Evening star., 1928-11-24
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

the property Of the Nation. There shall
never again be war prohteerS al the AZ
pense Of patriotic defense. During the
World War. Fortune devoted his whole
time to service with the Red Cross, and
demonstrated the value of an activity
and efficiency which marked him. IN the
language of President John w. OLeary
of the United States Chamber OF Com.
merce. as "a citizen at the forefront OF
those who are giving their time ana
ability to the American public.
It NAV be naturally inferred that long
ago Mr.. Fortune quit newspaper work
for a field which better correSponded
to his cognomen, ranking In salaries
with the potentates Of base ball, movies
and White House occupants. He no
longer works for q living but Is living
for work.
1t should not be inferred that the ma
iority of members Of the American
Peace Society have stood for subversive
or for pacifstic supineness, but IL has
been subject to criticism by leading pa
triotic organizations for Its tolerance
upon its boards and councils OF out
standing opponents of national defense.
This criticism did not hold at all in the
early years, when 1t counted IN its ac-
tive support William Elierly Claiming,
Charles Sumner, John c. Calhoun, Ed
ward Everett Hale and John Greenleaf
Whittier.
During the World war, the society
supported the Government, and, accord
ing to its secretary, DR.. Arthur Deer1n
Call, "it does not advocate that the
United States should disarm as an ex-
ample to the rest of the world"-e po-
sition taken by some members. II Is
working for disarmament on reason
able and equitable basis" says the sec
retary 1T believes that the sureSt way
is to begin with policies that are dis
arming"
It gives support to the Kellogg BRAND
treaty. signed by so nations, outlawing
war as a national policy, although
an editorial in the magazine OF tne
society. Peace, raises many hypotnetlcal
bubbles as to what Is aggressive war
and what is meant by war" ana now
enforce "outlawing." etc.
President Fortune might ask Conlor
McNutt to answer. All LegionnalreS
can enlighten the Peace Society a. 10
the characteristics Of real war, and
veterans indorse the idea that Secre-
tary Kellogg's treaty Is the greatest
the veterans are not straining 70 tind
euuivocations in the world agreement
to OUTLAW war" while refraining from
weakness in national preparedness.
The Peace editorial asserts: I'VE
know OF no people who stand for war
as q national policy. All peoples arc
against war. They are all striving to
avoid 1t. It Is difflcult therefore TO sec
why the treaty should not be &C
ceptable to our Senate"
So innocuouS treaty! How about
the Kaiser's junkers? There have al
ready been 2S major wars since the
To that extent the American Peace
Society appraises the treaty outlawtng
war. almost using the language de-
scribed by Pope:
"Damning with faint praise. assent with
And, without sneerins. teach the rest
willing to wound. and yet afraid to
strike,
Just hint a fault and hesitate dislike"
y
With such a fire alarm there Is sure
to be something doing under the new
administration. The former president.
OcHhtOE DuEVOlls OppOHCU tic pact SAl-
tered into even at the Disarmament
Peace Conference when, under the In
fiuence of Secretary of State Hughes,
it was agreed that the navies OF the
United States and Great Britain should
be of equal strength. Senator Burton
does not want our Navy TO be as strong
as that of the nation with which We
have already fought two bloody wars
the last one mainly on the high seas.
He does not agree with President Cool
idge in national preparedness. Presi-
dent Fortune does demand the agreed
five e-five-three ratio" as TO naval
strength; he wants as much cruiser
strength for the United States as has
Great Britain and is not in sympathy
with ex-President Burton'S argument
that because the British Empire is
scattered over much conquered terri
tory. therefore she Is entitled to more
cruisers than has Uncle Sam with his
country--twice invaded by
the British and never by any other
enemy.
1t Is obvious that President Fortune
will need the muscles of an Atlas TO lift
he sentiment of his organization to his
,wn patriotic ideals In national de.
tense. but now his Is one Of the great
EST fields OF opportunity for patriotic
twice in lust that direction-Aneri-
ianism and the tranquility Of o giant
,onscious Of might.
(coDyriEht. 1898. by Paul v. cellAns.D