PS 
 
 3529 
 
 6368w 
 
 o 
 o 
 
 
 
 9 
 2 
 8 
 
 
 2 
 
 O HARE 
 WORLD PEACE
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 A Drama 
 
 By 
 
 Frank P. and Kate Richards O Hare 
 
 B R 1 E H I 
 WAUK1LL, N. Y. 
 
 Price 25c 
 
 THE NATIONAL RIP-SAW PUBLISHING CO. 
 
 PONTIAC BUILDING - - ST. LOUIS, MO.

 
 BRIEHL 
 WALLKILL,
 
 WORLD PEACE 
 
 A DRAMA IN THREE ACTS 
 
 This work is dedicated to the world peace 
 and human brotherhood that can be real 
 ized when co-operation and justice have re 
 placed competition and militarism in world 
 commerce.
 
 *Wcrld 
 
 Spectacle Drama 
 in Ttyree Acts 
 
 BY 
 
 FRANK P. and KATE RICHARDS O HARE 
 
 ST. LOUIS, MO. 
 
 The National Rip Saw Publishing Co. 
 
 1915
 
 COPYRIGHT 1915, BY 
 THE NATIONAL RIP SAW PUBLISHING COMPANY
 
 PERSONS OF THE PLAY 
 
 BANKER 
 
 BUSINESSMAN 
 
 SPECULATOR 
 
 PEACE. 
 
 DEMOCRACY. 
 
 HISTORY. 
 
 WORLD FEDERATION. 
 
 AMERICA. 
 
 COLUMBIA. 
 
 AMERICAN 
 
 AMERICAN 
 
 AMERICAN 
 
 DRUMMER 
 
 MEDICAL SCIENCE. 
 
 CHARITY. 
 
 RELIGION. 
 
 RED CROSS. 
 
 THE KAISER 
 GERMAN STATESMAN 
 GERMAN BANKER 
 GERMAN BUSINESSMAN 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND 
 ENGLISH STATESMAN 
 ENGLISH BANKER 
 ENGLISH BUSINESSMAN 
 THE CZAR 
 
 RUSSIAN STATESMAN 
 RUSSIAN BANKER 
 RUSSIAN BUSINESSMAN 
 THE EMPEROR OF 
 
 AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 
 AUSTRIAN ARCH-DUKE 
 THE KING OF BELGIUM. 
 THE KING OF SERVIA. 
 THE PRESIDENT 
 
 OF FRANCE. 
 THE KING OF ITALY. 
 THE SULTAN. 
 
 ARMAMENT MAKER 
 A CLERGYMAN 
 
 (The following 1 characters 
 are all individuals from the 
 peasant and working class 
 groups) 
 
 MESSENGER 
 BELGIAN MOTHER 
 BELGIAN CHILD 
 BELGIAN BOY 
 IRISHMAN (Fiddler) 
 IRISH MOTHER 
 IRISH CHILD 
 GERMAN WORKMAN 
 GERMAN WOMAI* 
 GERMAN YOUTH 
 GERMAN BOY 
 FRENCH WORKMAN 
 FRENCH \VOMAN 
 FRENCH BOY 
 FRENCH GIRL 
 RUSSIAN WORKMAN 
 RUSSIAN WOMAN 
 RUSSIAN GIRL 
 RUSSIAN LITTLE GIRL 
 ENGLISH WORKMAN 
 ENGLISH WOMAN 
 ENGLISH LITTLE GIRL 
 SERVIAN WOMAN 
 SERVIAN BOY 
 AUSTRIAN WOMAN 
 AUSTRIAN YOUTH 
 SCOTCHMAN (with bagpipe) 
 SCOTCH LITTLE <;IKI, 
 HUNGARIAN VIOLINIST 
 HUNGARIAN LITTLE GIRL 
 
 (Continued)
 
 PERSONS OF THE PLAY (Continued) 
 
 BRITISH, GERMAN, AUSTRIAN, HUNGARIAN, RUSSIAN, 
 SERVIAN, POLISH, BELGIAN, FRENCH, AND TURKISH 
 GROUPS OP PEASANTS AND WORKING PEOPLE, CON 
 SISTING OF FATHERS, MOTHERS, OLDER AND YOUNGER 
 CHILDREN. 
 
 NORWEGIAN, SWEDISH, DUTCH, SPANISH, PORTU 
 GUESE, ITALIAN, GREEK, DANISH, ROUMANIAN, BUL 
 GARIAN AND SWISS GROUPS, CONSISTING OF FATHERS, 
 MOTHERS, OLDER AND YOUNGER CHILDREN. 
 PORTERS AND WORKINGMEN.
 
 ACT I 
 
 BIGHT STAGE. This part of the stage is set with 
 tables, around which are peasant groups of various 
 European nations. Each group contains fathers, 
 mothers, children, young men and maidens. Fathers 
 smoking, mothers knitting, embroidering, crocheting 
 and fondling children. The men exchange news 
 papers, discuss politics, pass cigars and cigarettes 
 from table to table, light each other s pipes and clink 
 \\ine glass with stein, all in peace and good will. 
 Mothers display their work, show each other stitches 
 and compare children. 
 
 Young men and maidens nod and smile to each 
 other. Some pair off, a German youth and a French 
 girl a Russian girl and an Austrian youth, etc. 
 Mild flirtations and innocent love-making. 
 
 The children play tag, ball, and marbles between 
 the tables. A Belgian boy draws a long string of 
 wiener- wursts from his pocket; A little English girl 
 snatches a handful of crackers from a table and 
 they feed each other with much laughter. A French 
 boy makes friendly advances to a little Russian girl, 
 9
 
 .10 WORLD PEACE ACT i 
 
 exhibiting a long stick of candy. The little Russian 
 girl accepts the proffered friendship and they eat the 
 candy, taking alternate bites. A little Hungarian girl 
 and a Servian boy share their bread and cheese. A 
 German boy creeps up and snatches a handful of 
 pretzels from a table; his mother laughingly strikes 
 at him over the table with a long stocking she is 
 knitting and he runs off to share his pretzels with a 
 little Scotch girl. 
 
 During this scene characteristic national folk music 
 is heard from the various groups. A German work 
 man plays a yellow clarinet; a Scotchman plays the 
 Highland Fling on a bagpipe; an Irishman plays an 
 Irish jig; a Russian workman plays a ballalaika; a 
 Hungarian violin is heard. Snatches of folk songs 
 of various nations are heard now and then from the 
 various groups. All applaud the contributions to the 
 gayety of the occasion and express enjoyment. 
 
 A French workingman looks up from the news 
 paper he is reading and addresses a Gorman work 
 ingman. 
 
 FRENCH WORKINGMAN. The jingoes are working 
 overtime; here is a fool pencil pusher who insists that in 
 order to display our culture and patriotism we must all 
 go to war. 
 
 GERMAN WORKINGMAN. Fools! All mouth and no 
 brains. If the jingoes want war let them do the fighting. 
 You and I have no stomach to cut each, other s throats 
 and I would rather drink a good draught of Muenchener 
 than my brother s blood, [raises stein and drinks] I drink 
 to peace and forswear war. 
 
 RUSSIAN WORKINGMAN. Hear! Hear! Let fools
 
 WORLD PEACE 11 
 
 rant and Jingoes rave it shall not disturb us. The Bal 
 kan situation did look somewhat alarming but that is 
 all over now. I have here the agenda for the Interna 
 tional Socialist Congress to be held in Vienna soon. It is 
 full of good meat for our souls and when the workers 
 of every nation on earth meet in that Congress of Labor 
 we will sign and seal the pact of the International soli 
 darity of labor. Then fool pencil pushers and jingoistic 
 howlers will lose their occupation, and war will go out 
 of business. 
 
 ENGLISH WORKINGMAN. You are right brother! We 
 organized workers have found that business is interna 
 tional and does not concern itself With flags or countries 
 but takes the toll of profits under any flag. Shall we be 
 less wise, we workers? I trust not.. If business interests 
 are international, so shall be the organization of the 
 workers and we do not love the Fatherland less because 
 we love the human race more. To be loyal, patriotic 
 citizens of any nation we need not hate and distrust the 
 men of other nations. 
 
 I propose a toast to peace, the international solidarity 
 of labor and world-wide brotherhood. Who will drink 
 with me? 
 
 AH worklngmen spring to their feet and drink to 
 the toast. 
 
 LEFT STAGE. Screened from the groups on the 
 right, but in sight of the audience, a group of the 
 European bankers, business men and the armament 
 maker is seated at a table. On the back wall is 
 hung an immense map of Europe. 
 
 Enter (left) the Kaiser and the Emperor of
 
 12 WORLD PEACE ACT i 
 
 Austria-Hungary arm in arm. Business men, bankers 
 and armament maker rise and step aside. The King 
 of England enters (left) just behind them. The 
 Kaiser greets the King of England effusively, kissing 
 him on both cheeks. 
 
 KAISER. Here is my beloved kinsman! I trust 
 that all is well with you, Georgie? 
 
 KING OF ENGLAND. Greetings most beloved 
 cousin. All is well with me and my family; I trust God s 
 choicest blessing rests on you and yours. 
 
 The Emperor of Austria-Hungary steps forward 
 and greets the King of England. 
 
 EMPEROR OP AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. I greet you 
 
 and pray that a thousand blessings rest on you and yours. 
 
 KING OF ENGLAND. I thank you from my heart 
 
 and wish ten thousand choicest blessings for you and 
 
 your family and nation. 
 
 The Czar and the President of France enter 
 (left) arm in arm, followed by the Sultan. 
 KAISER. Behold what happiness is ours! Here IB 
 my dear cousin Nicky [kisses the Czar effusively]. How 
 goes the world with you my cousin? And greetings to 
 you, Mr. President [shakes hands with President of 
 France] even though you are the one Republican sheep 
 in the flock. [All laugh] and the "Sick Man"! [The 
 Kaiser shakes hands with the Sultan]. 
 
 CZAR. Thank you, dear kinsman. My darling Crown 
 Prince is less robust than I could wish and a few trouble 
 some Republicans who must have imbibed their ideas of 
 my French friend s nation, annoy me somewhat but in the 
 main we feel ourselves in the hollow of God s hand.
 
 WORLD PEACE 13 
 
 Enter (left) the King of Servia, the King of Italy 
 and the King of Belgium arm in arm. All turn to 
 greet them. 
 
 KAISER [To the King of Servia]. A hearty welcome, 
 most beloved kinsman. You bring a welcome breath of 
 sunny Southern skies and olive groves. God s blessing be 
 with you and yours. [Shakes hands with the Kings of 
 Italy and Belgium.] 
 
 KING OF SERVIA. A thousand thanks for your good 
 tvish.es and we return them to you a hundredfold. 
 
 While the greetings of royalty have been taking 
 place the business men, hankers and armament 
 maker gather in front of the map consulting and 
 pointing to the map to illustrate their arguments. 
 German, French, Russian and English statesmen 
 enter (left) and join business men, bankers and 
 armament maker in front of the map. An English 
 business man steps a little aside and calls an Eng 
 lish banker who in turn calls the armament maker. 
 ENGLISH BUSINESS MAN. [Aside to the English 
 statesman] The pressure of the competition of German 
 trade is becoming unendurable; the trade supremacy of 
 England threatens to slip from our grasp and leave us a 
 second-rate commercial power. You must do something 
 in this grave crisis. 
 
 ENGLISH STATESMAN. Quite true. We must find 
 some way to strengthen our hold on the world commerce. 
 Possibly our friend the banker, may suggest some plan, 
 since we all know him to be such a practical man? 
 
 ARMAMENT MAKER. [Interrupting] There is but 
 one way to maintain commercial supremacy: keep your 
 army and navy up to the highest point of efficiency and
 
 U WORLD PEACE ACT i 
 
 readiness for duty. Cannons are the "last words of 
 Kings" and the safeguard of national commercial supre 
 macy. Your only hope is in increased armament. 
 
 ENGLISH BANKER. I concur in the position of our 
 friend and I stand ready to furnish the funds for in 
 creased armament. I feel it my patriotic duty to sub 
 scribe liberally to any loan our royal master may decide 
 in his wisdom necessary. 
 
 [The English statesman calls the King of England 
 aside to confer with him and the English banker 
 while the armament maker passes over to engage the 
 Kaiser, the German statesman and the German busi 
 ness man in conversation.] 
 
 ENGLISH STATESMAN. [To the King of England] 
 Your Royal Highness, we have decided that the safety of 
 English commerce demands an increase in armament and 
 the immediate raising of our army and navy to the high 
 est point of efficiency and readiness for action. A German 
 war cloud is hovering over Europe and our only hope of 
 maintaining peace is in preparedness for war. A most 
 liberal military appropriation will be necessary. The 
 loyalty and patriotism of our great financiers have already 
 been sounded and they stand ready to subscribe fully a 
 generous loan. 
 
 KING OF ENGLAND. [With sadness and indecision] 
 But there are already snarls and mutters of discontent 
 among the common people. They declare our taxes a griev 
 ous burden; I dread to rouse their anger and resentment. 
 Increased armament means heavier taxes; heavier taxes 
 may provoke a social revolution. 
 
 ENGLISH STATESMAN. [In shocked horror] Your 
 Royal Higliness, it grieves me to the heart to hear you
 
 WORLD PEACE 15 
 
 voice such forebodings. I pray you do not give heed 
 to the vaporing of certain Labor M. P. s who have wormed 
 their way into Parliament by playing on the envy of the 
 discontented members of the working class. The men of 
 Old England are loyal sons and I assure you their patriot 
 ism will rise above the sordid counting of a few pennies 
 in taxes when you make it clear that our world commerce 
 is at stake. 
 
 KING OF ENGLAND. Perhaps you are in closer touch 
 with my subjects than I am and I can but trust to your 
 wisdom and loyalty. Kindly convey to my parliament at 
 once my wish that the necessary loan should be arranged 
 and bid our Minister for War make every preparation to 
 strengthen our land and naval forces. 
 
 The Kaiser, the German business man, the German 
 banker and the armament maker observe the action 
 of the English statesman and the King of England 
 with keen interest. The German group moves near 
 to and in front of the map. 
 
 ARMAMENT MAKER. [To the Kaiser] Observe, your 
 Royal Highness, the King of England is a shrewd and 
 farseeing ruler. He grasps the mighty truth that "eternal 
 vigilance is the price of liberty," and I chance to know 
 that the message he has just dispatched is to his par 
 liament demanding still larger military and naval ex 
 penditures and through secret channels of information I 
 know he has heavily increased his armament. I under 
 stand the friendly relations existing between your coun 
 tries, but it is always well to be in readiness for an 
 emergency. The only way to enforce peace is to be well 
 prepared for war. 
 
 GERMAN BUSINESS MAN. [Addressing the German
 
 16 WORLD PEACE ACT i 
 
 group] I fear we face an Industrial crisis. English guns 
 control every gateway for our foreign trade. Consider 
 our geographical position: hemmed in on every side, with 
 every path blocked by England. [Points to map] The 
 Straits of Dover, Gibraltar, Suez all English again, -we 
 have a well organized working class demanding an ever 
 higher standard of living. Thus we compete with English 
 business at a frightful disadvantage. We must have free 
 access to the sea; we must have more coal and iron mines 
 and we must occupy the minds of our working people 
 with something else than trades unions and socialism. I 
 seriously fear that England already has her eye on our 
 sister nation, Belgium; she has long coveted the rich 
 mineral wealth of that little nation and it behooves us to 
 warn our royal master that danger threatens from that 
 direction. It might be well to sound our bankers in re 
 gard to their loyalty in subscribing to a heavy loan to in 
 crease our navy and to strengthen our Belgian frontier. 
 GERMAN STATESMAN. It shall be done immediately. 
 The German group moves away from the map, 
 accompanied by the armament maker, and draw 
 closer together. The King of England, the King of 
 Belgium and the President of France confer in whis 
 pers (left). The Czar, the Russian business man and 
 the Russian statesman gather before the map and 
 confer earnestly, but in words too low to be heard. 
 The King of Servia and the Emperor of Austria-Hun 
 gary eye each other suspiciously and try to hear 
 what is being said by the Russian group. The King 
 of Italy and the Sultan, left alone, glance first at one 
 group, then another, look much perplexed and finally 
 light cigarettes and sit down to await developments.
 
 WORLD PEACE 17 
 
 GERMAN STATESMAN. [To the Kaiser, indicating the 
 conference of the King of England, the King of Belgium 
 and the President of France] That seems to hold a sin 
 ister threat for our nation, Your Royal Highness. 
 
 GERMAN BANKER. [To the Kaiser] If there is any 
 question of our preparedness to meet whatever may arise, 
 my loyalty to the Kaiser and the Fatherland demands 
 that I subscribe fully any loan necessary for our protec 
 tion. 
 
 ARMAMENT MAKER. [To the Kaiser s group] My 
 factories are equipped and my loyal workingmen are 
 waiting to supply the armament needed to protect the 
 Fatherland. 
 
 KAISER. [To the group around him] I am a man of 
 peace, but it is God s will that I should expend every 
 force to protect our foreign commerce and guard our 
 Empire from invasion. [Turns to the armament maker] 
 I am ready to sign the order that will give you the task 
 of doubling my armament, but it is wise to keep this fact 
 a secret for a time. Those troublesome and ungodly So 
 cialists in my Reichstag will raise a mighty clatter. Their 
 heads are full of a senseless creed of anti-militarism, in 
 ternationalism and the solidarity of labor. Their rant 
 ing Is most distressing to my ears. 
 
 GERMAN STATESMAN: True, Your Royal Highness! 
 They are a troublesome lot, but we have the support of 
 press and pulpit and when the day of action comes you 
 will find that well-garnished words of patriotism will 
 sway the masses. 
 
 The Kaiser signs the armament maker s order 
 book, and the armament maker passes over to where
 
 18 WORLD PEACE ACT i 
 
 the Czar, the Russian business man, the Russian 
 banker and the Russian statesman stand before the 
 map of Europe. The King of Serria and the Emperor 
 of Austria-Hungary glare at each other with in 
 creasing anger and watch the actions of the Russian 
 group with breathless interest.] 
 
 RUSSIAN BUSINESS MAN. We face a crisis that 
 means life and death to the Russian nation. With an 
 Empire greater than all of South America, rich but un 
 developed, and a vigorous working class, we are ham 
 pered commercially. The business Interests of a nation 
 fatten not on what that nation can produce, but what it 
 can sell to other nations. Whilst we conquered the Tartar 
 hordes other nations captured the commerce of the world 
 and have built national barriers that surround us on 
 every side. The wares that we would sell and the goods 
 that we would buy from other nations must all pass 
 under the hostile cannons of a single nation, Germany 
 and her allies. England, France, Belgium and North 
 America would all be glad to trade with us, but the 
 cursed German greed dams the flow of trade; and we, 
 the greatest nation on earth, with the largest territory 
 and most numerous population, are reduced to the shame 
 ful position of being imprisoned like a felon in a cell and 
 exploited for the commercial glory of the German nation. 
 If we would live we must have access to the open sea. 
 [He turns and points to the map] We have four navies 
 on four seas, all isolated from each other. Here to the 
 Northwest there are not only natural barriers, but our 
 shipping must pass under the cannons of Germany. Here 
 to the Southwest our only pathway is closed by Austria, 
 and to the South the Dardanelles, under German influ-
 
 WORLD PEACE 19 
 
 ence, block us. We must cut a road to the Mediterranean 
 Sea, that our shipping may reach the ocean roads of com 
 merce unharassed by German influences. The question 
 is: How shall it be done? 
 
 ARMAMENT MAKER. There is but one way. The 
 tools I forge are the only ones that will cleave the path 
 your soul desires. The ruler to the West [pointing to 
 the Kaiser] already knows that you want that free path 
 way to the sea and he has just strengthened the arma 
 ment of his nation to shut you out. It behooves you to 
 plow it with my cannons, and do it soon, ere the strength 
 of the Kaiser s arm becomes too great for you. 
 
 RUSSIAN STATESMAN. He is right. And I chance to 
 know through the secret channels of diplomacy that Ser- 
 via will be glad to join with us; she fears her ancient 
 enemy, Austria-Hungary. Turkey is a weak and senile 
 nation. Bulgaria is worn by war and Montenegro is but 
 a dainty morsel for our appetite. Now is the time to 
 strike. If the honor and glory of Russia is to grow we 
 must sell the very coats from off our backs if necessary 
 to buy the armament we need for this bold stroke for 
 freedom. 
 
 RUSSIAN BANKER. It is not necessary. My loyalty 
 to the Czar and Fatherland makes it my patriotic duty to 
 subscribe fully any loan that may be necessary to protect 
 and enhance our national honor. 
 
 KING OF ENGLAND. [To his group] God! This 
 weight of militarism is a heavy burden to carry; some 
 times I feel it will crush us utterly. 
 
 ENGLISH BANKER. True, Your Royal Highness, but 
 the military insanity of the Kaiser makes it necessary.
 
 20 WORLD PEACE ACT i 
 
 KAISER. [To his group] The clatter of those ungodly 
 Socialists and the clamor of discontent among my work 
 ing people almost deafen me. Gathering military taxes 
 when there is no war is a thankless Job. 
 
 GERMAN STATESMAN. [To the Kaiser.] True, Your 
 Royal Highness, "uneasy lies the head that wears a 
 crown," but divine wisdom made you king and the greed 
 and avarice of England make It necessary for the Father 
 land to bear a heavy burden of military cost. 
 
 CZAR. [To his group] Siberia and salt mine, dungeon 
 and prison cell, knout and bayonet do not still the snarls 
 of discontent among the rabble against the military tax. 
 I am sick at soul of it all. 
 
 RUSSIAN BANKER. True, Most Noble Czar, but you 
 were ordained of God to rule the rabble, and their sordid 
 minds cannot comprehend that the greed and lust for con 
 quest of the Kaiser makes the heavy burden necessary. 
 
 EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. [Speaking to 
 the King of Servia] Why do you eye me with so much 
 bitterness and suspicion? I am your most loyal friend. 
 I trust you fully, for I have just sent my young prince on 
 a friendly visit to your capital. 
 
 KING OF SERVIA. You misjudge me; I have no anger 
 or suspicion in my heart, only love and veneration for 
 you and your long and glorious reign. 
 
 The Austrian Archduke staggers In [left], stum 
 bles across the stage to the Emperor of Austria-Hun 
 gary. The Emperor clasps him in his arms and eases 
 his body into a chair near a table. 
 
 AUSTRIAN ARCHDUKE. A Servian hireling has mor 
 tally stricken me. [Falls forward on table, dead.] 
 
 EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. [Turning to King
 
 WORLD PEACE 21 
 
 of Servia] I know the blackness of your heart. You have 
 not deceived me. I know that you have plotted with the 
 brutal Czar to tear a pathway through my nation to the 
 sea; you would have dismembered my country like a 
 joint upon a butcher s block. Not satisfied with such 
 black-hearted treachery, your hirelings have murdered 
 my prince. I swear that you shall pay for this; I shall 
 appeal to the Kaiser, and we will tear your country into 
 shreds. 
 
 KING OF SERVIA. And I shall appeal to the Czar and 
 we will crush you both. 
 
 Emperor of Austria-Hungary turns to the Kaiser. 
 
 EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. I must avenge 
 the death of my prince, but fear Russia. 
 
 KAISER. I will protect you. [Steps close to Emperor 
 of Austria-Hungary] 
 
 KING OF SERVIA. [Moves to the Czar s side] Nicho 
 las, I need your aid. 
 
 CZAR. The ties of blood bind us together. 
 
 The other rulers listen with apprehension; France 
 and England move to the Russian and Servian 
 group. The Kings of Belgium and Italy and the Sul 
 tan of Turkey stand indecisive. 
 
 KAISER. I have feared this. Russia and France are 
 even now marching across my frontiers. I shall hurl an 
 army through Belgium at once. It is the only way. 
 
 KING OF BELGIUM. But we are neutral our treaty 
 
 KAISER. A scrap of paper cannot stand in the way 
 of German safety. 
 
 KING OF ENGLAND. Germany violates Belgium neu 
 trality! [Turns to France] Eng and must protect the
 
 22 WORLD PEACE ACT i 
 
 integrity of smaller nations we join with you and the 
 Czar. 
 
 CZAR. I thank you both for your aid in this war of 
 freedom. 
 
 King of Belgium joins the English and French 
 groups. 
 
 PRESIDENT OF FRANCE. God and humanity call UB 
 to take this step. France will answer to a man, for the 
 bitter score of 1870 is still unpaid and Germany still 
 holds my Alsace and Lorraine. 
 
 The orchestra breaks into a clamor of discordant 
 sounds which sound louder and louder. The involved 
 rulers rush to the center of the stage, each shout 
 ing to their respective people, "The Fatherland is 
 attacked, rush to the defense." 
 
 The King of Italy stands undecided by his chair as 
 the clamor breaks shrugs his shoulders, tosses 
 aside his cigarette. 
 
 KING OF ITALY. [To the Sultan] I don t need any 
 more seaports; neither do I seem to possess any com 
 merce that anyone wants to take away from me, and I 
 am somewhat at loss to know just what I should do. Of 
 course, a treaty is a treaty and should be kept, but with 
 war abroad and my Parliament full of Socialists at home 
 I think neutrality is best for me. [Leisurely lights an 
 other cigarette, ponders and walks slowly off stage [left] , 
 followed by Sultan.] 
 
 With the appearance of their rulers, and as the 
 crash of the impending war is heard, the peasants 
 spring to their feet in astonishment and fear. Each 
 national group huddles together, mothers fran 
 tically gather their children into their arms and
 
 WORLD PEACE 23 
 
 women and children cling terror-stricken to the men. 
 
 KAISER. [To his people] The unspeakable Slav, sup 
 ported by the French, has invaded the sacred, blood- 
 bought soil of the Fatherland from both frontiers. Your 
 God and Kaiser calls you to the defense. To arms! To 
 arms, noble sons. 
 
 PRESIDENT OF FRANCE. [To his people] The 
 haughty Teuton marches on us and would grind France 
 beneath his mailed heel. Arise, ye sons of France, and 
 drive the invader into the sea, and God shall be your 
 ally. 
 
 CZAR. [To his people] The German hordes swarm 
 over the borderland and would subject Russia to hu 
 miliation and wipe our glorious name from the map of 
 Europe. God and the Czar call you to the battle line. 
 
 KING OF ENGLAND. [To his people] The German 
 barbarians would drive Britannia from the seas and wrest 
 from us our heritage of glory and supremacy. They have 
 violated the neutrality of the peaceful and inoffensive 
 Belgians. England, the protector of all weaker sister 
 nations, calls you to arms! My faithful sons, humble the 
 Prussian despot, sustain the honor of old England and 
 protect the neutrality of weaker nations. Your God and 
 King calls you to wage this holy war of liberty. 
 
 ALL RULERS IN UNISON. [To their respective peo 
 ple] It is a war for freedom and against invasion. Your 
 God and your country call you to the battle line to repel 
 the invaders. 
 
 GERMAN, FRENCH, ENGLISH AND RUSSIAN 
 WORKINGMEN. [Crying in chorus] We will not go to 
 war, those men across the line are our brothers and we 
 will not murder them.
 
 24 WORLD PEACE ACT i 
 
 RULERS. [Answer in Chorus] Already we are in 
 vaded and those brother workingmen of yours are arm 
 ing to murder you. 
 
 WORKINGMEN. [Each turning to his own group] 
 Great God! What treachery. We must kill or be killed. 
 
 An Irishman stands his little daughter on a chair 
 and clasps her and his wife hi his arms. The mother 
 weeps bitterly. 
 
 IRISH CHILD. Mammy, why does daddy look so sad 
 and why does mammy cry? 
 
 IRISH MOTHER. The king has called daddy to go to 
 war and fight for him. 
 
 IRISH CHILD. The English king? 
 
 IRISH MOTHER. Yes, darling. 
 
 IRISH CHILD. But, mammy, the English king has 
 treated the Irish people bitter hard for so many years; 
 why should daddy fight for him? 
 
 IRISH MOTHER. My God! child, you can t under 
 stand; it s war. 
 
 IRISH CHILD. What is war? 
 
 IRISH MOTHER. War is where men go to kill tfceir 
 enemies. 
 
 IRISH CHILD. Who are enemie*? 
 
 IRISH MOTHER. Men of other nations, darling. 
 
 IRISH CHILD. Are they other little girls daddies? 
 
 IRISH MOTHER. Yes, child. 
 
 IRISH CHILD. Daddy, are you going to kill some 
 other little girl s daddy? Don t she love her daddy and 
 won t she cry? 
 
 Fathers embrace wives and children, brothers em 
 brace sisters, and lovers sweethearts.
 
 WORLD PEACE 25 
 
 Clergyman [enters left] walks to center of stage 
 and addresses people. 
 
 CLERGYMAN. God and king have called each man to 
 his colors to "wage this holy war. In every war some men 
 must fall. Your nation has need of sons, so tarry at my 
 altar ere ye answer the bugle call and I will wed ye to 
 the woman of your choice. God and your king command 
 that ye breed before ye die. 
 
 CURTAIN.
 
 ACT II 
 
 [LEFT STAGE] The peasant women of the war 
 ring nations are grouped in a semi-circle, each na 
 tional group huddled together and seated on low 
 stools. Their children are crouching at their feet 
 and hiding behind their skirts. The neutrals are 
 grouped together at the extreme left and slightly 
 behind the warring nations. The women of the war 
 ring nations are anguish-stricken and weeping, and 
 the people of the neutral nations seem frightened 
 and anxious. The noise and turmoil of war is heard 
 in the distance and with each fresh outbreak the 
 people of the neutral nations grow more agitated. 
 
 [BIGHT STAGE] America and Columbia are 
 seated on a flag-draped dais. The American business 
 man, American banker, American speculator and the 
 "drummer" are grouped near. They listen to the 
 thunder of war and gaze on the terror-stricken 
 women and children with pity. 
 COLUMBIA. Great God! How frightful. It makes my 
 
 senses reel and my soul sick to think of such horrors. 
 
 How can such things be In a world of culture and civiliza- 
 
 27
 
 28 WORLD PEACE ACT n 
 
 tlon? Has the world gone stark, raving mad with the 
 lust for blood? 
 
 AMERICA. Not at all. This war Is but the outcome 
 of civilized industrial life. It Is distressing, it is true, but 
 you should not allow sentiment to overshadow your prac 
 tical common sense. Just think what a wonderful op 
 portunity for business. [Columbia shudders and hides 
 her eyes from the appalling scene.] 
 
 COLUMBIA. How terrible to think of business, when 
 millions of human lives are lost, culture and art tram 
 pled Into the dust, and civilization dragged back into 
 savagery. 
 
 AMERICA. Quite true, but It Is business that rules 
 the world to-day and not sentiment. 
 
 A continuous stream of porters, carrying shoes, 
 harness, saddles, clothing, bags of wheat, guns and 
 boxes of ammunition, enter [right], cross in front of 
 the weeping women and pass on their way to the 
 battlefield. 
 
 AMERICA. There! Observe how foolish your ob 
 jections. A stream of wealth is pouring from 
 our shores to the warring nations and a stream of good 
 European gold will come back to us. 
 
 COLUMBIA. But the gold Is all stained with human 
 blood, and our own working people are starving for the 
 food we send to feed this war. 
 
 AMERICA. Mere Socialistic cant! The priests, bish 
 ops and church dignitaries have all expressed their opin 
 ion that it Is a holy war. I have questioned my states 
 men and they declare that It Is being conducted according 
 to the rules of world diplomacy; I have received advice 
 from our great captains of finance and they declare the
 
 WORLD PEACE 29 
 
 war good for business. God ordained these wise men to 
 guide our destinies. Be content woman, be content! 
 
 Peasant women rise one by one and cluster in cen 
 ter of stage for conference. They appeal to a Hun 
 garian woman to carry a message to America plead 
 ing for intercession. 
 
 GERMAN WOMAN. Go, sister, to the great land across 
 the sea and beg mighty America to stop this slaughter. 
 
 FRENCH WOMAN. Hurry, sister, ere It Is too late. 
 The great Napoleon once said that armies travel on their 
 stomachs, and the granaries of Europe are bare of food. 
 If America will sell our war lords no more food, the war 
 must cease. We may starve, but better far to die of hun 
 ger than to be maimed with shot and torn with shell. 
 
 AUSTRIAN WOMAN. America Is tender of heart and 
 mighty In power; go tell how bitter are our sufferings, 
 that her mighty strength may bring us peace. 
 
 RUSSIAN WOMAN. Go, tell the generous America that 
 the arms she sends across the sea but prolong this hell of 
 war. Every bullet may make a widow, every shrapnel a 
 dozen orphans, and the dum-dum kills not alone the body 
 of the man on the firing line but the heart and soul of the 
 woman left behind. 
 
 ENGLISH WOMAN. Go, sister, and voice the cry of 
 the harried, war-stricken women of Europe, and surely 
 the great, tender heart of America will heed our cry and 
 send us help. 
 
 SERVIAN WOMAN. America is called "The Home of 
 the Brave and the Land of the Free." God grant that the 
 "free" may near the cry of the slaves of the war gods and 
 make of our bravery our salvation. 
 
 MESSENGER. I will be your messenger.
 
 30 WORLD PEACE ACT n 
 
 ALL WOMEN. [In unison) God speed you on your 
 way. God send us peace. 
 
 The Messenger crosses stage and kneels before 
 America to make her plea. 
 
 MESSENGER. Oh! Great and powerful nation, I come 
 as the living voice of all the war-cursed women of Eu 
 rope. I kneel at your feet and supplicate for the strength 
 of your might and the humanity of your heart that alone 
 can save the continent of Europe from utter ruin and de 
 spair. Europe to-day is one vast charnel house, her 
 highways are shambles, her farms are graveyards, her 
 fields are quagmires soaked in human blood and pol 
 luted with rotting human flesh. Our factories, mills, 
 mines and workshops are idle while the workingmen fight, 
 die and rot in the trenches. Already the pick and flower 
 of European young manhood have been transformed into 
 bloated corpses whose stench pollutes the air, while 
 famine and pestilence hover like vultures over every 
 nation. 
 
 AMERICA. True, my dear madam! You have my 
 heartfelt sympathy. I will call my people to gather in 
 the churches and hold a day of prayer. 
 
 MESSENGER. A most pious thing to do, no doubt, 
 but long and bitter experience has taught us that God 
 is always on the side of the army with the best guns, 
 and since there are guns enough in Europe and being 
 manufactured in your armament factories to shoot the 
 happiness of the women of Europe into fragments we are 
 loath to wait until the guns decide whom God shall help. 
 If agonized prayers could have brought us peace we would 
 not have appealed to you. From a million agonized souls 
 in Europe prayers are ascending at this moment.
 
 WORLD PEACE 31 
 
 AMERICA. My heart is with you, but, of course, I can 
 take no official notice of your plea. Home is the place 
 for women; men must settle the quarrels of nations in 
 the manly way. Go home to your children and in God s 
 good time the war will end. 
 
 MESSENGER. But listen, O! great nation, we have 
 no homes. Millions of our men have been taken from us. 
 How many are slain we do not know, but we do know that 
 every time the sun passes from east to west thousands 
 die. Our homes have been destroyed and more crumble 
 every time a cannon roars or a shrapnel falls. Our pro 
 tectors are gone and thousands of women in Europe bear 
 beneath their anguished hearts the little lives that have 
 been conceived in force, that will be nurtured in blazing 
 hate and that will be born to deeds of violence and insan 
 ity. In a few weeks the Belgian women will give life to the 
 hated offspring of the German invaders; the outraged 
 Polish women will bear the fruit of the hellish lust of the 
 Russian soldiers, and so the cruel, brutal story runs, in 
 volving every warring nation and bearing in its train hor 
 rors too frightful for human mind to grasp. 
 
 AMERICA. Madam, what would you have me do? 
 
 MESSENGER. I would have you order back into the 
 harbor every ship loaded with food, either for sale or to 
 be given in charity. Every pound of food you send the 
 warring nations but helps the war lords to continue the 
 slaughter. I would) have you forbid the exportation of 
 arms and ammunition. But for the armament you make 
 and sell the warring nations, the murder must cease. In 
 the name of womanhood, childhood and humanity, I de 
 mand that you stop the sale of war supplies and proffer 
 mediation to the warring nations.
 
 32 WORLD PEACE ACT n 
 
 AMERICA. But, Madam, why do you come to m? I 
 am only one nation and have problems enough at home 
 without Interfering In your European war. 
 
 MESSENGER. True you are only one nation, but you 
 are the dominant nation of the Western world. You set 
 the precedent of dictation of European politics when by 
 your Monroe Doctrine you said no king or emperor should 
 come to the Western world and extend his dominions. You 
 have enforced that edict, not with battleship and cannon, 
 but with moral power, and because of it two great con 
 tinents are made up of sister republics who live in peace 
 and harmony. Two score of republics stretch from pole 
 to pole and their thousands of miles of boundary lines 
 are unprotected by forts or soldiers, and these two-score 
 governments are free from the curse of militarism. 
 America is the mother of republics, and when you speak 
 it will not be for one nation, but for the twenty that oc 
 cupy the Western continent. Every ruler of the Western 
 world will Join in the proffer of mediation, but you must 
 lead the way in this, as in the building of republics. 
 
 The neutral nations of Europe are only waiting for 
 your leadership. They hate this war, but are powerless to 
 act lest they be crushed. 
 
 The common people of the warring nations have no 
 quarrel with each other and loathe the part they play In 
 the orgy of murder, but they, too, are helpless victims. 
 The power to atop not qnly this war, but cast the god 
 war chained into the pit, and to rescue all mankind from 
 his domination, is yours. Have you the courage to act? 
 
 AMERICA. Great God! How I long to take the step, 
 but I am bound by unseen bonds the domination of 
 business interests and Europe will not listen.
 
 WORLD PEACE 33 
 
 MESSENGER. Warfare is to business what drunken 
 ness is to a weary man; false strength, false power that 
 must be paid for in deadly reaction. And Europe will be 
 glad to listen. 
 
 The porters continue to carry their wares across 
 the stage. 
 
 America calls the American banker, speculator and 
 business man for consultation. 
 
 AMERICA. [Pointing to messenger] You have heard 
 the woman s plea. What is your answer? 
 
 AMERICAN BANKER. Preposterous! What insolence 
 and presumption. Pray tell me what do women know of 
 war or finance! 
 
 SPECULATOR. Impracticable! We have no call to 
 interfere. 
 
 DRUMMER. [Elbowing his way to the front] Say, 
 Sam, take it from me, if you let women butt in on this 
 proposition hell will be popping. They don t give a damn 
 for business; they are sentimentalists. Duck the petti 
 coats, old man, or we are in for trouble. 
 
 AMERICAN BANKER. My friend is a little crude in 
 his manner of expression, but quite sound as to logic. 
 Allow me to donate half a million dollars to a fund to 
 send doctors and nurses to Europe. It has always been 
 the duty of womankind to bind up the wounds of the 
 fallen, and If we can fix the minds of women on the noble 
 work of nursing, they will not trouble us about an em 
 bargo or mediation. 
 
 DRUMMER. Good. I ll help in that. [Hastily draws 
 a roll of bills from his pocket and tosses it to banker.] 
 
 America turns and pats the Messenger on the head 
 with a fatherly air.
 
 34 WORLD PEACE ACT n 
 
 AMERICA. Madam, my heart bleeds for you and the 
 women of your unhappy continent. I shall send Medical 
 Science, one of God s best gifts to man, and Red Cross, 
 the concrete expression of tender womanhood, to aid you 
 in your day of sorrow. 
 
 America beckons and Medical Science, a young 
 man physician, and Red Cross, a young woman nurse, 
 enter [right]. America gives each an emergency 
 case and they pass over to the weeping women, who 
 view them without interest, and the pair pass on to 
 the battlefield. [Leave stage left,] 
 
 MESSENGER. [To America] Believe me, I am grate 
 ful for your tenderness of heart and for your desire to 
 succor us in our day of need, but I am not satisfied. Of 
 what value to us will it be to have Medical Science and 
 Red Cross bind up the wounds and heal the hurts of our 
 loved ones, if, when they are healed, they must again go 
 back to murder and be murdered? 
 
 Red Cross or Medical Science can bring no happiness 
 to the hearts or ease to the souls of the women and chil 
 dren of war-cursed Europe. 
 
 AMERICA. Ah! Quite true, Madam, I understand. 
 We must care for the women and children also. I will 
 call my faithful aids, who have always been able to com 
 fort my working people when strikes and lockouts, gun 
 men and Cossacks have brought death and suffering to 
 their humble homes. I shall call Charity and Religion to 
 you. [America beckons, and Charity, a young woman 
 dressed in black, and Religion, a young clergyman, enter 
 right. They stand before America, who hands to 
 Charity a basket of bread and to Religion a Bible. [Char 
 ity and Religion start to go.]
 
 WORLD PEACE 35 
 
 [The drummer, suitcase in hand, is starting for 
 Europe. He bumps into Religion accidentally and 
 almost topples him over.] 
 
 DRUMMER. Beg your pardon, parson! I have to hus 
 tle to keep up with my Job these days; business is simply 
 humming. 
 
 RELIGION. I am happy to hear you say so, brother, 
 for I am on my way to carry the consolation of religion 
 to the unhappy continent of Europe and I trust you will 
 contribute liberally. 
 
 DRUMMER. Sure! Just hold this stuff while I write 
 a check. [Thrusts his sample case, order book and grip 
 on Religion, who stands and holds them awkwardly. The 
 drummer writes a check, speaking as he writes.] Well, 
 take it from me, parson, the poor ginks need all the con 
 solation they can get over there. That country is sure 
 messed up something fierce. 
 
 RELIGION. I am happy to perceive that you have a 
 tender heart and a realization of your Christian duty. 
 
 DRUMMER. Sure, Mike! 
 
 RELIGION. I am happy to have been chosen to carry 
 the message of Christ to our unhappy brothers and sisters. 
 
 DRUMMER. What! Carry the message of Christ? 
 Say, do you think I am going to put up my good money 
 to have you spilling that "Peace on earth, good will to 
 men" bunk around over Europe now? I should say not! 
 Peace on earth! Nix! Not when our factories are run 
 ning twenty-four hours a day, not when we are getting a 
 hundred per cent advance on our shoes, not when unem 
 ployment here in the United States makes it possible for 
 us to work our employes twelve hours a day and cut
 
 36 WORLD PEACE ACT n 
 
 wages to the bone. Say, "we can get a full grown man for 
 nine dollars a week, a peach of a girl for four and kids! 
 Pshaw! They are so cheap we buy them by the carload. 
 
 RELIGION. Brother, I rejoice in your prosperity, but 
 is there not serious danger of undermining the morals 
 of your females by compelling them to wor.k for so in 
 adequate a wage as four dollars per week? 
 
 DRUMMER. Morals! What in hell haa morals got to 
 do with making shoes? I don t suppose it is particularly 
 moral for us to send our shoes over there so the poor 
 boobs can wade through the snow to shoot each others 
 head off, but it s darn good business. See, here, parson, 
 If you haven t a better line on morals and business than 
 that, I don t think I can trust you to spend my money. 
 [Starts to put the check back in his pocket.] 
 
 RELIGION. [In agitation] You misunderstood me 
 quite, brother! I see your viewpoint clearly. It is the 
 message of Paul I wish to carry. 
 
 DRUMMER. Sure! Paul was all right! He was a good 
 old scout. You Just throw that stuff of Paul s about "ser 
 vants, obey your masters," and "women, if you want to 
 know anything, ask the old man at home" around in good 
 big chunks and send me a bill for the chunks. So long! 
 I got to keep moving. [Drummer thrusts check in Relig 
 ion s hand, snatches his sample case and rushes away.] 
 [Exit left.] 
 
 Religion and Charity pass over to the weeping 
 women, who dumbly accept their offerings, impa 
 tiently reject them, or sadly turn away. 
 
 RELIGION [Stoops and speaks to a Belgian child] 
 Here, my dear little child, is a tract and a nice bun this 
 good, sweet lady and I have brought you. You must pray
 
 WORLD PEACE 37 
 
 God every night to bless the kind gentleman in America 
 who sent us. 
 
 BELGIAN CHILD. I don t want no bun. I don t want 
 no tract. I want my father. I want to go home. My 
 grandpa is shot and my auntie is lying in the ditch all 
 bloody. I don t like tracts and buns and war. I want to 
 go home. 
 
 RELIGION. What shocking manners. 
 
 BELGIAN MOTHER. Leave the child alone. He had 
 better starve than to grow up to be cannon meat. 
 
 Religion and Charity pass down the lines of 
 women and children, meeting with indifference or 
 rebuffs. They pause near left exit. 
 
 RELIGION. [Speaks with deep sadness] Sister, it is 
 very evident that this is no place for us. These people 
 are stiff of neck, hard of heart and adamant to the gen 
 tle voice of piety. Let us retire to some quiet spot and 
 meditate and pray for their conversion. [Both leave 
 left.] 
 
 MESSENGER. [To America] Bear with .me, O! 
 mighty nation, if I still plead. My sisters In yonder un 
 happy land are in desperate plight and you are our only 
 hope. Do not think us ungrateful for all your charity. 
 We know the heart of America is tender and the sympa 
 thy of America is universal, but every loaf of bread you 
 send across the water but leaves another penny in the war 
 lord s chest with which to wage the war. 
 
 AMERICA. Oh! Begone, woman. Begone! You drive 
 me mad with your insistence. Governments do not take 
 into account womankind. There is no place in our world 
 diplomacy for the voice of woman. Leave me in peace 
 that I may consult with those to whom I must account
 
 38 WORLD PEACE ACT n 
 
 for my every official act for the furtherance of the busi 
 ness interests and the material prosperity of my nation. 
 [America turns from the woman and consults with bank- 
 ei S and business men who stand grouped near the dais.J 
 The messenger rises and passes over to Columbia 
 and starts to kneel. Columbia hastily raises her to 
 her feet and places an arm about her shoulder. 
 
 COLUMBIA. Do not kneel to me, sister. To-day it is 
 your sons who fall in battle, to-morrow it may be mine. 
 In the travail of giving life to sons we have been initiated 
 into the holy sisterhood of mothers. The blood seal of giv 
 ing life has sealed us unto a sisterhood that shall with 
 stand the assault of creed and race, hate and war, death 
 and the grave. Like you, I now have no voice In po 
 litical government. The time has come for united woman 
 kind to declare that if we bear the sons, we, too, shall 
 have a voice in the parliaments that send them forth to 
 murder and be murdered. [Addressing herself to Amer 
 ica] I array myself beside this woman. I am in accord 
 with her demands that the exportation of foodstuffs and 
 munitions of war shall stop and that America shall de 
 mand and secure mediation. 
 
 AMERICA. For God s sake, be quiet. Do not inter 
 fere with mighty problems that you do not understand. I 
 have consulted with my advisers and they refuse the 
 woman s plea. What can I do? 
 
 The drummer re-enters [right] and stands near 
 America, looking on. 
 
 AMERICAN BANKER. It would be contrary to all the 
 rules of world diplomacy. 
 
 AMERICAN BUSINESS MAN. It would interfere with 
 business.
 
 WORLD PEACE 39 
 
 COLUMBIA. Diplomacy! Business! I care as little for 
 these as you care for the millions of human lives that 
 have been sacrificed upon the altar of greed. Such gods 
 may satisfy men who never gave life to a child, but to us 
 women who have paid the price for a human life they 
 are but trash. 
 
 AMERICA. Be reasonable, woman! Be reasonable! 
 We must be content with watchful waiting. 
 
 COLUMBIA. Watchful waiting! Yes, no doubt, that 
 is sufficient for you men, but we women want quick and 
 decisive action. 
 
 AMERICA. [In desperation] Ye gods! These women! 
 
 DRUMMER. Sam, I told you that if ever you let the 
 petticoats get a look-in they would play the devil with 
 things! 
 
 COLUMBIA. Are our children to blush for us in ever 
 lasting shame because of your inaction now? In all the 
 history of the world no nation ever faced so sublime an 
 opportunity to serve mankind as we; no ruler ever 
 grasped so god-like a power; but once in the lifetime of 
 the race does such an opportunity come, and all the fu 
 ture ages will loathe and despise us if we fail humanity 
 in this crisis. From the crash and roar of war that 
 grips the world to-day we are free; while the nations of 
 Europe writhe in a death struggle like wild beasts in a 
 jungle fight, we are at peace. The only powerful nation 
 not hopelessly embroiled, we hold the confidence of all 
 nations and the power to arrest carnage, to still the 
 roar of war, to dam the rivers of blood and to bring 
 peace to nations unable to secure peace for themselves. 
 Like Jesus, who stood by the wind-tossed waves of Gall-
 
 40 WORLD PEACE ACT n 
 
 lee, we have the power to say to the war-tossed nations 
 of Europe, "Peace, be still," and no matter how strong 
 the surge of hate, no matter how blind the passion, no 
 matter how deep the hold of the war demon if we but 
 speak, war will cease. 
 
 AMERICA. In God s name! Will you never cease 
 your importunities? This is not our war. Militarism is 
 to blame; Kaiser, King, Emperor and Czar are responsi 
 ble; we must maintain our neutrality. 
 
 COLUMBIA. How Christlike! Militarism that word 
 seems to have a familiar sound. It has been a won 
 derfully convenient scapegoat for truckling politicians, 
 but we women know that it is but another name for 
 greed and profits. Kaiser, Emperor, King and Czar! 
 Yes! they started the war, but we are going to end IL 
 Neutrality certainly the neutrality of hell the money 
 changer s pact with death a bloody bargain with the 
 war lords; peace with damnation, that the profits of 
 these speculators may be protected. How shameful that 
 we must admit that no patriotic passions sway us, no 
 religious frenzy blinds our reason. We are not honest 
 enough to espouse the cause of the nation we think most 
 justified in this murderfest, Germany or England, France 
 or Russia; the blood-stained gold of any nation is ac 
 ceptable to us. We will furnish the machines of murder 
 to any nation, to kill the people of any nation, if they but 
 bring us "thirty pieces of silver." 
 
 AMERICA. In the name of God, woman, have you no 
 mercy! Why press the white-hot brand of my own soul s 
 condemnation into my heart? Am I not human like your 
 self, have I not eyes to see and ears to hear and reason 
 that cannot be smothered; have I not a soul that sees and
 
 WORLD PEACE 41 
 
 feels and knows the cursed needlessness of the sufferings 
 of mankind? Why add your scorn to my shame, humilia 
 tion and self-contempt? The golden chains of interna 
 tional finances and business make me a galley slave. I 
 am helpless! 
 
 COLUMBIA. Forgive the bitter words. My love is fai 
 deeper than my scorn. You have at last had one truth 
 seared into your brain a government, like a home, must 
 have both a father and a mother to be complete. I "will 
 call the allies of womanhood and they shall free you from 
 your golden chains of slavery and act as messengers to 
 carry the message of our nation to the world. [Colum 
 bia beckons to Peace, a young woman in white, and 
 Democracy, a young man.] [Enter right.] 
 
 PEACE. The world is sick unto death of war and hate, 
 bloodshed and murder, and demands peace. Peace asks 
 of you, the only nation strong enough to make your will 
 law, an official demand for mediation. 
 
 AMERICA. How can I give it, when the industrial 
 situation of my nation forbids such action on my part? 
 
 DEMOCRACY. The industrial masters of the nation 
 are industrial masters because "THE WILL OF THE 
 PEOPLE" has allowed them mastery. But if our indus 
 trial masters insist on deluging the earth with blood in a 
 competitive struggle to fertilize their money crop, the 
 "WILL OF THE PEOPLE" can take from them their 
 power to make wars, or to so order affairs that wars 
 are inevitable. Shorn of this power, the war lords be 
 come powerless to wield their despotism and must per 
 force become peaceful-minded citizens. 
 
 The banker, speculator and business man stand 
 ing near dais listen intently. With the statement of
 
 42 WORLD PEACE ACT n 
 
 Democracy they burst into a volley of objections, 
 shouting "impracticable," "folly," "socialism," and 
 "utopianism." 
 
 The Drummer elbows his way to front of group and 
 addresses America. 
 
 DRUMMER. Confound it, Sam! I knew there was 
 trouble ahead when I saw the women getting busy. We 
 can shout "folly", "socialism" and "utopianism" until we 
 are black in the face and it won t touch them. If they want 
 mediation and peace, for God s sake give it to them, or 
 they will be taking our shoe factories next. For, take it 
 from me, they will get what they go after. 
 
 DEMOCRACY. Remember, this is a republic. When 
 the people speak it is in the voice of command. The peo 
 ple are demanding that motherhood, as well as father 
 hood, shall share the responsibilities of government; 
 that differences between nations shall be settled by me 
 diation, and that war shall be driven off the earth. De 
 clare an embargo on the exportation of war munitions; 
 issue an official demand for mediation and, like dew from 
 Heaven, peace shall bless the earth. 
 
 AMERICA. I consent; I shall send a message to the 
 warring nations. In the name of humanity and civiliza 
 tion I shall demand that this war and all future differ 
 ences between nations shall be settled by Mediation, and 
 the decree of our nation is that peace shall be the price 
 that every king and emperor shall pay for our commodi 
 ties, and in the future no son of ours shall damn his eter 
 nal soul making munitions of war. 
 
 COLUMBIA, PEACE, DEMOCRACY AND MESSEN 
 GER. [Cry in unison] Glorious! Flash this message to 
 all the world this manifesto of the American nation.
 
 WORLD PEACE 43 
 
 DRUMMER. Gee whiz! War sure got a knockout 
 punch that time, but no use to cry over spilled milk peo 
 ple will still wear shoes, so I must hustle and get to the 
 next move. 
 
 American business man, banker and speculator 
 quietly leave the stage. [Exit right.] 
 
 The Messenger, escorted by Peace and Democracy, 
 goes back to her place among the European women. 
 During the entire scene the orchestra has main 
 tained the muffled sounds of distant warfare. As 
 Peace and Democracy start on their mission the 
 sound of warfare dies away and the orchestra plays 
 "Lead, Kindly Light." 
 
 Peace and Democracy go to the weeping women, 
 lifting the draperies of mourning and dropping them 
 at their feet. The European women, half-blinded by 
 weeping and stupefied by sorrow, try to show their 
 gratitude. Some cross themselves, some fall on 
 their knees, and others cluster about Peace, kissing 
 her hands and garments. The children spring to 
 their feet, shouting in chorus. 
 
 IRISH CHILD. The war is done, Peace has come, 
 daddy is coming back to us, and we will all go home. 
 
 The Pilgrim s Chorus is heard afar off, and slowly 
 a pitiful, tattered portion of the men who went to 
 war creep back into view [enter left]. Some are 
 maimed and crippled, some are carried on stretch 
 ers. The women and children fall upon their knees 
 beside the stretchers that hold their men, others em 
 brace the cripples, and the women who have re 
 ceived the "Death Letter" gather their children in 
 their arms, crushed by their sorrow. The Belgian
 
 44 WORLD PEACE ACT IT 
 
 mother, who has received a "Death Letter," straight 
 ens her shoulders, wipes the tears from her eyes 
 and, leading her son of twelve by the hand, steps 
 forward and speaks. 
 
 BELGIAN MOTHER. Long and black has been our 
 night of Borrow, flame scorched has been the hell we ve 
 trod, desolate is the heritage the war gods have left us 
 but our children must live. Someone must smooth down 
 the graves and replant the vines and wheat, someone 
 must rebuild the ruined homes and shell-swept cities, 
 someone must make our blood-soaked continent habitable. 
 The war lords have killed our men, and we women folks 
 must shoulder the burden of rebuilding civilization. An 
 ocean of tears cannot wash away the stains of blood, a 
 lifetime of repining cannot bring back the life of a 
 single man. We must bury our sorrow with the rotting 
 bones of our husbands and make a new earth for the 
 children they have left behind. 
 
 Red Cross and Medical Science husily care for the 
 wounded. Charity and Religion offer the gladly wel 
 comed bread, workmen enter slowly with tools of 
 rehabilitation, hammers, spades and trowels. 
 America gazes upon the scene, then turns to Co 
 lumbia. 
 
 AMERICA. You are right. The blood-stained gold of 
 war is not good business. 
 
 CURTAIN.
 
 ACT III 
 
 The stage is set to represent a great council cham 
 ber. About the walls are hung the flags of all na 
 tions and on the back vcall hangs a great map of Eu 
 rope all splashed with blood. 
 
 [LEFT] Seated in ornate chairs are the King 
 of England, the King of Belgium, the King of Ser- 
 via, the King of Italy, the Czar of Russia and the 
 President of France; the Kaiser, the Emperor of 
 Austria-Hungary and the Sultan. The European 
 statesmen, bankers, business men and the armament 
 maker are standing just behind the rulers. 
 
 [CENTER] Seated about a long table are the 
 Mediators America, Columbia, Peace, History and 
 Democracy. Standing just behind them are Medi 
 cal Science, Red Cross, Charity, Religion and Mes 
 senger, American banker, business man and specu 
 lator, and the "drummer". 
 
 [RIGHT] The common people of all nations. 
 
 The King of England steps forward and addresses 
 the mediators. 
 
 45
 
 46 WORLD PEACE ACT in 
 
 THE KING OF ENGLAND. Most honored mediators: 
 We are gathered here to discuss the terms upon which 
 peace may be declared and this sad war ended. The long 
 and glorious history of my nation needs no repetition. 
 The honored folds of England s banner have ever been 
 thrown in protection about each weaker nation that 
 needed our protection. Britannia, Queen of Commerce, 
 Mistress of the Seas, Protector of the Weak, and De 
 fender of the Faith, could do nothing less than rush to 
 the defense of our shamelessly invaded sister nation, 
 Belgium. I pledge you upon the sacred honor of my 
 nation that our royal skirts are clean of human blood. 
 England has always tried to maintain the balance of 
 world power so that no weaker nation should be op 
 pressed, and our great navy has been the international 
 policeman of the world, safeguarding the rights of all. 
 England demands that the German despot shall at once 
 evacuate Belgium and make suitable recompense to that 
 nation for all the wrongs and crimes so far wrought. We 
 demand that there shall be no German interference in 
 our hold of the balance of world power, that weaker na 
 tions may not be oppressed; and we insist that our navy 
 shall continue to be the International police force of the 
 world to protect each nation In its sacred rights. 
 
 The King of England retires and the Czar of Rus 
 sia steps forward and addresses the mediators. 
 
 CZAR. Most honored mediators: It Is with perfect 
 assurance that I address you, for I know that all Just 
 judges must declare that I represent the true culture, 
 the sacred democracy and the Christian spirit of mod 
 ern civilization. The tender care of the "Little Father" 
 for his children Is known the whole world round. Free-
 
 WORLD PEACE 47 
 
 dom, love, paternal care, peace and plenty has been the 
 portion of the people of Russia. Mine Is a nation that 
 loves peace and I hold every drop of Russian blood sacred 
 far too sacred to be spilled in any but a holy war of 
 freedom. Russia "was suddenly attacked by Germany 
 and forced into this war against the will of my people. 
 Before I heed your cry of peace, you must assure me that 
 my demands shall be met. For my nation I demand 
 that Austria, who so wantonly attacked Servia, shall 
 make full reparation to that brave nation; that Germany 
 shall indemnify us for all losses suffered by us In Russian 
 territory, and that an open gateway from the Baltic shall 
 be forever guaranteed our commerce. We also demand 
 an open pathway from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean; 
 that the fortifications that have menaced our shipping 
 be razed; that the portions of Poland and Galicia now 
 occupied by the Russian forces be ceded to the Russian 
 Empire, and that Germany, Austria and Turkey Jointly 
 indemnify my empire for all the costs of this war of 
 defense. [Retires.] 
 
 President of France rises and steps forward to 
 address the mediators. 
 
 PRESIDENT OF FRANCE. The attack upon our na 
 tion by Germany was uncalled for and came upon us 
 without warning and at a time when France was engaged 
 in the vocations of peace and had no thought of the pos 
 sibility of war. Our choicest men have been killed, our 
 fields ruined, our cities razed and millions of francs in 
 property destroyed by the invaders. For this destruc 
 tive attack France demands an indemnity from Ger 
 many and the return of Alsace and Lorraine. We feel 
 that we are Justified in asking this reparation, for we
 
 48 WORLD PEACE ACT in 
 
 did not -wage a war of aggression, but of defense de 
 fense not alone of ourselves, but of Belgium. We de- 
 clare our skirts are clean of the blood that has been shed. 
 The President of France retires and the Kaiser ad 
 vances and addresses the mediators. 
 KAISER. The facts show that Austria, Justly repri 
 manding Servia for the wanton murder of the Archduke, 
 was confronted by an attack from Russia, who, under a 
 pretext of friendship for Servia, seized the long-hoped-for 
 opportunity of destroying Austria-Hungary, that Russia 
 might win the mastery of the Balkans and the Slavic na 
 tions, and thus win through to the Mediterranean. Rus 
 sia, with her ally, France, had perfected a conspiracy to 
 attack and overwhelm Germany as a necessity if Austria 
 were to be dismembered. We struck and struck first 
 through the traitor-nation, Belgium, but we struck for 
 the very life of the Fatherland. We have suffered in si 
 lence for many years, but at last the pressure became 
 too great to bear. When the hour came that the life of 
 the Fatherland was at stake our workmen laid down 
 their tools and took up their guns, and they will stand 
 by those guns until we can convince an envious world 
 that our rights must be protected. We welcome the 
 thought of peace, but that peace can only come when 
 the paths of commerce that lead through Gibraltar, Do 
 ver and Suez are unblocked by British cannons. By "the 
 Divine Right" of kings I rule my wide domain. I was 
 ordained of God to rule my people for their own salva 
 tion, with an iron hand if necessary. If blood has flowed 
 it is because God, the Kaiser, or the Fatherland, was at 
 tacked, and with the power of God to strengthen my 
 iron might I have smitten the enemies of God and Kaiser.
 
 WORLD PEACE 49 
 
 If necessary, I will wage this war until every man is 
 dead. The lives of my people are mine, and if my "di 
 vine right" to rule is questioned I will use them all. 
 
 The Emperor of Austria-Hungary steps forward 
 and addresses the mediators. 
 
 EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. There can be 
 no question of my right to rebuke the treachery of Ser- 
 via and resist the aggression of Russia. Unless I would 
 submit to seeing my nation torn into shreds no other 
 course than that I took was possible. I desire peace, but 
 demand that Servia shall do homage to the majesty of the 
 Austro-Hungarian Empire; that Russia shall evacuate 
 Galicia and that a suitable indemnity be paid to us. 
 [Retires.] 
 
 HISTORY. In this world war that involves all na 
 tions, I see none to praise and none to blame. Standing 
 apart and viewing the struggles of mankind from afar 
 off, none has the right to judge between the nations. 
 Each has battled in accordance with its own vision; each 
 has been compelled to do what it has done by elemental 
 conditions that could only have been overcome by wiser 
 and stronger men than the race has evolved. 
 
 PEACE. [To History] Are you, then, in accord with 
 the church dignitaries who declare this to be a holy war? 
 
 HISTORY. Not at all; I simply declare that the great 
 empires of to-day are the few survivors of the countless 
 bloody struggles in which countless nations have perished 
 and been absorbed by the conquerors. Yet we know that 
 within each of these empires there is the largest measure 
 of social peace ever known to suffering mankind, and this 
 social peace covering broad areas is the result of previous 
 wars of aggression and exploitation. America, England,
 
 50 WORLD PEACE ACT in 
 
 France, Germany, Russia, Italy, Austria, all empires and 
 nations, have their title deeds written in blood. 
 
 PEACE. But my prophets have lived in every age and 
 sought to win a stubborn race to my banner. Isaiah, 
 Jesus, Buddha, all have spoken in my name. 
 
 HISTORY. Yes, and found many disciples. In every 
 age an ever-growing portion of mankind has revolted 
 against war, but their hour had not come. Like the voice 
 of John crying in the wilderness, they foretold the day 
 that shall dawn with the passing of this black night of 
 world war. 
 
 PEACE. [Speaks to the rulers] You all say that you 
 desire peace, but you make your terms on such a basis 
 that only armed respite from war can ensue. The great 
 underlying cause for war will remain to produce still 
 greater outbreaks In the future. Your competitive strug 
 gle for world commerce; your efforts to hamper each 
 other s freedom of international intercourse, leave you 
 all animated by jealousy and hate, envy and suspicion. 
 Some proposal must be made that, when accepted, will 
 make this world war the last of wars. Some plan must 
 be proposed that will enable the interdependent nations 
 of Europe to disarm and live in peace and co-operation 
 while future history unrolls the scroll. 
 
 Messenger steps forward and addresses mediators 
 and rulers. 
 
 MESSENGER. It is God s truth that Peace has 
 spoken. It is not an armed truce we women want, but 
 lasting peace. By suffering and anguish, blood and 
 death we have learned the bitter lesson that all the trap 
 pings of war cannot bring that peace. Not even if we 
 spend one-half of all of our wealth for armament and
 
 WORLD PEAOE 51 
 
 give the best years of the lives of all of our sons to sol 
 diering can ponderous forts and thundering cannons and 
 swaggering soldiers bring peace. [Turns to the rulers] 
 You kings, emperors and presidents have all asked for 
 indemnities, for gold to pay you for the loss of cities, 
 fields, factories and commerce. I ask you what king or 
 ruler will, or can, pay us women for our dead men, 
 for our helpless cripples, for our outraged women and 
 for our tragic sufferings? Who can pay! who will pay 
 us women for OUR losses in this war? When you have" 
 given back every dead man to our arms, when the vio 
 lated bodies of our daughters are uncontaminated, and 
 the little lives conceived in lust are sent back to their 
 fathers loins; when our homes have been replaced as 
 they were and the hellish memory of this cursed year is 
 wiped from our minds, then it is time for you to talk of 
 damages, indemnities and payments! 
 
 A banker springs to his feet and appeals to the 
 mediators. 
 
 BANKER. I protest against this woman s taking part 
 in these deliberations; the things we are here to discuss 
 are not within woman s realm; they belong to the world 
 of men. I represent the financial interests of the world. 
 King, emperor, president and czar, I am the friend of 
 each and the supporter of all. I do not care for the form 
 of government, republic, kingdom or empire, all must 
 come to me for gold. For even the democratically ex 
 pressed will of men I have no fear, for men are so im 
 bued with the doctrine of the sacred rights of property 
 that they will vote for the protection of my interests. 
 But woman s advent into the field of political action 
 chills me with dread and foreboding. Women, emo-
 
 52 WORLD PEACE ACT in 
 
 tlonal and sentimental, will only consider human life and 
 will Jeopardize my interests when in the course of nat 
 ural events it becomes necessary to sacrifice a thousand 
 or a million lives to protect the business interests of a 
 nation. You may re-make the map of the world, topple 
 thrones, dethrone kings and melt crowns for baby rat 
 tles, and I will not suffer. But I warn you with all 
 earnestness that if you open the door of political recog 
 nition to women the very foundations of our civilization 
 will crumble. [Retires] 
 
 HISTORY. But women are the creators of civiliza 
 tion they made the first tools, developed the arts, 
 builded the first homes, tamed the first animals, broke 
 the first furrow and reaped the first harvests, while men 
 were busy with arms and slaughter and exploit! And 
 that free, emancipated German woman of the olden day! 
 Are not all ye fair-haired Northern people from her 
 womb, and great because ye inherit her greatness? 
 
 MESSENGER. [To the Banker] Well we know that 
 kings, emperors and presidents are but pawns with which 
 you play the game of finance. To the bitterness of our 
 souls we know that back of every king stands the banker 
 who reaps the golden harvest when nations go to war. 
 O God! We know that every modern war that has raged, 
 that every drop of spilled blood, every whitening bone 
 and rotting carcass is the price we women pay for your 
 profits. 
 
 HISTORY. But we also know that back of the banker 
 and his profits is the changeless law of progress. The 
 all-important law of life is to live. To live, mankind 
 must eat, drink, find shelter and raiment love and pro 
 pagate the race. All life has been a struggle to live
 
 WORLD PEACE 53 
 
 the strong to live upon the labor of the weak and the 
 weak to live at any price. Slave-master, feudal lord and 
 profit monger have all waged wars for the .same purpose 
 to enhance their power to live more luxuriously upon 
 the labor of slave, serf and wage-worker. While the 
 masters struggle for power and profits the workers 
 struggle for life more abundant and out of your brute 
 struggle for profits and the blind struggle of the workers 
 for life has come this world war. From this world war 
 alone can come world peace. 
 
 PEACE. Great God! Are we to understand that 
 History sanctions war? 
 
 HISTORY. History sanctions nothing, opposes noth 
 ing, advocates nothing; history records. Act by act, 
 scene by scene I have recorded the endless drama played 
 by humanity upon the world stage. Ever enlarging have 
 been the activities, the vices and the virtues of mankind. 
 Briefly, the drama of mankind since the days of Cain 
 has been played in aggression. In their little narrow 
 world man fought against man, then clan against clan, 
 then tribe against tribe and city against city and ever as 
 they fought their horizon grew broader, their numbers 
 greater and their sense of co-operation stronger. At last 
 I wrote the story of a nation at peace within itself 
 because of past tribal wars and now I write the story 
 not only of nation at war with nation, but of the 
 nations that make up half a continent fighting side by 
 side, the largest instance of co-operation that has ever 
 been written on the scroll of life. 
 
 DEMOCRACY. In the crucible of this world war the 
 workers of all nations have been fused; in the flames of 
 this world war the petty powers of kings and money
 
 54 WORLD PEACE ACT in 
 
 changers have been consumed. A united, chastened race 
 shall arise from the ashes of war-scorched Europe and 
 build a world kingdom on the broader wisdom of the 
 right of every human being to live. To live, not upon 
 the weakness of his brother, but by paying the debt of 
 useful labor and helpful service for the rich gifts of 
 nature. The price of a world war is too heavy for man 
 kind to pay for the privilege of the few to live upon the 
 labor of the many. There Is but one more great field 
 of unity for mankind to occupy a world united in a war, 
 not to conquer men but the hostile forces of nature. 
 
 MEDICAL SCIENCE. Too long has my strength and 
 the loving service of my helpmate Red Cross been 
 absorbed in patching up the men maimed in man s 
 bloody wars. If Democracy has spoken truly and this 
 world war has slain the war god because mankind has 
 found his price to great to pay, then I and all my brother 
 Sciences rejoice. Inventive science shall serve the arts 
 of peace and not of war and I, freed from the shambles 
 of war s slaughter house, shall turn to the mighty task 
 of conquering nature. Some glimmer of the mighty 
 gifts I hold for mankind already shines from Havana, 
 Manila and the Panama. Hasten to find that path to 
 world peace and free me to wage my war. I long to be 
 at work. My weapon shall be a microscope, my enemy a 
 microbe, my battlefield the world and my conquest the 
 gift of health to all mankind, the whole world habitable. 
 
 AMERICA. [With great sadness] Humanity writhes 
 in a hell of our making. The scorching flames of this 
 world-war have burned away the false foundations and 
 gaudy trappings of military glory that have hidden our 
 sordid greed, and the rivers of blood that we have shed
 
 WORLD PEAOE 55 
 
 have washed the ashes away into the sea. The time has 
 come for every ruler to face the brutal fact and speak 
 the shameful truth that profits have been our aim and 
 might has been our law. That portion of the earth that 
 each one of us holds, we took by force of sword and 
 cannon. We have paid for it in blood and bleaching 
 bones and if we maintain such hold, it must be by making 
 all mankind slaves to the war god and paying his ever 
 growing tribute in the wealth the workers create and in 
 the lives of our children. 
 
 You have each declared you were invaded that is 
 impossible. You have each declared your garments 
 clean of human blood before God we know we are all 
 equally bespattered with the blood we have shed enforc 
 ing our brutal law of MIGHT. In this bitter ho Ur when 
 we are all proven equally guilty, let us find the courage 
 to be men; let us not accuse each other; let us leave 
 behind us the role of lying rulers who vainly try to 
 hide the hellish form of war beneath the trappings of 
 glory and still the cries of our victims with the blatant 
 shouts of patriotism. When lies and shams are dropped, 
 none of us can feel just pride in our rule of our portion 
 of the earth; each spot reeks with the smell of blood 
 and death. There must be some nobler, more Christlike 
 form of government than kings, emperors and presidents 
 have evolved. Let us hear the voice of the common 
 people and perchance it may be the voice of God. 
 
 The Drummer springs forward to speak to the 
 mediators. 
 
 DRUMMER. Here is the place for "Buttinski" to get 
 busy. Fve listened to your highbrow talk until my ear 
 aches. For God s sake! Let s drop the "bull" and get
 
 56 WORLD PEACE ACT in 
 
 down to "brass tacks". We all know that what we have 
 always fought for has been this [draws a handful of 
 bills and silver from his pocket and throws it on the 
 table] the "long green", the "iron men , the "mazu- 
 ma." We ve togged War out in all sorts of "glad rags" 
 and tried to give him "hlghfalutin" principles but it 
 was the "jitneys" we were after. But we had Just as 
 well get next to this the game is played out boys we 
 got to start a new deal. I ll fight as long as I got a 
 fighting chance, but I am no hog for punishment and I 
 know when I got enough. God knows you all got enough 
 now, but you don t know how to yell "quit", so I got to 
 do it for you. 
 
 Fighting don t make any money, it just lets a few 
 buzzards hog it all and leaves every one else dog poor. 
 If you want to see the wheels begin to hum and the 
 working class get into the collar to make coin for you, 
 drop your guns like sensible men, shake hands and don t 
 pout and snivel like white llvered kids be game. You 
 can never pile up any bank accounts blowing each other s 
 heads off war is a damned costly game to play at. 
 
 Over in little old U. S. A. we got forty-eight countr es 
 as big and Just as important as many of yours. We don t 
 spill any good money fighting each other, neither do we 
 let any state hog the seaports. We extend the glad hand 
 over the state line, every state uses our harbors and then 
 we come over here and clean out your piles because you 
 are always fighting among yourselves. That ain t all 
 either there are twenty republics on that Western Con 
 tinent and we don t blow any money on forts or make 
 gouging each other s eyes out our national pastimes. Your 
 twaddle about racial differences is all bunk, there is no
 
 WORLD PEACE 57 
 
 more difference in men or business Interests between 
 Spain and Sweden than between a Texas cowman and a 
 Connecticut Yankee. We business men used to fight 
 over in U. S. A. just like you kings do until we found 
 out it was a fool thing to do. We learned that there was 
 no money to make cutting each other s throats, BO we 
 organized to help each other instead of slitting gullets 
 now we got things coming our way. Use your forts for 
 granaries, melt your cannons down for carwheels, set 
 your soldiers to work building railroads and planting 
 crops and then watch the coin come rolling in. 
 
 What s the fun in being a king anyway when you got 
 to fight all the time for a chance to pose like a cigar 
 store Indian with a crown tipped over one eye? Gee! I 
 wouldn t trade a seat in the bleachers with another good, 
 live shoeman for a pal watching the Browns pound the 
 stuftln out of the White Sox for any worm-eaten throne 
 in Europe. Forget it boys! Get down and be real, live 
 human beings and you will lose your appetite for war. 
 [Drummer retires], 
 
 A workman steps forward and addresses the 
 mediators. 
 
 WORKMAN. O! mediators we are not glib of tongue 
 or learned in the use of words; only in the simple language 
 of common people can we present our plea. In all the 
 wars History has recorded we were the victims, and all 
 struggles have ever been waged over the fruits of our 
 labor. Slave master, feudal lord and profit monger have 
 since the dawn of civilization worked us, robbed us, 
 armed us and bade us kill ourselves and our brothers to 
 enlarge their territories or to enhance their wealth. 
 Foolish we have been to fight the petty quarrels of our
 
 58 WORLD PEACE ACT m 
 
 masters. Misled by our masters press, mistaught by 
 our masters school, betrayed by our masters clergy we 
 have been. Yet stirring within each heart there has 
 lived the dim consciousness of the common brotherhood 
 of man, the solidarity of those who labor. Our rebellions 
 in the past were mercilessly crushed by our masters, 
 even their annals have been torn from the pages of the 
 histories their hirelings have written; but a new pen 
 helps write history to-day; it is wielded by woman and 
 all the gold of the master class is not enough to prosti 
 tute her. Our hour has come. We have fought our last 
 battle for the master class; we have taken up their 
 swords for the last time; we swear that the working mil 
 lions shall no longer slaughter each other at the behest 
 of king, emperor or money changer. Our demands must 
 go in this protocol and what we ask we shall take as our 
 right. We ask but to live to love to reproduce our kind 
 to labor and enjoy the fruits thereof, unrobbed by 
 idlers and unharrassed by wars. We shall be free from 
 brutal exploitation; democracy shall give us a voice in 
 the governments of earth for ourselves, and for the 
 women who gave us life and who will give life to our 
 children. We demand that the roar of war shall be 
 stilled and the grip of the exploiters broken. We would 
 be free to feed, clothe, shelter and comfort the world. 
 We ask that every seaport shall be an open door where 
 our brawny-farmed brothers may guide into the harbors the 
 ships we have built and filled with our contributions to 
 the welfare of mankind. When the petty quarrels of 
 kings for territories, and the greed of profit mongers for 
 profits are powerless to provoke war, we shall hide 
 the cruel scars that they have made by planting
 
 WORLD PEACE 59 
 
 wheat and vines above the graves of our fallen brothers. 
 Workman retires and Democracy steps forward 
 and addresses the mediators. 
 
 DEMOCRACY. This war came against my protest. The 
 rulers and corrupt press stilled the voice of protest from 
 the people, and by compulsion and brutal falsehood set 
 the workers at each other s throats. The people feel that 
 they have been betrayed. For the sake of markets that 
 the masters might profit, the people have laid down their 
 lives, butchered their fellowmen and been turned into 
 beasts in an orgy of savagery. In all the proposals of 
 the monarchs I fail to see one guard against another 
 deluge of blood. Democracy demands that the power to 
 declare war shall rest with the people, the whole people, 
 women as well as men. Again mankind cannot consent to 
 any plan that does not give to any nation and any part of 
 a nation the right to live under the national flag and 
 form of government that gives them the fullest freedom 
 and happiness. In the past my realm was confined to the 
 village, the city, the choosing of petty officials, while 
 kings, emperors and changers of blood-stained money 
 have ruled the greater world. My hour has come 
 my people the great common people of all nations 
 demand the right to control their own lives. 
 
 AMERICA. [Turning to the mediators] This is a 
 fateful hour, pregnant with hope for the human race. We 
 have heard the plea of kings, emperors and money 
 changers; we have listened to the voice of History and 
 Democracy; we have heard the demands of the common 
 people. What shall be our Judgement? 
 
 World Federation, a beautiful young woman 
 bearing an empty flag staff enters (left).
 
 60 WORLD PEACE ACT in 
 
 WORLD FEDERATION. I am World Federation and 
 I come In answer to the need of all mankind. You are 
 all soul sick with lies and shams, bloodshed and murder; 
 you all want peace and human brotherhood. A World 
 Federation of all the nations on earth alone will solve 
 your mighty problem. The great United States of America 
 has blazed the path and pointed out the way. There 
 forty-eight sovereign states live in peace and harmony 
 with one central capital where the representatives of all 
 states gather for deliberation. If forty-eight states can 
 live in that Western Continent peacefully In a federation, 
 why cannot all the nations of Europe federate? Why not 
 open every seaport to every ship that plows the sea; 
 why not make the railways the common highways of 
 commerce for mankind? Why not build a capital for 
 this World Federation on the seven hills of Rome, or 
 beside the Rhine, or amid the Alps, or upon the shores 
 of the Mississippi, or on the banks of the Thames? Why 
 not solve there by arbitration all questions of national 
 rights and grievances, and abolish secret diplomacy? 
 
 There can be but one Judgement possible. Let this 
 go forth to all the world as our desire the world shall 
 be our nation, each country a state, humanity our race, 
 brotherhood our creed, democracy our form of govern 
 ment and none to share the gifts of God and man but 
 those Who serve or labor. 
 
 MEDIATORS [In chorus] Hear! Hear! World Fed 
 eration is the next historic step In the onward march of 
 human progress. What say you all? 
 
 [The rulers look at each other doubtfully. Si 
 lently a woman from each national group steps to 
 the flag of her nation, takes a strip of red from her
 
 WORLD PEACE 61 
 
 national flag and carries it to World Federation who 
 fastens the strips together into a great banner. As 
 World Federation shakes out the folds of the crim 
 son banner all rise with arms outstretched towards 
 the flag of Brotherhood and the orchestra breaks 
 forth into the strains of the Battle Hymn of the 
 Republic.] 
 
 CURTAIN.
 
 University of California 
 
 SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 305 De Neve Drive - Parking Lot 17 Box 951388 
 
 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90095-1388 
 
 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. 
 
 Form
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 A 000 928 027 2