The Washington herald., 1917-02-11
TRAFFIC CLUB TAKES
TRIP TO ''HAPPYLAND''
Patriotism Bubbles a. Starr and Stripes
Flutter and Busle Blows.

ouet hail were issued under condition that
the guest was not blase or a Crouch.
everywhere one was created with the
signs. smile" and ''be happy" The
tickets were good for one-irst-class pas
sage over various lines" appropriately
evening. All Tines" converged to one
destination. 'Happyland."
But instead of easing and making care
rree the business and professional minds
present. the occasion. In view of the
crisis this country is facing, developed q
patriotic atmosphere and stimulated deep
thought, and not one guest left the BAN
Quet without realizing that he owed his
country serious duty.
AS the dinner progressed the guests
were thrilled by bugle call, ito arms"
from one Of the corridors of the dining
hall.
Odell 8. smith Speaks.
Then odel s. Smith, chairman of the
entertainment committee, made q stirring
patriotic address. in which he declared
amid applause that there is, not an
American who will not live fight and die
for his country"
As an inspiring climax he dramatically
recfted rhe Star spangled Banner"
When he had emphasized the last, line OF
this national air, the hall became dark.
Spotlights from the balconies flashed 10
the far end of the room and played on
large hagpole surrounded with sol
diers and sailors in uniform.
Again the clear notes of the bugie
rang out as a sailor hoisted the Stars and
Stripes amid a wild cheering of the guests.
When the fag reached the top, hidden
electric fans unfurled It as though II
was blowing in the open breeze. With
q martial spirit, everyone Joined In the
singing of the song.
Mr.. Smith announced that this patriotic
innovation was made possible through
the courtesy of the Washington Railway
and Electric Company. which had pro-
cured the lights and other effects from
the General Electric Company.
Dfverxe from Subjects.
The speakers. among them being Mem
bers of Congress. diverged from their
subjects and made emphatic references
to the international situation, declaring
fend its honor whatever the sacrifices
might be.
Representative Phillip P. Campbell,
from Kansas. declared. DO not get the
idea into your heads that there is any
man living in the United States today
who wants peace at any price"
He said that every guest present was
an American to the CORE and would
give everything in the event of war, but
he asked the question, why should
you be called upon to give everything?"
He wanted to know why some
method other than the sacrifice of the
best men of a nation and billions of dol
ars worth of property and resources has
not been devised to settle international
disputes.
Representative Campbell claimed that
"a higher order of statesmanship" would
prevent wars, and said that II was far
more sensible to talk it over" before
a war than after a conflict
Wars Bring No Honor.
because of their "savagry," wars OF
today bring no honor to the nation or
men who emerge victorious, the speaker
said. He denounced the present warfare
as being unnanly because mo bravery
and valor is brought into play by throw
ing can Of gas from a trench at an un-
seen enemy. There is no face-to-face
fighting in this age
Representative Campbell expressed the
belief that IL nations would begin to rear
monuments to those who achieve fame In
the interests of peace and progress, such
step would be the dawn of peace"
Francis H. Sission, assistant chairman
of the railway executives advisory COM
mittee, who was the next speaker asked
Representative Campbell
why Is not the Congress of this coun-
try large enough to apply the rule of rea-
son instead Of force, not only to interna-
uonal disputes, but also to the settling
of the Industrial controversies in this
country7
Our lives and the property of the rail-
roads of this nation are at the disposal OF
President Wilson in the event of war"
Mr.. Sisson continued.
True Patriotism.
TRUE patriotism means that we are
not afraid to die politically. financially
and physically
A long shout followed these words. and
a toast was proposed to President Wilson.
Previous TO this the guests had pledged
their loyalty to the President
Mr.. Sisson declared that ut was a
severe blow to our President when the
immigration bill was passed over his
veto"
He then spoke on pressing railroad
problems and said that the present sys-
tenn of railroad regulation is failure.
He offered the following suggestions as
probable solution for the situation:
Federal supervision of railroad securi-
ties; Federal Incorporation Of interstate
carriers; Federal regulation of rates: a
regional and functional division Of the
work Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission; restriction Of rate suspensions to
not more than sixty days and giving the
Interstate Commerce Commission power
to prescribe minimum as we'll as maxi
mum rates.
Should Protect Americans.
Senator Thomas W. Hardwick. from
Georgia, emphadcally declared that "it
is the first and paramount duty Of this
government to protect the life Of its
citizens on land and on sea-" I'VE must
defend American honor at whatever
sacrifices may be necessary he said.
He referred to Mr.. Sisson's remark to
the immigration bill, saying, "Mr. Sisson
sees in the measure a restriction of the
laboring element entering this country,
which is quite natural since the railways
are in need of labor.
But 1t is not men to work on railroads
that we want in this country from foreign
climes, but men who will make citizens"
In speaking on the subject, Relation
of the Public to Transportation" Senator
Hardwick declared that the Interstate
Commerce Commission should regulate
the labor Of railways as well as its capital.
He said that he believed the Adamson
eght-hour law would be held constitu-