Evening star., 1923-03-19

the most enthusiastic members OF the
Women's. international League for
Peace and Freedom might be counted
| on the fingers OF one hand. But are
not wishing peace and proposing def
mite and exact methods for world
achieving OF it two very different
propositions? Is the absence OF
world vision and the recognition or
the roots OF. the centuries in national
histories and national tendencies and
| traditions and passions like cropping
| IN blindness to find the thread which
ls the only guide from the labyrinth
or the ages? The good Intentions Of
the international League are beyond
| question, but is there not danger that
wishes may open the door to self
! deception of means, and especially to
visionary misleading of unsafe radi-
weaken effort?
! x x =
! The good ladies listened in appar-
ent approval to the talk OF Mr.. Louis
Gannett, socialistic editor OF a So
| cialistic magazine. who told them
that the United States was the most
imperialistic power in the world. He
1 backed his absurd statement with the
declaration that our navy and ma
rines are now following our commerce
| to protect it, even in Central and
South America, as II that made the
| national policy "imperiaiistic." His
| climax was: IF the history of the
past decade is any guide, our empire
will grow rapidly
! + i +
| What is the history of the past
decade" from an imperialistic stand
point? During the negotiations of
= 90
mandates over vast regions were
| thrust at America, and all we're alb
solutely refused. Not one acre or
one dollar of reparation was ac-
cepted. Thrice was Uncle Sam Of
fered the imperialistic crown Of vic
tory, (which he did thrice refuse.
Was this ambition"
The fact that the speaker dared tell
the ladies of his audience such twad
die, that "the United States is the
worlds greatest imRerialistic power,
throws more light upon the unso-
phisticated credulity of his hearers
international League for Peace and
Ere eedom."
* u x
! The potential power for real serv-
ice 10 mankind, which such a body OF
/
W ork marvals for uplift of the needy
| il it were directed along social lines.
What a power they would be in the
| ranks of the National Conference Of
Social Work which is 10 meet in
Washington May 10 TO 20!
x -
There was great destitution fol-
lowing the reconstruction days after
the civil war. Immigration was just
beginning to be a problem. The poo!
houses were herding the outcasts
from all grades of society. The
| streets of the large cities were
! sWarminE with cast-of children OF
! both sexes, sleeping in doorWays arG
begging or stealing. Nobody claimed
them. and carloads of them had been
gathered up and shipped out west
just 10 clear the eastern cities.
This annual conference Of social
work has been held every year since
1874 TO study the problems of social
betterment. Much Is yet to be &C
! compnshed, but each year brings new
questions to be discussed. The world
is better and safer because OF the
problems of help that have already
been met and solved by these con-
I ferences In practical. wholesome
| manner Here is q field for every
| man and woman TO give all his or
! her energy possible for the better
ment of the nation.
| Copyright, 1928, by P. V, Coi'ins.)