TIL
present war. The same is true q
the Teutonic allies. England III
fought France, France has fought RU
sia, Russia has fought Japan aIt
truly Germany and Austria have NJ
always been friends. 1t is equaif
true that none Of them love Amertc1
France perhaps caring more for th
United States than any of the oth3
countries do. Hence 1t is easy to d.
how any of them could combine WITT
another after the present war
fight the United States, for the prisei
worth the effort and they will sorel
need to replenish their treasures.
1T America does not prepare II
will be fought and while / know VI
will not be conquered, she will nev61
theless suffer a humiliation that III
take fifty years for her to get over
The American abroad is not given ti
courtesy that people Of the Iarf
European nations receive. The tr9tf
ing in America In a commercial way
inferior to that Of Europe. She lac1
statistics and the knowledge Of cor
merce and finance in which Eur0r
specializes. America is wealthy an
successful in finance and commerce.
but In the family of the nations, III
is like an overgrown school boy
comparison. I do not say this out 4
disrespect to America, but because y|
more than twenty-one years living Il
every country In Europe. have beef
forced to realize the truth Of my STAT
ments. My acquaintance with men fff
the diplomatic circles OF Europe ha9
given me an opportunity to learn
much Of this and has convinced M
that America must prepare to AVOID
the conflict that must surely follow
the war now devastating Europe.
Continued on page 81 sS