The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-02-22
BRYAN EXPLAINS
CHANGES Of j. s.
STAYING OUT WAR
By ellison Gardner.

is any chance to avert war l shall
continue my efforts against it." said
former Secretary Bryan whom I
came upon at meeting of the Emer-
gency Peace Committee at the Raj
eigh hotel.
"What are the chances for avert
ing war, do you think-one in TWEEN
tyr"
Perhaps" he answered, "no one
can tell. must say the prospect is
not encouraging, but those of US who
believe there are better ways to set
tie disputes than by killing our fell
low men viii persist in hoping that
a way out will be found"
"What do you suggest" 1 asked.
81 am suggesting three things:
First, to postpone until after the war
the settlement of any question which
cannot be settled now; second, to
avoid occasions of offence by keeping
our ships and citizens out of the pre-
scribed war area. And third, a sub
mission of the whole question wheth-
er or not to go to war to a referen-
dunn.
81 am not committed to the above
program. Indeed / am not commit
ted to any program. | am willing to
accept suggestions from anybody and
am willing to work with anybody who
has any suggestion or help to offer;
I am willing to eliminate myself en-
tirely if it would help for me to do
so. Sometimes / think there is a
habit of prejudice against me which
rather hurts any suggestions which l
put out. / would like, if it were pos
sible, that these suggestions should
be put out by someone else; only let
them go out. Let the people think
about them. Let them make up their
minds whether there is not way out
even at this late hour, with the full
preservation of our honor and dig
nifty as a nation"
Col. Bryan made a little talk be-
fore a group which was busy orga-
nizing an Emergency Peace Com
mittee." This committee will ar
range meetings and urge the adopt
ion of something like an advisory re-
| ferendum on the war. The Peace
Committee did not take Bryan's plan
as a whole, but decided to go ahead
and work on the general lines sug-
gested by Bryan. While this meeting
was in progress in Washington g
similar group was being organized in
| New York.
Col. Bryan saw many members OF
congress and not only voiced his
ideas, but tried to gather from them
what is the sentiment of congress and
what that body is likely to do in case
President Wilson goes before them
with request that he be "given au-
thority to take any measures neces.
sary, to protect American citizens
Bryan was informed that very large
proportion of the membership of the
senate and house feel that there is nj
alternative but to stand by the presi.
dent and ifthe asks for a declaration
of war, to make it unanimous. One
canvass showed only two member
who have the courage to say tina
they will not vote for a declaration o.
war. ..
On the other hand, he was informed
that there is a very considerable
group in congress which will take ad
vantage Of any opportunity to discuss
and postpone In the hope of avertine
what they regard as calamity.
Warren Worth Bailey of Pennsyl
vania, Slayden of Texas, Genera
Sherwood of Ohio, Travenner of Iii
nois, Huddleston of Alabama, La Fol
lette of Wisconsin, Cummins of Iowa
Norris Of Nebraska, and Clapp O.
Minnesota-these members are al
ready to take advantage of any op
portunity to discuss alternatives
Bryan has offered them an alterna
tive, and they are considering hi
proposition and others. Most of thes
members have very strong feeling
that a majority of their constituent
are against war. They saw in tn
recent election that many people lief
their party to vote for Wilson ''be
cause he kept us out of war" and the,
feel now that if there is any way il
which it can be done, their constitG
ents would support them much NOR
willingly in helping the president t
keep the country out of war than i
backing the president to put the coun
try into war.
On the Emergency Peace Commit
. tee formed here are the following
Mrs. w. Thompson Burch, Miss En-
lily Greene Balch of Wellesley col
lege, Mrs. w. 1. Thomas of tn
Woman's Peace Party, Miss Rebecc
Shelly, secretary of the America
Neutral Conference Committee, an
Mrs. Benton MacKaye.