ILLINOIS

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INCE the last issue of the WORLD

COURT the General Secretary of

COURT the General Secretary of the World's Court League, Doctor John Wesley Hill, has been active in completing the organization of the Wisconsin Branch of the League.

On Friday, June 30th, a luncheon was tendered Doctor Hill by the Merchant's and Manufacturer's Association of Milwaukee at the Pfister Hotel, where a large number of the most representative men of Wisconsin gathered. to hear of the purposes and work of the World's Court League and to definitely organize the Wisconsin Branch.

After entering into a history of the movement as endorsed at the last Hague Conference in 1907 and dwelling at some length upon the difference between the proposed World Court and the present Hague Tribunal, the function of which is purely arbitral, Doctor Hill declared that the one final step necessary to the pacification of the world is the establishment of a World Court for the judicial settlement of world disputes. He spoke of the Cleveland and New York Congresses, quoted from the addresses of ex-President Taft, Judge Alton B. Parker, James Brown Scott, Bainbridge Colby, John Hays Hammond, Emerson McMillin, and others. He called upon the men of Wisconsin to join in the movement of bringing all the States of the Union into organized coöperation with this movement.

Following his address enthusiastic addresses were delivered by a number of the gentlemen present, after which the Wisconsin Branch was organized with Judge Turner as President; Hon. E. F. Bottom, Vice-president; Governor Philipp, Honorary President, and Doctor Enoch Perry as Secretary. The Directors of the newly-formed State Branch are gathered from throughout the State. A committee was appointed to immediately incorporate the League under a charter.

The WORLD COURT takes this opportunity to extend its congratulations to the Wisconsin Branch and wishes it great success in the State of Wisconsin.

When the July issue of THE WORLD COURT went to press the Illinois Branch of the World's Court League had been organized but the officers had not been elected. We are now able to report that at a meeting recently held Honorable Frank J. Loesch of the Union League Club, Chicago, was elected president; Doctor Harry Judson, president of the University of Chicago, vice-president; W. D. Washburne, Secretary, and George W. Dickson, Chairman of the Executive Committee. Fifteen Directors composed of the most prominent lawyers and business men of the State were also elected.

As we go to press we have received

word that Ohio and Indiana are in the process of organization and we will doubtless have a report of the completion of their organization ere long.

THE New York State Branch of the

League has been successful in securing the interest of the "Loyal Order of the Moose," a benevolent organization, with a chapter in every State in the Union. This organization has agreed to use its interests with the World Court movement in every State. The New York State Branch has arranged for meetings in the fourteen. Chapters of this organization in New York State, and early in September two large mass meetings of the "Order" are to be held,-one in Brooklyn and one in New York. This "Order" gives the use of its halls, free, and its members have agreed to line up with its interests by becoming members.

Here is an excellent and an effective thing in definite form which assures advance of the World Court movement. If action can be secured among others as freely and as effectively as it has been secured from the Loyal Order of the Moose it would not be long until public opinion would be. sufficiently strong to secure the establishment of a World Court.

It is not amiss to say a word concerning those who have been enthusiastic from the very first, when we met them at the World Court Congress at Carnegie Hall, in May.

Mr. James J. Davis, Director General of this "Order," has been an enthusiast from the beginning, as he himself said, "Personally I am an enthusiastic booster for the World Court League." It is through his interest that we have been able to secure the interest of every State in this movement. His hand as well as his enthusiasm is extended. With him stands the Supreme Dictator of the "Order," Mr. E. J. Henning, of San Diego, Cal., and also Mr. E. H. Theis, National Di

rector, New York City. These three men in conference in New York City, were ardent supporters of the World Court and have opened the doors of the "Order" for memberships and work in the League.

This "Order" is non-political. It is purely beneficent, and breathes the similar spirit of good for mankind as does the World's Court League.

We congratulate ourselves on having secured their interest, and we feel sure they will be "loyal" and great helpers.

HEARTIEST MORAL SUPPORT "I assure you that I will lend your movement my heartiest moral support and attempt to exert my influence among my friends and acquaintances for inducing them to further the success of your worthy cause."

HERMAN KRAUS, New York City.

WOULD DO MORE

"I am in heartiest sympathy with the object of the League and wish I could do more to help."

MARGARET WELLS, Johnstown, N. Y.

WISHES TO DO ACTIVE WORK "I shall be glad to know if there is any opportunity for active work, or if I could be of service to the League. as I am deeply interested in and in sympathy with it."

BEATRICE BIRMINGHAM,
New York City.

THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS "I think you could easily collect several thousand members even in this time of world panic. Surely every one interested in social lines would join." E. W. ORDWAY, Philipse Manor, N. Y.

WILL USE INFLUENCE "I shall be happy to use whatever influence I have to further the League's desired end." STEPHEN K. RAPP.

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That supremacy of Germany. would be more dangerous than a supremacy of England is nonsense, since one country is just as civilized or just as barbarous as the other; the percentage of literate is high and nearly equal in both. A supremacy of England and a crushing of Germany would mean that England would be the ruling power over the seas and a large part of the lands, and the United States would have to take a subservient position. Germany ruling the seas would also not be desirable.

Peace advocates are agreed that a balance of power is liable to become unbalanced at any time and lead to a crash. War can only be avoided among the nations most advanced in civilization by making binding agreements or better by forming a binding combination. It is, therefore, best if the war ends as a tie and that a combination or an international government be formed which shall control the seas. In this combination England, Germany and

the United States would be the dominant nations. nant nations. The United States, in conjunction with other neutral nations, should try to induce the nations at war to make peace and form an equitable combination where all nations will secure equal liberties on the seas and in international trade. The United States should offer a plan for an international government acceptable to England and Germany into which these three nations may enter on equal terms.

A combination of nations can be made binding by the nations designating certain property, territory and battleships as belonging to the nations. in common and under the direct control of the International Government. To this common possession the United States, England and Germany should consign possessions of equal value, and the smaller nations in proportion to representation. To this common possession should belong the international trade routes.

For the European nations to continue the war is savagery. There can be no atrocity worse than the determination to continue the war, which means the continuation of atrocities, killing, mutilation and destruction. The sacrifice of life in the war is indefensible and irreparable; the destruction of property and ships and the cost

is beyond recompense; why then continue this horrid fight? That the Germans and the English are one any more barbarous than the other is nonsense; that there is a difference of race between them is also nonsense. If England and Germany each claim that they are fighting for their civilization, they are in great error. The civilizations of England and Germany differ only slightly, and the war if continued can only be the destruction of the European civilization and of the European people. It is because England, France and Germany are so equal in race and so equally advanced in civilization and in technical knowledge that the war is so disastrous.

The American press can influence with good effect, and cool the ardors of the European people at war by taking a neutral attitude and condemning the faults on both sides for producing the great catastrophe. Both sides are to blame for the war, and America had better let future historians decide which side is to be blamed most. As long as the people of a nation think that they are entirely in the right and their enemy totally wrong they will remain in a fighting mood.

One of the reasons for continuing the war, appears to be, that neither side wishes to make peace until their enemy is crushed. The English believe that they must destroy German militarism; the Germans believe that

they must conquer the Allies to secure peace in the future and prevent the recurrence of war. Now this is nonsense. A complete defeat of one side or the other means a tremendous sacrifice of life and property beyond reparation. To continue the war until one side is defeated means that most of the able-bodied men on both sides will be killed or crippled! The war is "national," as distinguished from individual.

To

The security and peace of the future is promised by the establishment of an international government. make peace in the future promising and to persuade the nations to consider peace terms, the United States, as a neutral nation, should take the lead and declare its support and its serious intention to join and work for the establishment of an equitable international government.

Settling the the war by coming to agreements is the civilized, the reasonable way; to fight it out is the unreasonable, the barbarous way. For the United States to try to settle the war by entering it would be the unreasonable, the barbarous way; to appeal to the reason of the people of the European countries and offer a plan by which permanent peace may be secured (to the mutual benefit of all nations) is the reasonable way, and if the European people are reasonable. they will listen.

A GUIDE.

I believe that the best way to preserve the peace of the world is by means of some organization which will, in a degree, control and regulate the activities of nations among themselves and a power vested in such a Court by the various contracting parties which will guide and lead prospective belligerents in the paths of peace.-Orville P. De Witt.

CONSISTENCY.

I believe in military, industrial and economic preparedness, but I believe that this condition is absolutely consistent with the maintenances of an active propaganda for international arbitration and judicial settlements through appropriate instrumentalities.-John H. Small.

A BENEFIT.

I can assure you that I am most enthusiastically in favor of "peace and arbitration" and believe if the World Court is established it would be of great benefit to all the Countries of the World.

Daniel W. Wilbur.

PEACE BETTER THAN WAR. Believing that peace is better than war, and that all differences between nations should be settled by conciliation, negotiation, or, in the last resort, by arbitration or judicial decision, we heartily commend the plan for the establishment of an International Court of Justice, as being in accordance with the highest statesmanship, humanity and religion.

-Religious Society of Friends.

DESERVING OF SUPPORT.

In my judgment there is nothing before the people of this country at the present time so deserving of popular support as this movement, which has for its object the establishment of justice amongst nations and the rational and peaceful adjustment of their disputes.

-M. L. Rosenwasser.

The World Court, if carried out on constructive, balanced lines, will come nearer to accomplishing the great object of international conciliation than any of the many methods proposed.-H. C. Carroll.

EARLY ESTABLISHMENT

With a view to arousing the American Public to a consciousness of the possibilities that lie in the creation of such a Court and developing an insistent demand for it, thus strengthening the hands of the United States Government in its appeal for its early establishment, the World Court League enters upon its mission.-John Wesley Hill.

AS WITH INDIVIDUALS This Judicial Tribunal should be made a permanent Court, to which nations could resort for Justice precisely as individuals resort to civil Courts.-Il'illiam B. Hornblower.

NO NEED TO DISCUSS The advisability of an International Court is so obvious it need not be discussed.-Emerson McMillin.