Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-11
is THE ARMAMENT ORGY
FULLY REVIVED AGAIN?
Can Harding and the Representatives, Of
Tax6roken Peoples Stop the Drift
Toward New Disaster?

ONLY Il few years ago Mr.. Wilson, ad-
" ministration was being violently as
sailed in almost every quarter for its frank
and unblushing pacifsm. That was just
before We got into the war. Daniels was
being called Il grape juccr and Quittcr.
European journals. vibrating between moods
Of hilarity and intense bitterness. described
Baker as gentleman dove, as n war sccre-
tary who Cooed his commands to the army
Of the most powerful nation on Garth.
1t is a bit odd nowadays to hear these
same mon indicted as untnmablc militariSts
intent on stimulating deadly military rival.
riCS between nation and nation.
And people who were endlcSsly criticized
because of their carly desire to keep out of
International conflicts will hear with amaze
mcnt that they. and they alone. are in
way to lead the world to new and dreadful
wars.
That is what some European statesmen
have been saying since it became apparent
that both Congress and the President are
determined TO 60 on with the new naval
program until some sort Of international
agreement is reached to assure universal
armament holiday. fair to everybody
Certainly the Wilson administration seems
10 have outlivrd its Inconsistencies in rcIa-
tlon to questions Of peace and war. ScCre-
tary Baker fought hard for an army much
larger than Congress was willing TO pay for.
And now. largely because of the energy and
irsiStcuce of Secretary Daniels and his staff.
the one hestating step taken toward world
disarmament since the wreck Of the League
Of Nations plan has been retraced. That
was Senator Borah's proposal Of a six
months naval holiday in the United States.
The Senate committee has just put that idea
aside without ceremony. We are to go on
building ships until we have "a navy at
least equal to that Of any other power.
six months naval holiday formally an.
nounred by the government of the United
States that. is a cessation of naval prepa
ration for that period was suggested as a
great moral gesture. a challenge and a reply
to those who say that wars continue because
nations insist on preparing for them. 1t
might have had great moral effect. No other
government alone ever was willing to do
anything of the sort
Mr. ROrah doubtless assumed that other
govcrnmonts could not afford to ignore SO
revolutionary An example without at once
exposing themselves to criticism and danger
without revealing their own lack of courage
or sincerity, or both.
But you cannot Quit work on an untin-
iShed building or close up a business for
six months without making longer delays and
infinite confusion inevitable" An Interrupt
tion Of the momentum of the navy program
Sl'U dS MT bOluH IIDlpSth "'HIu Ih'uh
setback Of years. not months alone, in the
work Of the builders
SO. in the abScp"p Of an international
agreement. tho world is drifting into n posi-
tion exactly similar to that which imme-
datply preceded the outbreak of the world
war. There is truly amazing similarity
of tone in the public utteran"cs of statesmen
published in 1H12 and 1919 and tho ad-
dresses and interviews now being published
f,,,,, NT,y Oh V,yt, I n,,Jp nnf
Ruling minds are troubled and afraid to
pioneer. And into the European and Amer
lean newspapers of 1921 there is sitting what
siftcd into all international ncwS of l9l3-
the complaints Of dipl"mati>tS the intima-
tions Of international cnmity and suspicion.
tho Implications Of approaching danger and
tho staggering word gestures that incvita-
bly, rouse the sleeping devils in all sorts and
conditions Of men. Behind it all thcr" i
on" question
Who shall ho strongest on the sea, whore
in final analysis every matter Of war or
commerce finally must be- decided:
Nations. yOu 500, arc not vet s." far ad-
vanrrd in philosophy or SO freed from in
heritod pride and acquired suspicion as to
hr able Ia enjoy equally among themselves
the supreme right Of free oceans. And tn"
world is 50 made that Solomon in all his
wisdom would find it hard to say what de
groc Of authority and power might b" right
for one or for tho other.
Il all countries were exactly similar in
sizo. form and natural environment this
greatest Of problems would bc easy to solve.
RUt they are not SO alike. IN" British live
ON few islands and deep water j. between
them aud most of the nerrsstie, of rontinu
ing lifc Their interests and their fortunes
are spread broadcast over the seven seas.
II il not at all strange thai n bi. navy