Enterprising press agents and stock jobbers have been so successful in spreading misinformation that even so excellent a periodical as the Scientific American accords the chief credit to a foreign country.The Germans,of course,gave us the Hertz-waves and the Russian,English,French and Italian experts were quick in using them for signaling purposes.It was an obvious application of the new agent and accomplished with the old classical and unimproved induction coil-scarcely anything more than another kind of heliography.The radius of transmission was very limited,the results attained of little value,and the Hertz oscillations,as a means for conveying intelligence,could have been advantageously replaced by sound-waves,which Iadvocated in 1891.Moreover,all of these attempts were made three years after the basic principles of the wireless system,which is universally employed to-day,and its potent instrumentalities had been clearly described and developed in America.No trace of those Hertzian appliances and methods remains today.We have proceeded in the very opposite direction and what has been done is the product of the brains and efforts of citizens of this country.The fundamental patents have expired and the opportunities are open to all.The chief argument of the Secretary is based on interference.According to his statement,reported in the New York Herald of July 29th,signals from a powerful station can be intercepted in every village of the world .In view of this fact,which was demonstrated in my experiments of 1900,it would be of little use to impose restrictions in the United States.
As throwing light on this point,Imay mention that only recently an odd looking gentleman called on me with the object of enlisting my services in the construction of world transmitters in some distant land."We have no money,"he said,"but carloads of solid gold and we will give you a liberal amount."Itold him that Iwanted to see first what will be done with my inventions in America,and this ended the interview.But Iam satisfied that some dark forces are at work,and as time goes on the maintenance of continuous communication will be rendered more difficult.The only remedy is a system immune against interruption.It has been perfected,it exists,and all that is necessary is to put it in operation.
The terrible conflict is still uppermost in the minds and perhaps the greatest importance will be attached to the Magnifying Transmitter as a machine for attack and defense,more particularly in connection with Telautomatics.This invention is a logical outcome of observations begun in my boyhood and continued throughout my life.When the first results were published the Electrical Review stated editorially that it would become one of the "most potent factors in the advance and civilization of mankind".The time is not distant when this prediction will be fulfilled.In 1898and 1900it was offered to the Government and might have been adopted were Ione of those who would go to Alexander"s shepherd when they want a favor from Alexander.At that time Ireally thought that it would abolish war,because of its unlimited destructiveness and exclusion of the personal element of combat.But while Ihave not lost faith in its potentialities,my views have changed since.
War can not be avoided until the physical cause for its recurrence is removed and this,in the last analysis,is the vast extent of the planet on which we live.Only thru annihilation of distance in every respect,as the conveyance of intelligence,transport of passengers and supplies and transmission of energy will conditions be brought about some day,insuring permanency of friendly relations.What we now want most is closer contact and better understanding between individuals and communities all over the earth,and the elimination of that fanatic devotion to exalted ideals of national egoism and pride which is always prone to plunge the world into primeval barbarism and strife.No league or parliamentary act of any kind will ever prevent such a calamity.These are only new devices for putting the weak at the mercy of the strong.
Ihave expressed myself in this regard fourteen years ago,when a combination of a few leading governments-a sort of Holy Alliance-was advocated by the late Andrew Carnegie,who may be fairly considered as the father of this idea,having given to it more publicity and impetus than anybody else prior to the efforts of the President.While it can not be denied that such a pact might be of material advantage to some less fortunate peoples,it can not attain the chief object sought.Peace can only come as a natural consequence of universal enlightenment and merging of races,and we are still far from this blissful realization.
As Iview the world of today,in the light of the gigantic struggle we have witnessed,Iam filled with conviction that the interests of humanity would be best served if the United States remained true to its traditions and kept out of "entangling alliances".Situated as it is,geographically,remote from the theaters of impending conflicts,without incentive to territorial aggrandizement,with inexhaustible resources and immense population thoroly imbued with the spirit of liberty and right,this country is placed in a unique and privileged position.It is thus able to exert,independently,its colossal strength and moral force to the benefit of all,more judiciously and effectively,than as member of a league.