The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-09-01
POPULATION DENSITY
is CAUSE OF WARS,
CONFERENCE is TOLD

War is caused primarily by the diff
ferent densities of the population OF
people in adjacent lands" said ]. Rus
sell Smith, professor of economic geog-
raphy in Columbia university, in his
lecture before the Friends general con-
ference Friday afternoon. THUS the
relations between the United States
and Canada are of the best because
they are both sparsely populated coun-
tries and the people are alike.
"We are developing friction with
Japan" continued the speaker, "chief-
ly because she is supporting $500
people to every square mile OF land
that is fit to plow. In all OF the dis
cussions at the disarmament confer
ence at Washington last year, Japan
laid down the proposition that she had
a surplus of population that had to be
fed and that nothing could be consid-
cred which would shut her out from
the resources of Asia"
The steps toward world peace sug-
gested by Mr. Smith are, first, volun-
tary control of human numbers which
means the breeding of our best stock
walton of the international conference
habit for there we face the facts;
third, the habit of international action
for the number of things to be made
better by international action are in
creasing; and fourth, let people who
are opposed to war attack its causes
rather than the symptoms.
History os Safeguard
The use of history study and teach
| ing, through the educational institu-
| lions, was presented as another ave
nue. of approach toward the goal of
universal peace, by Prof. Harlow Lind
| ley, head of the history department
of Earlham college, who spoke follow
ing Prof. Smith.
IF we educate the school children of
| today through the study of history as
! it should be taught" he said, "the old
! international animosities will be brok-
en- down, and, if in the minds and
hearts of the people there is the
! proper world consciousness in place
of the ancient and selfish idea Of our
country first, last and always whether
she be in the right or in the wrong,
international misunderstanding will
! become rarer and more easily ad-
justed.
History should stress human broth
erhood. When we feel this common
brotherhood, wars will cease, but it
is doubtful if they will cease before
this is attained. Society today is more
ready to abolish war than ever before,
so it remains largely with teachers to
foster this spirit of antagonism 70 war
and to instill in the minds of their
=. | o q 1d
more friendly feeling toward the peo-
: pies of other countries
Outrun Imagination
"Our power for good or evil has
greatly outrun our imagination said
Ebert Russell, in his lecture before
the Friends General conference, Fri
day morning. Modern machinery and
> means of communication have extend
! ed our possibilities to the point where
= we know not what we can do.
, "Our industrial problem is not new,
) but more complex. 1t is hard to apply
a the golden rule because we can not see
: or realize the effect Of what we do
The principles of Jesus which must be
worked out in our industrial system
: are the supreme value Of personality
. and brotherhood.
: Our industrial system must be
!. judged by theopportunity it gives fol
: the full and free expression Of a we'll
rounded manhood An institution
which does not give men liberty fol-
the development of body, mind and
spirit in the largest possible measure
is so far un-Christian. The tendency Of
brotherhood everywhere is toward
I sharing. A system that is founded OF
/ self-interest, like our competitive bust
n ness system, makes brotherhood diff
e cult
r Predicts Church Unity
n The coming of church unity wal
t. predicted by Prof Charles Foste
e Kent, of Yale university, in an address
t. on "The Basis of Christian Unity
e Thursday night He also was to hav,
e spoken Friday morning, but Hines
r. caused the postponement Of his ad
q dress.
/ almost without exception, the dill
ferences that lie at the bottom of on
churches are the individual differ
ences of its men," Prof. Kent declared
There is only one logical basis O
% faith, and that is Jesus philosophy o
. faith. Church unity is not a question
h of any church giving up its faith, bu
p, of all others having joy in that faith.
- IL. L.