The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-05-26
PEACE LEAGUE SEEKS
TOENDF FUTURE WARS
Former President Taft and 9th
er Men Of National Promi-
nenoe In Conference Today.
!. tcontInued from rir.t r.se.,


I s-.-t=, CONTINUED from First Page)
v ures making more remote ths occa-
This was the gist OF the addresses
At the morning and afternoon sessions
by distinguished men in all walks or
''Militarism has failed in far more
appalling manner than pacincism. as
represented by The Haeiie peace con-
ferences." declared Oscar s. straus. one
"N Me- fsesa pacia-c,.m nor misht-unle..
dominated by .right-can achieve per-
I'VE DO not condemn our edncs.i:Sn.sl
cracy" declared Thomas Raeburp
White, Of Philadelphia, another speak
er. And SO we should support any
method that will tend toward a prac-
teal plan for a permanent peace-even
though Il may offer objections at first
sight and only appear to have the grand
plan for such n much sought and de-
sired solution Of clvilisatioo's greatest
The Be,asco Theater was. crowded
when the delegates assembled at ~
o'clock this morning for tho hrst OF the
held today. The second will meet at
$50 this afternoon and the third ut 8
o'clock this evening.
Taft Welcomes Delegates.
Former President TAFT. president Of
the league. nnde a brief speech OF well
come to delegates and introduced the
first speaker. Thomas Eaeburn White.
of Philadelphia.
Explanation was made that the iea,ue
was formed as the result Of a meeting
hsld In Independence Hall. Philsdel-
i'hia. last June. A. Lawrence Lowell.
CT and a Fl
ton. president Of the Associntci Adver-
Using Clubs OF America. 10 tho secre-
tary.
Cardinal Gibbons. and JacoG Gould
Schurrnan have been received indcrsing
the effect Of the league.
At the conclusion OF Judge Taft's
brief Introductory address in which he
earnestly put forward the objects Of
the meeting, Bishop Darlington. of
Pennsylvania. pronounced ar invocation.
The bishop invoked divine blessing on
the gathering.
Invokes Divine Guidance.
May We not be presumptuous in over
estimating our influence he said.
Neither may we lose our great oppor-
tunity for preventing .blocdshed and in
Justice by sitting suplnely still with
out lifting. our voices toward estab-
lishment Of permanent peace when
The p,.fsions OF men now aroused have
sunsided -
~ InOmaS TdeDurn Wnlte Btuted At tile
outset OF his address there might be OBJ
jections to the plan. lie said:
There are some general objections to
the whole plan which have been ad-
deserve a frank and considerate dis
"In this connection we are reminded
that the great events in the worlds
Of civilization have come about not by
law. but by force; that II would have
been impossible for our own nation to
have existed had 1t not been for tho
att is also pointed out that many
wrongs have been done n the past
which cannot be 2 redressed By legal
"The program of the League to En-
force Peace has been framed with
consideration for this matter. and
when When closely ansiyzed II is seen d not to
ment of this character.
mo one contends that the program
Is perfect; no one believes that II will
abolish war instantly. even among
for refusing its support: We do not
condemn our educational systems be-
cause they have not put an end to
illiteracy, or our religious or moral
in the wOrld-we try to make these
Institutions better.
The question Is whether the estab-
lishment of the program OF the
League to Enforce Peace will on the
whole tend TO prevent war. and tend
to promote harmony and good will
among nations.
"There can be no doubt that IL will
be OF value In the great world move
ment toward a permanent Organization
among nations, which will. some day
provide for the suppression of inter-
national disorder as promptly as dis
order is now suppressed In the best
regulated communities"
.. Straus For Armaments.
Oscar S. straus. former ambassador
to Turkey. former secretary OF Com
merce and Labor. and a former dele
gate to the Hague Feace, Conference,
was the second speaker
He made a plea Tor adequate pre-
paredness of ornaments MS o means
Of effectnally enforcing a peace pro-
gram. His address was received with
enthusiasm.
1T Is a mistake to believe that
armies and navies lie useless when
not engaged in war As matter OF
fact, armies and navies are the poten-
tial forces behind diplomacy when
vital interests are at stake and their
potentially In in the background and
often the controlling factors In OBJ
waiting the development OF conditions
that lead to war or that project ma
tions into war, even at times against
their own will.
"It is quite the vogue now to refer
with ridicule to the two Hague confer