Arizona republican., 1921-11-02
The Anneriean Public and Disarmament

~An armed world is a fighting world" writes Senator Borah the Farm and Home" in an article ca the disarmament conferece in which he deprecates she warning out from Washington, to the people not 10 expect much of the conference. This he regards as a program of preparation of the public mind for the failure partial failure of the servnce-
 -G cannot understand" he says, "why it is slosrAt necessary in advance official action to prepare the people break down of the con- ference. It would seem 10 me that it would be better 10 public interest and the morale q the cause to the highest pitch knowing full well just proportion this is done shall make prosress-~
 The senator recalls that when the war was ge people fired by every to the greatest enthusiasm. There days of prayer. public addresses four r-minute" men, the movies proclama tons intended put the people uncomromisingly behna the great cause. Why now. he asks, when of peace is at stake, should the people be ras into of depression rather than raised to snshuz4Asng
 The two situations not quite analogous. During the war not only within the power of the American people but it wholly and excu- slrely within their power to make our part in the war a success or a failure. We were not dependent for the exercise of that power upon the action of Osher nations. The government could declare and congress could egislate but unless the American people could be stirred. nothing could be done
 The measure of success of the disarmament congress will be determined by the action of no one nation represented in the conference. Yet any one nation there precipitate its failure. We only know that we shall not the nation to do it. The American people in favor of disarmament and the American government has less to oppose total disarmament or any limitation of armament any other nation that will be represented. We are n the happy condition either of being better able Co continue the ruinous contest for of becoming party to the complete abandonment of the contest There be hardly doubt that if the decision rested solely with the world would cease 10 arm itself. But know that neither we nor any other nation will have the deciding voice. The nations must speak in concert.
 We agree with Senator Borah that the warning Is unNGse because unnecessary. We see even how the public mind may be- not depressed but put into such state apathy. that there will be lack of popular demand for disarmament that be inter rrete by The foreign representatives be apathy in which there may be latent opposition to dis armament
 There will always be before these representatives
 the fact of great country, it's ability so lead in armament. And if there should be strong expression by people, they might be msled Into believing that the American people bearing sAe burden Of armament cheerfully if a little proudly This impression would be dispelled by loud pouiar demand for disarmament voicng pro- test against taxation for increasing and maintain ing such navy as before the sea, at a anne when the world wearer of than it ever was before and in the shadow of the greatest and at the time, the most futile of all
 much, of course, to expect that total sszasHlament would immediately result from the ference. though might favor it and desire G- No could suppose that Europe in its present uncertainty could be brought to it. The most could hope would be an approach perhaps short sc it.