The Washington herald., 1916-08-22

NO CONFUSION OF Nature mas ever stdUlpeQcQ
them
Floods, fires, tornadoes, earthquakes, even
the eruptons of volcanoes find them calmly fac
ing the danger, and very shortly after the first
shock of surprise is over, intelligently proceed
ing to stop the trouble, or repair the damage
hence it is singular that this convusion of Man
should not be met by them in the same rational
and effective way
What then is the difference between these
two convulsions which so differently operate
upon our energies?
All the natural catastrophes have causes TN
confined by national boundaries, being just as
apt to happen in Guinea as in Germany or in
any other place on this little globe of ours. Con-
sequenty when they do occur the cause of the
trouble is never obscured by that befogging and
,miasmatic mist called Patriotism" and the
engineers of various nationalites can and do
work together harmonously to minimize the
distress. But this man-made catastrophe called
War" is based, founded, supported, propagated
and maintained almost entirely by that self
same mist, which is Of two main varieties, name
fy-Patriotism for Profit, and Patriotism for
Pride, and neither of these, when truly analysed
has worthy cause for its foundation.
Before some of your younger brothers break
into the argument with their question of what
about the Patriotism for Principle they are here
reminded of the fact that any outbreak founded
on that cause has always had different and less
lofty name applied to it, being universally called
Rebellion" by all governments of all countries
against which it has been directed.
There is also another kind of patriotism which
need not be dwelt upon the mere name of it
carrying its own analysis, any will realize
when we mention Patriotism for Presidency.
Engineers constructors by the very ma
ture of their calling, and to employ their talents
in destructive work is incongruous. Yet here
and there throughout broad land they are
banding themselves together to help our gov
ernment arm itself with handy tools for destruc-
ton and murder.
Why not band together for a more useful
purpose?
When capital wants to build railroad here,
or great industrial plant there, the engineers
are called upon to say how the worthy object
can best be accomplished. Their first act is to
make preliminary survey of the situation, for
the purpose of pointing out the faults of one
plan and the advantages of another. Conse-
quently II would be eminently in order for these
banded engineers to make a preliminary survey
OF this monstrous enterprise called War, they
may know definitely what causes it, and what its
faults are, and having done this, point out clearly
and convncingly better plan Of action
An admiral of navy, French E. Chadwick,
and one OF our leaders in finance Jacob Schiff,
have each made such a survey of the whole
world and have reached a like concluson the
admiral saying:
Restricted rights in trade are at the bottom
OF all the trouble You have got give every nation
the same rights that every other nation enjoys.
For example, you have got to let Germany and
all other foreign nations trade with Missouri on
just the same footing that Maine has"
The fnancier says:
"World wars will never cease as long as GUS
tom houses exist. This war is an economic war
The endcavor to find markets, to 60 into
new countries and fight for them, will never stop
until have worldwide free trade"
These two men have had wide opportunities
for observation; each has been in the thick Of
things in a different way, each has reached a
conclusion contrary to that which his whole life
has represented, and their exactly similar warm
ngs should make the engineers remember their
own most familiar sign-stop, look and listen
Every engineer making true survey for him
self will find his final stake must be driven into
the ground.
Our association calls upon its members for
papers, and rcgretfully many OF us have failed to
comply because felt We had no message OF
importance. But this in Europe has created
message which is imperative, and which it is
duty to deliver, matter what its reception
may be; therefore it goes TO you with the hope
that it will indicate the most useful the most
helpful, and the most beneficial Of all the con-
structive work which can engage the attention of
earnest engneers.-By Frank S. IngOldsby Member
of the EnginreyS Club of ST. Louis