Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-19
OPPOSE PLUNG|NG
COUNTRY INTO WAR
Speakers at Labor Forward Mass
Meeting Deprecate Muni-
ton Propaganda.
STEM TIDE OF MILITARISM
Congressman Bailey and John z.
White, of Chicago, Make
Addresses.
STEM TIDE OF MILITARISM

congressman Warren Worth Bailey, OF
pennsylvania. in addressing the labor
mass s-mecting in the John Marshall
High School yesterday afternoon. said
that there is no more important duty
to-day than that of saving this coun-
try from wars calamity. The terms
OF peace must Oc written at the mai
council table. he said. and he asked
why they couln not be written before
va: is declared.
John z. White Of Chicago. who fol-
lowed Congressman Bailey, was not so
strong minded lacihst. for while he
IL against "ar and believes il may be
prevented by the exercise Of proper
methods, he admitted that occasion
may arise when war is necessary
The meeting was largely attended.
and the audience was frequently moved
to outburs's Of applause Howard T.
Colvin presided. and Rev. n. .. Lane.
OF Machinists Union No. 10. offered
the invocation. Music was Furnished
by kcssnichs orchestra.
AZ the outset. Congressman BAILEY
said that he had been laboring in sea-
son and out TO stem tho tide OF milf
tarism. which he said was largely
manufactured by those who have :,
money interest in driving this country
into war. lie stated that Bethlehem
steel bad gone up from '3I 70 more
than 1900, and that the same is true
OF other steel OF the powder trust
and or munition factories in general.
MILITARY PROPAGANDA
Is MOST LJDICROIs
There are men in Congress who are
joining In the clamor." he continued.
and thank God for Woodrow Wilson
believe that. with Gods help he viii
keep US out Of war. There is a propa-
Sanda for miltarsn as insidious az
any In history. 1t reaches the news
papers. tho banks ana the counting
houses IL touches even the pulpits
and Il has entered into the schools auo
colleges. Miiitarism means tho destruc-
tion OF democracy Where Inilitarisn
thrircs dcmocracy dies. and where
democracy ,hrives mIlitarsm dies.
Militnrism is dcniHl of every. pro-
gressivc idea. In Congress minds are
closed TO every thought but that con.
nccted with war and preparation for
II. In our expenditures fon prcparcG-
ness We have outJonc Great Britain
and Germany. as. for instance. ouv
naval bill They say that tho cost OF
war Will he paid out Of cxccss profits
but IL will financially fall upon the
body OF toiiers.
II want 10 ask tho labor people to
ask themselves MIA, thcy viii set on,
OF war. n We enter tho war Nc Will
he compelled to go into IL as an ail,.
OF the allies. Who have disturbed our
war. we win. Would that he ALI?
What is the issue II Is the forbidding
OF our ships 10 travel on the high seas.
IL We 20 into tho war we know TINT
our ships viii h" held up and that
American lives Will Dc taken So il
We enter the war We viii 20 into II
for something We can't stop. And what
Will IL pr"ht you. what Will it profit hu-
manity II We enter the conflict
CAN sErTLL: DIr'r'EnENCES
WITHOUT GOING TO WAR
Il am not in favor o! peace under any
and all conditions said Mr.. White
following: but believe that tho ma
lions can ssttl" their differences with
ont going 20 war We can exercise
great deal of patience and avoid that
spirit which causes ministers in every
bclligcrcnt country 10 ask Gods bIcss-
ing on their particular brand Of s'.uGh-
ter. ] believe III lighting az "A last
resort. II two mon live together and
cannot agree believe that one must
correct the error.
Touching on these who have money
interests in tho conflict. am in favor
of putting CarncG;c. Schwab and
others connected with the manufac-
ture OF steel. ia tho stokcholcs OF our
ships. Lot Inc mcn who believe in
war demonstrate their faith If peo-
pie desire War they do not need uni
versal conScripti"n. II is only re-
thrown around them.
1T Is tho stupidity Of tho world he
went on. that makes war possible at
this time. We must have "a high ideal
and we must have enthusiasm. In ad-
dition we must have "a practical method
SO that We may reach that ideal We
must do away with complexities, for
all public questions are simple ones,
and 1t has taken tho hest minds 100
years to keep that knowledge from
the people
Piracy was once the order OF the
day. When free commerce was opened
UP piracy became Improbable, and
gradually il became immoral. When
labor became cheaper slavery became
Improbable and then immoral 1t be-
came improbable first in tho North.
Now monopoly is the order Of the day.
But the discovery that free produc-
ton Is moro profitable will make that
immoral. Autocracies have always
lived on piracy, slavery or monopoly.
When these disappear aristocracies
Will die. They live only on the stup-
dity Of the masses, and only know
ledge will make YOU free.
GOVERNMENT COMPULSORY
ONLY ny MAJORITY
Mr.. White said that government is a
mode OF cooperation. and that it Is
made compulsory by the majority.
Government. being cooperative, car
TIES TIC iucd ol ueIcnScp ana the cOUr-
try must he prepared to defend its
national boundary in ease Of need
I'VE want /" make our boundary an,
invitation" said Mr.. White. mot "a
means for invasion in case OF some
others need The principle Of society
is mutual protection in case Of need
and we are prepared to defend our
selves through our police power. Po-
lice power is a necessity for that pur-
pose, but it is not rcEulative agency. A
And interference with trade and com
merce Is the only thing the matter
with American economic life Trade
ID merely swapping, and we must have I
a path over which trade may flow" 1
Coming to the question Of taxation, \
Mr.. White argued that land is the 4