Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-01-26


Preparedness brings war and the
faster a nation prepares the quicker
war will come. William Jennings Bry
an declared in an address In Conven-
ton hall last night. The commoner
made strong protest against the
present policy Of the United StatoI
government for heavy increases In the
army and navy asserting that II Is ii
fact a challenge TO other countries.
Bitter dcnunclation of the munition
manufacturers and their cohorts IN
WASHINGTON was feature or ms
speech. lie declared that the influ-
ences exercised by them was respon p
sible for the cry OF preparedness that
started in the capital and has spread
thruout the country.
Cause of European War.
Delving into the causes of the con-
flict now raging in Europe. Bryan
gave his opinion that 1t resulted from
only one thing, a false philosophy
that has prevailed In every great
European government for the last
forty Years That is the philosophy
that might makes right"
Satirically the former secretary or
state referred To the policy Of these
powers In pretending that they were
i'm favor of peace and at the same
time increasing their armies and ma
vies as rapidly as possible. one Euro
pean power would declare that they
Ioathcd war and almost simultaneous
N announce that the nation possessed
a superdreadnought that could sink
any other vessel afloat. A little later
another power would make similar
declaration but couple II with the an
ncuncement that its navy was the
greatest I'm the world and could de-
strOy any other
L. =. Now Faces Danger.
That Is the danger that confronts
the United States at this time, Bryan
declared So long as we continue TO
increase our army and navy we are
inviting another nation to meet us in
war, he declared
Several apt comparisons were drawn
by the speaker to drive home his
points In one he referred to the
pistol-toting man who is menace to
himself and those about him. Ii Is
the same among nations, he declared.
The nation that tries To secure more
weapons than its neighbor is issuing
Il defy to other nations, he asserted.
"Gun-To,ing" Nations.
one remark had a distinct local ap.
rlication. altho the speaker probablS
did not realize the significance.
81 have noticed that men who carry
guns also carry disposition to use
them or slight provooltion, he san.
. The United States need not fear an
attack from European nation after
the present war for fifty years ~
come. Bryan asserted. When the
,resent conflict is over the nations
participating in it will he so ralascd
that (hey could not possibly enter an
ether war with any hope of victory,
said the speaker.
Approves Peace Message.
While the United States is becoming
tho worlds greatest power the ma
tions of Europe are engaged in self
destruction, the speaker pointed out.
But the pinnacle of greatness can he
reached by this country In leading the
work to n permanent peace he de-
clared.
President Wilson has opened the
way to this, Bryan asserted, by MS
recent message. The phrase, peace
without victory. and other excerpts
from the message were commented
upon favorably by the speaker.
The miltaristic clique in Washing
ton were scored by Bryan. They would
have the nation spend more than
$500, OOO, 600 annually to increase the
army and navy. TniS is more tnan
twice the net income of all the farm
ers in the United States in the great
est agricultural year we have ever
had. he said
About Preparedness
II preparedness prevented war there
would be no war today, Bryan de-
clared. He pointed to the elaborate
preparedness programs which Eu
ropean nations have had for years.
each endeavoring to outstrip the 9TH
er. II we were us we'll prepared as
some of the men in our country de-
sires us to be ii is extremely probable
that we. too, would now be involved
In the great struggle, he asserted.
If we must have preparedness, why
not spend the money for good roads?
Bryan suggested. The nation could
have no greater assistance in the event
of war than n network of good high
ways thru the country he said. II
would be big factor in transporting
troops in the thousands of automobiles
manufactured In this country every
year.
The Germ lingo" was applied to
munition manufacturers several times
during the speech Bryan also pro-