New-York tribune., 1918-05-18
II Platform Declares Only
German Defeat Will
Make World Safe
League of Nations
To Maintain Peace
Philadelphia Conference
Praises Labor for Its
Work in War

sdopted a platform in which it declared
that "until Germany is overcome the
paramount and pressing duty of the
United States and the other free ma
TONS with which this country is allied,
is to fight with unconquerable deter
mination for victorious peace"
The league reaffirmed it's pledge to
two supreme duties--to make the world
safe by the defeat of Germany and Ger
man militarism and to keep the world
safe by league of nations.
"Unstinted support" of the President
and to all others in authority ain all
measures for victory over the military
power of the Kaiser" was also pledged.
German Menace Must Be Removed
Continuing, the platform says:
SApprehensive of the lure of an in
conclusive peace which would enable
the present masters of Germany to con-
tinue their dominance of Central Eu-
rope and sooner or later to menace
again the peace and freedom of the
world, the league feels that our people
should be forewarned in case Germany
should propose to make peace on terms
that might well deceive the unsuspect-
ing.
from Belgium and France, to cede
Trentino to Italy, even to relinquish
all claim on her captured colonies, and
to promise some kind of autonomy to
the various races of Central and East
ern Europe. Such an offer would be
highly seductive, and if we are not pre-
pared to understand what it means,
might we'll beguile the Allies into q
peace which would be delusive, because
unless the principle of militarism is
destroyed the promises would be kept
no better than those broken in the
past
Would Only Be Truce
Autonomy of other races would
mean their organization for the
Strengthening of Germany until she
had control of the resources of q
population of 200,000,00O for her next
war, and the abandonment of her for
mer colonies would be made only with
the hope of recoupment in South
Such settlement would be q mere
truce pending a strife more fierce
hereafter So long as the predatory
militarism is not wholly destroyed, no
lasting peace can be made"
Ine platform welcomes the declara-
ton OF the Representatives of organized
labor, made in the convention, chat
the workingmen of this country SYM
pathizes with these views" and reioices
In the pledge Of organized labor to Sc
cure top speed and 100 per cent eff
hciency in labor's part of the needed
production of war material.
Peace was declared to be the most
lnsidious word in the English language
Dy governors and former governors of
thirty-four states at an earlier session
to-day.
Governor Richard I. Manningl Of
South Carolina, asserted that he re-
gretted that the word appeared as part
Of the name of the league. Turning
to Former President William H. Taft,
who presided over the assembly in In
dependence Hall, Governor Manning
said:
AOn my way up here to attend this
convention many people asked me what
we meant to do-whether we stood for
peace. l told them we crystallized the
sentiment of the country that there
snail be no peace until it is possible
70 have the right kinda permanent
peace: say to you, Mr.. Taft, that I
regret that the word peace appears as
part OF our name. Instead of the
League to Enforce Peace, we should be
Saiied the League to Prevent Tyranny.
! tnlnk the whole country has come
70 reallze that at this time there is no
more insidious word in the English
language than peace"
Nok:o- D~.Y~.
lumultuous applause greeted his re-
Mnarks. put no action was taken to
cnange the league name. Every Gov
s.nor emo, present, from Governor Carl Mil
nken, OF Maine, to Governor Earl Lis
.er, OF Washington. reported that the
peopie OF his state were standing
sciIdiy behind President Wilson.
), Governor Thomas W. Beckett. Of
North Carolina, said that every father
~ N his state was sending SON to
france france with only this admonition:
your ma"
And ! can tell you that the South
sln !, women are doing their part too"
said Governor Beckett 1.-THE other
asy a Stacker friend Of mine went to
zee ms girl Sally, who is an ardent
patr1ot. Sally reminded him that all
me boys had responded to the colors.
Inen she asked my Stacker friend
Saen ne was going. The fellow looked
i;Nn ING Sally's eyes and saw the battle
rrsnt there. Why he said, why,
sasiy, er.er--I just came over to tell
Win War Platform
as expressive of the combined senti-
neent n OF the people of their states, the
e9vernors and former Governors
soopted this platform:
IN this hall, 142 years ago, our
tstners pledged to liberty their lives,
.nelr fortunes and their sacred
nonor. That liberty, the right Of free
peoples to control their own des-
ZINES, is now endangered by the
lorces of .despotism and autocracy
I'm ~ which we are at war.
ihree years ago in this hall the
league to Enforce Peace was organ
ned. to urge union of free nations
sxainst aggressive militarism. To-
say the free nations arc unitedly
nghting to vanquish the most ruth
'ess M Maggressor of history.
The issue is sharply defined. Tho
sree nations must by arms enforce
freeman's peace or liberty will per-
ash from the earth,
In the military triumph of the
Entente Allies, and in the organize
uon afterward Of all the resources
g civilization against militaristic
xgeression lie our hopes for the
1uture Of mankind.
To this goal there is only one
Iay. 1t lies through battle and
pio0dshed to victory.
Therefore, we, Governors and