Evening star., 1932-02-21
Geneva Observations
League Looks on Arms Conference as Its Golden
Achievement S. Participating Like
FuN.Fledged Members.
complete his public service in his pro
feSsional career.

complete his public service in his pro-
fessional career.
Between conference excitementS most
American visitors to Geneva find their
way to the Hotel de Vile (city halD
for inspection of the Alabama room" :"
The apartment is SO called because it
ternational arbitration-the settlement
of the Anglo-American Civil War con-
troversy over the Confederate ship Ala
bama. On the wall hangs a fine old
fashioned photograph of the American
Arbitration Commission, including our
then Minister to Great Britain, Charles
Francis Adams, grandfather OF the
present Secretary of the Navy. In the
same room the international Red Cross
was organized. One of the articles Of
adornment is peCwshare and pruning
hook made out of swords-emblemS
forged as the result Of prize offer by
an American citizen during the Gen.
tennial year Of 1876. Thomas Atkin-
son, an Indiana farmer, was the orig
inator Of the idea, and Clayton B..
Rogers Of Philadelphia carried 1t out
by actually manufacturing the plow
and pyUning-hook from swords rendered
for tls purpose by veterans Of the
Mexican and Civil Wars. The Universal
Peace Union presented them to the
Alabama ROOM
1t may not go down In the con-
ference's H.. .ory as its red letter day.
but Saturday, February 6, deserves i'm
naturalization. That was when the
great organized peace bodies of the
world-the churches. the women, the
students, the Socialists and the trade
unionists-made their dramatic march
through the conference hall and piled
up mountain of disarmament petit
tions on the presidential rostrum.
Notable and moving addresses were
made by the chosen spokeSmen Of these
groups. None was more impressive
than that Of James Frederick Greene
of Kansas City, Yale 80, president OF
the intercollegiate Disarmament Coun-
Gil. I'm a sense" said the slender,
black-hatred young college man, Il am
presenting an ultimatum, rather than
a petition. The students whom rep
resent are watching critically every
action of this conference. for behind
your deliberations stands staring down
at us the specter of death. We desire
to live and to live at peace" 1t was
the great day of Gods plain children
everywhere at this conclave OF world
IlllSilty OcllldlAQ al
the name of uncountable millions that
this conference shall not adjourn with
out a definite declaration Of war on
war and adoption of ways and means
to win it.
Sir John Simon. Britain's chief
spokesman. reflected in his opening
address before the conference the deep
impression left by the proletarian dem
onStration This is not conference
of rulers and statesmen" he said. we
represent the mass of the people in all
lands, the people who fought the wars,
and are hoping, even against hope. FOR
a wise issue from our deliberations"
Two Jim Prestons" are responsible
for the perfect press arrangements at
the conference-Pierre Comert OF
France, chief of the Leagues extensive
press section, and Arthur Sweetser Of
the U. S. A. his chief adjutant. Even
the late superintendent of the Senate
press gallery at Washington couldn't
have organized things more efficiently
for the worlds scribes here in their
serried hundreds. News releases" in
French and English are available with
American speed. Most ample writing,
telegraphing and typewriting facilities
are provided at all strategic points.
Things work with clocklike ease and
regularity, as far as the press Is con-
cerned, and praise of Comert, SWeetser
g. Co. Is loud and fervent.
(Copyright. 1922