New-York tribune., 1918-05-17
End "Assassinaucracy!" Cry
OfWin-the- War Convention
thousands of Delegates Called Together by League to
Enforce Peace Cheer Slogan Coined by Dr. Wise
100000 American Fighting Men Needed, Says Taft
Especial Dispatch to The Tribune)

especial Dispatch to The Tribune)
PHILADELPHIA, May 16-"Assas-
slnaucracy," description of the Teu-
tonic and Turkish system of govern
ment by terrorism, was added to the
worlds vocabulary by DR.. Stephen S.
wise, of New York, at the opening here
to-day of "win the war for permanent
peace" convention, called under the au-
spices of the League to Enforce Peace.
Two thousand delegates, who were
.able to crowd into the Academy Of Mu-
SIC, rose in their seats when DR.. Wise,
IN the midst of a recital of German and
turkish atrocities, coined "Assassinau-
cracy,' and instantly the word was
adopted as an apt term of reproach for
things Teutonic or Turkish.
But" asserted DR.. Wise, "not only
must 'assassinaucracy' be abolished
not only must ruthless German subma-
rlne warfare cease, but before we can
nave permanent peace we must strike
Germany SO hard that she never again
resume her ruthless subhuman warfare
on land"
Five thousand delegates, with 700
from New York State and ESQ from
New York City, had registered when
former President William Howard Taft
called the convention to order. In
ernors from thirteen states, former
governors from twenty -four states,
labor presentatives, radicals, busi-
ness men, farmers. university presi-
dents, preachers, rabbis, politicians and
government officials.
Voiced United Stand
Not since Americas entry into the
war has there been voiced at one con-
vention to united a stand on the prin-
cclples for which the League to Enforce
fease nds-determination to con-
tinue the war until Prussianism has
peen annlhilated, to oppose talk of a
premature peace, and finally "to focus
attention on the only advantage the
American people seek to gain from the
war, which is peace guaranteed by a
league OF nations"
The conventions diversity of view
point, yet all centred on one object
winning the war in such way that
peace will thereafter be eternal--was
shown by the type of speakers. They
included IN \. Lawrence Lowell, president
OF Harvard University; Professor
Robert McNutt McElroy, of Princeton
. University; Oscar s. Straus, former
Ambassador to Turkey; John Spargo,
secretary of the National party; Leo
5. Rowe, Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury; Edward A. Filene, Director
Of the Chamber Of Commerce of the
| United States; Professor Richard
! Heath Dabney, Of the University of
Virginia.; Mrs. Thomas J. Preston,
formerly Mrs. Grover Cleveland; DR..
, Anna Howard Shaw, Hugh Frayne, or
! ganizer for the American Federation
of Labor; George Wharton Pepper,
chairman of the Pennsylvania Defence
! fessor Franklin H. Giddings. of Colum-
bia University; Dr.. Lyman Abbott and
John A. Voll, president of the Glass
blowers Association.
James Bryce, former British AM
bassador to the United States. sent
from London letter to Mr.. Taft urg.
ing Americans "to fight this wal
through to victory, for the vindication
of public right, for the protection OF
city, for the establishment at last of g
just and enduring peace"
Letter from Cardinal
Cardinal Gibbons also sent a letter
declaring that the Allie are "figKtinG
to overthrow the spirit OF military
despotism which threatens to supplan
the benign constitutional government
under which we live
Mr.. Taft, who is president of the
league, told the delegates that it will
take two or perhaps three years be
fore American preparations for full
participation in the war are completed
He reiterated his assertion that 5000,
900 American soldiers must be landec
in France before victory is achieved.
"Let us have peace, but let us have
war that we may have peace" said Mr.
Taft. "To sound the trumpet for
stern, implacable prosecution OF tho
war TO finish the convention of the
League to Enforce Peace was called
We speak an irrevocablc public opin
| ion that the war must go on until Ou1
foe is defeated. Since August, 1914
no solution has been possible consist
ent with permanent peace, except 6
victory for the allies.
"Thc man who suffers himself to con.
slider peace present problem is either
disloyal or unintellisent. Either he
does not want the Allies to fight to {
victorious finish, or else he wholly fails
to understand the magnitude of the
task to which this nation has dedicated
itself.
"There is far too much silly optimism
about the military situation among oul
public men, and far too much senti
mental talk about the quality of oul
soldiers and sailors. OF course, they
are fine lot.
Need 100000 Fighting Men
"But there are not enough of then
available for instant service on tn.
Western front, and the reason for thu
deficiency is that we, as nation, have
been slow to perceive the obvious, ant
timid about preparing for it when per
ceived.
! "Our allies must consequently con