The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-03
Would Eliminate the Word If"
 In Discussing World Affairs

been informed, thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, or our boys would be members of an armed force organized to keep the Turk out of Europe. The If" upon which these conflicting views were based has en- gendered heated controversy.
 Since the signing of the treaty of Versailles the old custom of royal visits has been reinaugurated. with a difference. Formerly when one monarch, visited another the con sultation between them was private. The public could only guess whether 1t meant closer or more strained relations. Now men seem impelled to journey across the Atlantic to give vocal exclamations to 0sFhat their "ifs" might have done for the world. provided the ifs" had led to things of certainty, Clemenceau. commonly known to his people as the Tiger" has been with us handle ing those affairs of which he was conspicuously part, without gloves, and adding to the collection of If this had not been" and If this had been" The end is not yet. From England comes a report that Mir. Lloyd George would like to come to America with his trunks packed with rifs." When these two great men shall have unloaded their facts and theories and suppositions into our minds we probably shall feel much like a man hit on the. head with piece of lead pipe, with this differ ence, that instead of seeing stars, we shall see. ifs"
 All this is calculated to furnish much in the way of mental gymnas- ha nj wh in my opinion. is already nimtie enough. The past is the eternal past, Lorena," and I make bold modestly to suggest that except as the actual facts of the past may furnish sign boards for the future. shall get along better If we eliminate from our consideration all hypothetical questions. Indeed, l believe that opinions based upon hypotheses. facts of which are disputed. tend only to make confusion worse confounding. Those ifs" in the determination of great problems are worse than the answers of experts in court to the Hypothetical questions of skilled law years. The experts answer Is be- licved by those who are convinced of the truth of the answer before the question was asked, while the doubt CTS remain doubters in spite of the answer proclaimed as the truth, be- ing of the same opinion still and re- garding the expert as hired liar. or if not that. certainly an ignoramous. Answers of experts to hypothetical questions never settled anything
 remember only one convincing answer to hypothetical question in court. The state of Indiana. in- censed at the high price of expert testimony. had passed an act requir- ing experts to respond to subpoenas and testify fo rthe compensation &C., corded to ordinary witnesses. A damage suit was in progress and distinguished surgeon had been brought into the case. He was out ragged at the idea that he should give his Knowledge and experience infor- nation and opinions at s1.50 per day. When he was interrogated he i'll con- cealed his disgust. The lawyer ex- amining him left no point uncovered. Assume. doctor,'' this, and assume" further, this and this, until he ques- tion he spun bewildered judge. jury and spectators. Only the surgeon re- mained passive. Then. leading up to his climax. the lawyer, well pleased with the sensation his al- most interminable questions had pro- cured. asked gleefully, What would be the result2' The answer was prompt and concise, "A lawsuit" re- sponded the surgeon.
 These 'ifs'S which are being pre- sented to the people result only In law suits. They do not produce facts. Honest conclusions do not flow from them. @ The American people would welcome leader of thought who would command: Down with the