The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-09-12
Must BE Arbitrament
of the Sword; There
Is No Alternative

Of the University of Missouri and pres
ident Of the Press Congress of the
World:
Diplomacy and me good Officers ~ rou'rais
having failed 70 effect "a staF ~ warfare Wh}
not permit the press OF the world 20 trt It- hand
al deyising a scheme OF preventing further
blo0dshed, wasfage and suffering and of bringing
all nations OF the earth into covenant 1f co.
during peace? ON this day Of triumph oyeI bee
tomb OF one who came -tn give light t0 Them
that sit IN darkness and in the shadow ~ death,
10 guide feet into me Was ~ peace bag
10 propose that. instead ~ p0stboalnE the a-.
sembling Of tho Press Congress ~ the World
until 1919 the date be- ser ahead ONE 1t4c ft17
making 70 possible for toe DELEGATES 20 meet thIs
summer just as soou rs ail f-e n7tloneI a-
sociations can convene and select theIr rfpr,sc0.
tatiyes The American Newsparer Publishers
association meets n New York flf a-f Wees ai
April and the National Editorial ass1c.a on
meets in Minneapolis n july Have uhHrI
stood that the sole purpose of t1ir congress- -
10 have the best equipped leaders 1i .f- ihAI|a
estate Of AN Chrstendom forlnnlate bt-i- npnA
which the warning powers can eobscf p" io aA
armistice pending The adjustment Of differences
and the perfection of permanent plans ~ inter.
national tranquility tQ which all have already a7
scented IN principle The press is ne palladium
OF the peoples liberties n bias been accused ~
making wars. los cooperation Is sought ana al
ways periodically given In the SUCCESSFUL pros
ecution OF wars II is expected 20 suppress
whatever may endanefr the national cause in
time OF war. Why can not the press prove fhat
Il can suppress itself, that 10 has Ihe genus
and breadth OF vision, coupled with love OF hn'
manty 70 make peace az "a time when all being
erents are weary of strife, and thus demonstrate
before the world that the pen is miehuer than
the sword There would be nothing in this as
piration The part OF thr liberty loving unifain'
meed journalism Of the world hat would BE- our
Of harmony with the announced program OF THIS
countrys participation 10 thc struggle and De.
lieve all the nations az war would grant safe
conduct TO the delegates 70 ne meeting place OF
the Press Congress OF The World
In reply President Williams, under date
of April 9. 1917, wired as follows:
II beg to acknowledge. with appreciation ot
your high motives your eloquent message IN
voking the aid OF the Press Congress OF the
World toward the abolition OF war and the pro-
motion OF peace. ! am transmitting Il today 20
the members OF the Executive Committee, who
under the constitution OF the congress must Do
termine what action, if any shall be- taken IN
response thereto / will communicate further
with you when have heard from them.
Permit 10 thank YOU personally for your
noble and inspiring message
The executive committee, to whom the
suggestion of The Times was submitted,
comprised the following widely-scattered
representatives of the press of the
world
virgilio Rodriguez Beteta Dsrro de Centre
America Guatemala city Guatemala.
J. Ryan Australian Provincial Press Associa
IifhEOW.
Robert Bell Guardian, Ashburton New Zea-
land.
X. sugimura. Asah shimbun. Toxic. Japan
DR. II Schoop. Swiss Press Association, WED
ingstrasse 80. Zurich Switzerland
The Secretary Treasurer. A. r, Ford, Dominion
Press Gallery. ottawa. Canada
et1e President - the
School OF Journalism OF the University Of Mis-
souri, Columbia Missouri. T. $. a.
Representative Of the government Of New
South Wales. Captain J. W. Niesigh Premlers
once, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
The result of the submission Of this
matter to the executive committee has
just reached The Times officially thru
the following communication from the
president of the Press Congress Of the
World:
Mr. James schermerhorn,
The Times.
Detroit, Michigan
Ny dear Mr. Schermerhorn:
| am directed BY the members ~ the Executive
Committee OF the Press Congress Of the World
to acknowledge with appreciation your message
asking that the date of The Congress be advanced
In order that session may be herd az which
the best equipped leaders Of The fourth estate
OF all Christendom may formulate a basis upon
which the warning powers subscribe 70
armistlce pending the adjustment Of differences
and the perfection Of permanent plans Of inter
national tranquility. 10 which all have already
assented in principle" and 20 add that the mem.
bers OF the committee have voted that under
existing conditions il would be unwise 20 hold
for any purpose a special meeting 20 tho congress
in advance Of the date ger for the congress 70
meet in sydney in 1919
Very sincerely
WALTER WILLIAMS
President Of the Press Congress of the World
Columbia. Missouri L A september 1917
The Pen is not to have the sublime
distinction of prevailing over the war
ring millions in Europe.
Not the Pen of diplomacy; the Pen
of patient protest; the Pen of unselfsh
appeal to the German people nor the
Pen Of the fourth estate Of the world,
the press
Neither is the Cross privileged to win
the field Pope Benedict's Intervention
is unavaiing because the Christian world
witt not take t11r wurd of otffifcf5ff TER
many in any covenant
So the great task in hand the aboli
tion Of wars the Swords business. and
the Swords alone
The Sword is out of the scabbard. not
TO be put back until sheathed to stayl
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