The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-05-14
The Pacifist Bugaboo

1.-THE voice Of the pacihst is certainly vociferous in
the land" ironically remarks the Army and Navy
Journal ridicuing the World Conference on Interna-
tional Justice" to be held in Cleveland from May
to II under auspices of the American Peace Society,"
What gives certain Importance to this periodicals
opinion is the fact that it claims to be the spokeS
of the services"
True friends Of the Army and Navy very properly
will object to this being represented opposed to
sincere effort in the direction of international justice
and world peace.
For the day that American public opinion be-
comes convinced that the services are opposed to
legitimate efforts of this kind, that day can be
chalked up bringing genuine disaster.
What will be done at Cleveland we have no way
Of knowing. The purpose of the American Peace
Society," as defined by ITSELF is Ito prevent the in
Justices Of war by extending the methods of order
and reasonable settememnt among the nations and
to educate the peoples everywhere to realization Of
international justice, fair play and law"
We have known many Army and Navy officers in
our time, but we yet have to hear one oppose hon
orable peace. President Coolidge has urged world
peace along these lines repeatedly since he came into
ONCE.
Secretary Of State Kellogg now is attempting to
outlaw war and recently he signed treaty of arbtra
ton with France having some such idea in mind 1t
may be that peace through international justice is
Just beautiful dream which imperfect humanity
never will quite realize
Certainly it sometimes seems long way off,
which is why this newspaper yields to none-not even
to the Army and Navy Journal-in its advocacy OF
an adequate national defense Nevertheless that IS
no reason why we should not try, with all our might
and MAN, to achieve it, and no one should hamper
such efforts by their jeers the services friends least
OF all.
While, we repeat we lack the faintest idea of what
the Cleveland conference will accomplish, it has our
best wishes President Coolidge is honorary chairman
Of the national centennial celebration committee
the American Peace Society is 100 years old this year
and we do not remember ever having heard him
called pacif1st
Representative Theodore E. Burton OF Ohio Is
chairman and not only has he been in Congress many
years, but various American presidents have APP
pointed him to represent the United States abroad,
admittedly with credit.
vice chairman is Newton D. Baker, Secretary OF
War under whom millions of doughboys enlisted to
fight in an overseas war; Peace lovers, yes, but no
pachSts there
Among the world statesmen invited to attend are
Sir Austen Chamberlain British minister Of foreign
affairs; Aristide BRAND, French foreign minister;
Grstave Stresemann, German foreign minister; 1g-
mace Paderewsk former premier of Poland; Count
Paul Caudel French ambassador; Sir Esme Howard,
British ambassador; Baron De MARITIME, Italian am
bassador, and many others, some of whom will be
present and some not, but none Of whom, TO our
knowledge, has pacifst reputation
On the whole we feel confident that Army
and Navy officers need not cancel their orders for
summer uniforms because Of the Cleveland parey
Their jobs are safe little while longer regardless OF
what their spokesman" may say.