The Detroit times., 1916-12-06
An Open Letter
to Woodrow Wilson
BY Or. FRANK CRANE
Copyright. 1915. By Frank Crane)

When the war broke out | wrote an
open letter to you, pointing out that the
time had come for this country 10 take
the first step toward the only plan that
will ever put an end to war, namely, the
federation of the world.
There were many reasons then why
such a federation might not be consum-
mated; there was none, there is none
yet, why it could not be BEGUN.
| wish 90 renew my plea.
You have been reelected. but you had
a close shave, and. being thoughtful
man, you doubtless have honestly scruti-
nlzed your acts TO understand the cause
of the considerable opposition to you.
Has it not occurred to you that the
weakness Of your campaign was THE
LACK OF SOME ONE INSPIRING,
R0USING, POPULAR ISSUE?
If you had come out early, in your
usual clear happy style, and declared
yourself openly in favor Of beginning the
organization Of the world your cause. in
stead of saving itself by the skin of its
y
fore II like prairie fire
You had your triumph, but it was a
cold one-cold and precarious.
Why? Because your points were mega
tive. You had kept us out Of war. You
had refused to embroiI this country, even
under irritating proyocation, with Mexi-
co, with Germany, or with England. OF
this course the majority Of the people ap-
prove. There IS no professional fighting
class over here. Even the violent posi-
tivity of the Roosevelt kind of people
could not shake US from our conviction
that you had on the whole. acted wisely
But the American stomach Graves
something a little stronger than wisdom.
We want rousements. We want some
thing TO "holler" about.
We want an issue that shall tap the
great reservoirs Of enthusiasm, appeal
to our ideals, put the wild light of ad-
venture and enterprise in the face Of
youth, touch and kindle the swift emo
tions of women, set the preachers to
laundering in their pulpits, unchain the
fancy Of the magazine story telers, give
newspaper editors a chance 10 double
lead their editorials-we want TO be wise.
Of course, but we want most OF all 10
march and sing and weep and hoorah.
You have spoken Of yourself as party
leader DO you not realize that a party
leader needs to supply inspiration, as well
as guidance?
And you have at your hand an issue
that has more whoop-la and hallaluah in
II than anything since the slavery ques-
ton.
II is-war against war.
1t is the beginning Of that great move
ment that shall organize the world
against its greatest curse.
1t is the substitution of the American
idea Of federation all over the world for
the Roman idea Of empire.
It is up to you. A hundred million
New World people are straining at the
leash, waiting or you to say-Go! The
piteous eyes Of the crucifed Old World
are upon you. If the hand Of God ever
set any man in the sublime and danger
Gus angle of opportunity, that man is you.
Will you follow the CLEAN, or will you
hesitate still at the drab desk of prudence
and precedent?
We are neutral But the temper Of our
neutrality is not altogether satisfactory
to US. We are making too much munition
money out of it. Our neutrality is be-
ginning TO stink. We are almost persu-
AIDED to say amen to kipling's Damn
neutrals anyhow
Do you realize that with all our prating
of peace, neither our nation nor any other
is DOING anything to bring it about? II.
g. Wells says; More people and more in
telligence is concentrated upon the manu-
facture Of cigarettes or hairpins than up
on the establishment Of a permanent
world peace"
We might be helpfully, positively,
gloriously, redemptively neutral, if we
would but take up the task destiny is
thrusting in our faces and begin the
movement toward world league to en-
force peace.
Go on, Mr.. President Do IT. Do II