The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-06-26
Mothers Clubs Seek
Plank Against War
Appeal Prepared for Both Major Parties-Meet-
ing Called for Friday Evening - Copies of
Former Navy Secretary's Speech Received.
(NEA Telephoto)

act, our country will be commit
ted to another war far more
destructive for us, far less likely
to benefit our country and far
less likely to alter the inevita-
BILE course of events In Europe
than the last. You may be justi-
fed IN criticiHlng your elders for
not having justly debated In pub
lie all the questions involved, and
for not giving you the facts nee
essary for a just opinion, but why
should anyone criticize you for
wanting to ask questions, and
not being convinced till these
questions are answered.
"You may have a right to ask
how, why and where, without
long hard years Of training and
without modern equipment and
genius for war. can you be called
on to face the military power Of
Germany without being MURDERS
ed, without benefit TO any one.
Defend Our Homes
"If we are afraid and want TO
defend our country and Its insti-
tutions ought we to waste our
power In an unpromising struggle
In Europe, or should we remain
al home and use our power and
resources In the relatively easy
task Of defending our homes be-
hind the splendid barrier Of three
thousand miles Of ocean, and the
best navy In the world.
"Did our last effort to settle
the affairs of Europe bring any
result which justified the lives
we lost there, or the suffering OF
those who came back To endless
misery!
"Wnat risk do we really run
OF German attack, II we do not
invite attack by too many acts Of
war?
what military adventure
against us that has promise. can
be open TO the German nation
except on highly unlikely contin-
gencies, and after we have time
to construct an air fleet far
stronger than any they can bring
over, and supply on this side OF
the Atlantlc2 y. ...
IF we must fight what peace
can we now fight for?
Does not modesty compel us TO
ask whether we have conducted
this country so we'll In the last
quarter century that we have q
right TO say that every country
must be governed as we are?
us our own moral tone so ex-
allied that we must impose II by
war on others, and do we really
understand the true background
and motives Of these endless
struggles? Is there any cure that
we can offerp
"Cf course Democracy Is In
danger, but will we protect 1t
most surely by drifting into O
war which will cause such loss.
and need. and misery at home
that we bring grave peril to the
very existence OF Democracy, and
end the hope Of last refuge for
freedom and prosperity here2
Our Emotions
III our emotion Is not fear,
but q desire 10 bring aid to the
Allies, do you not Justly ask
whether or not we are Americans,
Is IL not our duty TO think first
of the lives OF our youngsters, OF
the safety and welfare OF our own
rather than the welfare OF any
others? DO you not rightly ask
where we are TO end at home, II
we continue to waste our youth In
the endless wars and troubles Of
the world.
"These and q hundred other
questions you have a right TO ask,
and TO have answered Justly and
calmly. Has there really been any
such discussion by this genera
ton Of ours. Who has Justly and
without purpose or emotion at
tempted 10 answer what you want
TO know. II there Is any doubt OF
your feelings should not a Just
Creator criticise us, not you.
have no doubt that you will an
swer this great question as JUS
tice and courage dictates, and
quite as well as we can.
IF our country chooses war or
II 1t slips into war by emotion
and error. there Is no doubt that
you will take UP the cause Of your
country as CALAMITY and well as
any generation before you has
done. even II that action does
mean agony TO you, and such
burden Of debt and misery for
our country. as will end our form
OF government.
"As the doors OF this fine insti-
tuition swing wide and you 90 out
into the world, please know that
our interest In you does not end