HAPGOOD PAYS TRIBUTE TO ANGELL, POLITICAL THINKER

There is indeed menace of many sorts in Europe, and I believe that the greatest menace is not where our newspapers and controlling statesmen teach us to look for it. The most famous and influential anti-war book written in the years before 1914 was written by Mr. Norman Angell. "The Great Illusion" proved conclusively that under modern conditions even the victor in war would lose by war. It proved that thesis conclusively, and yet Europe went to war, and the war not only brought about material prostration that must be long continued, but it left conditions and passions that threaten further dire conflict, unless the psychology of civilized nations is altered.

The next war, if it is between nations, will be carried on against populations more than against armies. If it is between classes, who can fortell the amount and method of its destruction? Governments are doing all they can to keep alive the psychology that breeds war, and of this war-breeding psychology the United States is manufacturing her full share. We are doing more than any other country ecept France to make a settlement of the Russian situation impossible. Eugene Debs is still in Atlanta penitentiary, preaching peace while we martyr him for agreeing with Lincoln's stand in the Mexican war, and with, Franklin's statement about all wars. In those two examples we see embodied the belief that the best way to solve foreign problems is to seek pretexts for war, and the best way to create peace between the classes is to stretch war powers in order to abuse high-minded holders of minority opinion.

England Ahead of United States

If England approaches the menacing problems of an industrial age with more intelligence than Americans show, it is due, in part at least, to leadership. We tried to improvise a Farmer-Labor Party this year, or a Bull-Moose program in 1912. Our largest city elected in 1913 a mayor whose record arouses great enthusiasm among experts in municipal government, but for political reasons he is swept to a terrific defeat after four years of intellectually triumphant service. Why? Because there is not a sufficiently large class of trained thinkers who keep the people alive to the important aspects of what is going one. Democracy means skilled work. Without such prolonged leadership democracy becomes mobocracy, and Mitchells will continue to be swept away by Hylans.

Democracy cannot be called a successful form of government until there is enough persistent thought about public affairs to control decisions, locally and nationally. England is far from the desired result, as was shown dramatically by the stampeded khaki-elections of 1918, but still is far ahead of us. Webb, Russell, Cole, Hobson, Massingham, Shaw, Wells, Gardiner, Brailsford are types among the hundreds of able and informed men who have devoted long years to pounding the mass to keep it awake, and certainly not one in this distinguished company has given more distinguished service than Norman Angell.