Evening star., 1934-05-06


declare war; but many forces control gov
ernments-economic rivalry, nationalism and
chauvinism. territorial Imperialism, militariSm,
business exploitation. in word, human selfish
ness. Many paradoxes arise in connection with
the arms question. For example IAN embargo
on arms is everywhere considered act of
international politics while the international
sale of arms, even in war time. is merely
business" A propaganda motive is disclaimed
for this book Harry Elmer Barnes. who
writes the foreword, calls it "a conspicuous con-
tribution to industrial history and says that
it is satisfactory history of the development
of the armament industry, AN outline OF its
achievements a delineation of the methods
which have been followed by leading armament
firms" 1t is an attempt to fill gap in gen.
eral knowledge of branch of technology and
industry and the knowledge it gives is startling.
IRON. BLOOD AND PROFITS. An Exposure
of the World Wide Munitions Racket By
Georges Seldes. New York: Harper &
Bros
I ESS balanced and less concerned with seek
l. ing underlying causes than Merchants OF
Death" Mr. Seldes' book is far more intense
and denunciatory. He does not hesitate to call
the munitions business of the worst OF
rackets and his publishers claim that he gives
the evidence which the League has failed to
publish" First among his Acknowledgements
for help is to the British aviator who in
September, 1918. at Eddie Rickenbackers Gath
Squadron first told the story of the French
failure to lombard the armament makers
Briey iron and steel basin, and thereby started
this investigation He says military experts
have agreed that If the Basin of Briey had
been bombarded, the World War would have
been over in 1915 or 1917, without the loss OF
American lives. The trouble was that both
French and Germans had an interest in the
Lorraine Basin. the French part of which,
called Briey, had been occupied by the Ger
mans at the beginning of the war. He calls
attention to the fact that the giving of aid to
the enemy in time Of war is punished by DEATH.
but "allied armament tmakers who not only be-
fore the war, but during the war; gave rifles
and grenades and the comfort Of food to the
enemy. received baronetcies and the ribbons Of
the Legion of Honour while making profit of
millions of dollars" Americans are not omitted
from the examples which he gives. Some Of
the subjects discussed are the naval race, the
power of the arms ring in world politics" in
trigues which caused the World War, the
munitions lobby in Washington the profits OF
war-making. armament men and patriotic
societies" number Of appendices give ex-
tracts from speeches by Philip Snowden. United
States Representative Tavenner and others,
and extracts from various reports and hear
ings Mr.. SeldeS is journalist who has a
reputation for telling the whole truth, as he
sees it. and telling it with great vigor. He is
the author of You Can't Print That" and.
very recently, the interesting and appreciative
history The Vatican: Yesterday-Today-To-
morrow
ART AS EXPERIENCE. By John Dewey.
New York: Minton. Balch & Co.
IoHN DEWEY, professor of philosophy at
" Columbia University and leading American
iS Herbert SDencer.
who wrote of the first principles of nearly
everything geology. biology psychology, eco
nomics, sociology, ethics education, philosophy.
politics Poetry. and art had appeal for
Herbert Spencer; for John Dewey they are an
integral part of complete life. This volume
is composed of the expansion of 10 lectures
which he delivered at Harvard University.
under a lecturship founded in memory Of Will
liam James. Art is treated as a part Of
everyday normal human experience, as 1t was
among the ancient Athenians, not as some
thing to be studied in museums. Common
human activities should develop things of
artistic value. The eccentricities of many
modern artists are ingeniouSly explained as q
protest against the economic trend of mass
production and an attempt to establish indi-
vidualism by exaggerating "Separateness." In
attempting to answer the question why 'if
artistic and esthetic quality is implicit in every
normal experience it so generally fails
to become explicit" DR.. Dewey says that it is
first necessary to have a clear and coherent
idea of what is meant when we say normal
experience Through this gateway he gall
lops off to his old field of human experience
in general, individualism and community in
terests, the meaning of civilization, and THE
Quest for Certainty"
The difference between experience in gem
eral and an experience and the differnce be-
tween intellectual or practical experiences and