JFK+50: Volume 7, No. 2432
ELIHU ROOT SAYS THOSE WHO SPEAK AGAINST THE WAR ARE TRAITORSChicago, Illinois (JFK+50) One hundred years ago tonight, September 14, 1917, Elihu Root*, speaking at the Coliseum here in the Windy City, criticized those who were questioning the U.S. decision to enter the world war and those who were speaking out against the war.
Mr. Root said...
"A nation which declares war and goes on discussing whether or not it ought to have declared war or not is impotent, paralyzed (and) imbecile...
The men who are speaking...against the war now...are rendering more effective service to Germany than they ever could render in the field with arms in their hands..."
He concluded by saying that anyone who argues to stop the sending of troops to (the front) "is a traitor at heart."
*Elihu Root (1845-1937) was born in Clinton, NY & graduated from Hamilton College & NYU School of Law (1867). ER served as Secretary of War under Presidents McKinley & T. Roosevelt & Secretary of State in TR's 2nd term.
ER served as U.S. Senator from New York 1909-1915. In 1912, he won the Nobel Peace Prize but supported the U.S. war effort after the nation declared war in 1917.
SOURCE
"Elihu Root On War And Traitors", Chicago Daily Tribune, September 15, 1917.
Elihu Root
Photo by George Prince (1902)
Library of Congress Image
