Springfield weekly Republican. [volume], September 17, 1914, Page 4, Image 4

About Springfield weekly Republican. [volume] (Springfield, Mass.) 1851-1946

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4
PRESIDENT’S LEADERSHIP
DEMOCRATS LEAN UPON HIM
IS GAINING IN POPULARITY
Congressional Eyes Focussed on Maine
Elsction — Massachusetts Demo
crats Get Federal Plums.
A lonesome democratic feeling prevails
when President Wilson is away from
Washington. This applies alike to legis
lation, administration and politics. Dem
ocrats are well aware, from all reports
they get from constituents, that the pres
ident is much stronger than his party. Ac
’ cordingiy they lean much upon him. There
is friendliness, but no great intimacy be
tween him and the legislators. Never
theless, they hare a sense of greater se
curity when he is near. They want to
consult him about every important move.
Two decades ago Senate or House would
formulate a particular policy of its own,
without especial regard to the White
House. That would not be thought of
at present.
If half one hears from the states be
true. President 'Wilson is becoming a very
popular official. This popularity appears
to be of a profound vsrriety, formed aft
er mouths of doubt followed by opinions
of much certainty. A Boston democratic
congressman, who makes politics a busi
ness and watches alertly for sentiment,
tells how a month ago he made a little
speech in which he praised the president
and did not get a hand. Within the past
week he was making another speech and
said about the same things regarding the
president over again. The audience went
into raptures.
The president’s popularity, as the con
gressmen analyze it, is of a very sterling
variety. If he "gets by" in the congres
sional elections this autumn, as Washing
ton now very generally expects he will,
if a democratic House and a democratic
Senate are re-elected, politicians believe
the president will become a very great
force. They think his renomination and
re-election will be almost taken for grant
ed in the course of a few months. Busi
ness depression has been the greatest dan
ger to the democracy, but a revival is
Said to be not far away. Long before 1916
commerce and industry will be thriving,
business men. as usual, will forget the
past, feel satisfied with the good times
and be verv averse to any change at
Washington. Thus the prophets are read
ing the prospects.
The program of 18 months at Washing
ton has been entirely of the president’s
making. It would be a long list that
enumerated the things he has done and
required to be done. Whether it has been
the immediate work of his own office,
or something in the departmejits. or some
thing in Congress, it has all turned out
well. There is nothing the party has
effected, which democrats in authority
would like to undo. They would not
change the, tariff, or the currency laws,
or the- repea 1 of the Panama free tolls
clause. or the policy in Mexico. Added
political strength has come from all these,
even though most bitterly assailed at
times by republicans. Indeed, republican
criticism, most virulent at intervals and
frequently unjust, has recoiled on the
heads of minority congressmen. But the
president’s insistence for what he want
ed has been without rancorous results.
Democrats, who have differed from him,
feel no hurts.
And all this has inspired the demo
cratic Cngress, as it has undoubtedly in
spired the country, with increasing con
fidencein the president’s wisdom and good
judgment. The idea permeates Washington
that there is reality and sincerity in the
president’s purpose to make his adminis
tration mte of genuine public service.
Fights have started every now and then,
as happens just at present with the war
revenue bill, but these are all settled the
president's way,
Washington is waiting with bated
breath for the Maine returns. Democrats
of late have been feeling that this will
surely be a democratic year. But the
Maine election is expected to put this
sentiment to n test and the great rejoic
ing will depend upon which side wins.
The attitude of the administration, as be
tween confidence and fear, will be meas
ured by the Pine Tree state tally.
Texas may be proud of three sons in
President Wilson's cabinet, hut of late
Massachusetts has been looking up. True
Massachusetts has no member of the cabi
net and this is the first administration
for many, many years to have no Bay
stater among the president’s official ad
visers, but Massachusetts has been get
ting a quid pro quo. For several months
all New England was out in the cold
world as to federal patronage at Wash
ington and democrats in that quarter did
not relish the situation, But a change has
come.
First Charles S. Hamlin of Boston was
nominated as a member of the federal
reserve board and finally designated by
President Wilson as governor, a nice dis
tinction. That office pays $12,000 a year
and under all the circumstances is prob
abb" quite as desirable as a cabinet
portfolio. When Mr Hamlin became a
member of the federal reserve board
Representative Andrew J. Peters of Bos
ton resigned his place in the House and
was nominated by the president as as
sistant secretary of the treasury. That
made two positions of influence in the
treasury department to Massachusetts
democrats.
But over in the department of justice
calls began to issue to Massachusetts
democrats. Charles Warren of Dedham
and Boston, scion of an old New England
family, was chosen to be assistant at
torney-general. He qualified some weeks
ago and has entered upon his duties. On
the heels of that nomination has come
the designation of H. Larue Brown of
Boston to be special to the assistant attor
ney-general. There is no nomination to the
Senate for this office, which rests within
the gift of the attorney-general, but it ranks
along with assistant attorney-general. Con
sequently Massachusetts now has four
places at Washington under the ad
ministration of at least assistant cabinet
rank, indeed five, for William Phillips of
Boston was made third assistant secretary
of atate some months ago. He is a re
publican. however, and his nomination had
nothing to do with politics.
None of these nominations is attribut
able at all to the so-called democratic ma
chine in Massachusetts. They have come
in fact, with total disregard of it. as has
held of most federal appointments for of
fices within the state, save the postmas
ters. The administration has thus been
recognising the Massachusetts democracy
of the, Richard Olney type, which as far
as the democratic machine goes, gets
scant recognition these days. As to the
rest of the democratic New England of
1912 there is little to be said. It has gotten
next to nothing from the administration,
apart from the local offices.
OCR POLITICAL SITUATION
[From the New York Time*.]
In five weeks the whole political situa
tion has changed. Not only have the
prospects of the parties for success been
exactly t»t Jtoa filWnmant atjol-
icies has been abruptly altered. Five weeks
ago the public announcements of repub
lican leaders concerning their sure victory
in November corresponded perfectly with
their ’private opinions and met with agree
ment in the inner councils of the democrats.
, The republican congressmen were prepar-
I ing for a republican avalanche, not merely
for a republican victory, and the demo
i eratic congressmen were making ready
for a Waterloo. This was the talk in
I lobby and cloak-room, and it was the real
reason why the republicans endured with
I such equanimity the long siege in Wash
, ington, which prevented them from going
home to mend the fences. They felt they
did not need to mend them; while the
democrats, who felt an urgent need, were
restive and hard to hold in the capital.
To-day there is not a responsible repub
lican congressman who is not telling his
friends that the landslide has ended be
fore it began: that there will be no ava
lanche, and that the best the party can
do is to win the House by a small ma
jority, if it can do that. This, again, is
the reason for the peevishness which Leader
Mann displayed over the docking resolu
tion. He complained that it would hold
republicans in Washington when they
wanted to go home, as the democrats had
done, to mend the fences. The discovery
had suddenly been made that the fences
were in desperate reed of mending.
The European war is the reason for the
change in party prospects. It sobered the
nation like a douche of ice-water. The
pettiness of the fault-finding with Presi
dent Wilson appeared in its true propor
tions. It bad risen to its greatest hight
at the time of his unprecedented action in
the Mexican trouble. That very action
suddenly changed from a liability to an
asset when his policy of peace with honor
was so violently thrown into relief by the
European object lesson of war with dis
honor. The storm of criticism over his
insistence on treaty obligations in the
Panama tolls matter utterly disap
peared as Germany unrolled the contrast
ing picture showing to what abhorrent
depths the light holding of treaty obliga
tions may lead. The republicans and pro
gressives had meant to make his foreign
policy their foremost issue, yet the state
convention in New York did not even men
tion Mexico, and Col Roosevelt publicly
abandoned what he bad held to be his win
ning card. But above and beyond the
vivid effect of this European object les
son of “look on this picture and on that”
were the sudden recognition of the fact
that we were facing a crisis and the in
stant thankfulness that our interests were
in the hands of Woodrow Wilson instead
of some other. For his bitterest assailants
had all along felt his high purposes and his
firmness, and when danger confronted the
country they were as grateful as anyone
else for a combination of high purpose
and firmness. It ceased to be schoolmas
terish idealism with the first gun at Bel
grade.
THE PRESIDENT SYMPATHETIC
HIS ANSWER TO RAILROAD MEN
Greatly Impressed With Aattltnde of
His Callers in Reward to Railway
Needs and Credits.
President Wilson responded at Washing
ton Thursday to the request of several
railroad executives, who asked him to call
to the attention of the country the impera
tive need that railway credits be sus
tained, and that the roads be helped wher
ever feasible by government agencies or
by private co-operative effort. The presi
dent outlined his views for the country in
a letter to Frank Trumbull, chairman of
the Chesapeake and Ohio board, who
acted as spokesman for the railroad presi
dents who saw Mr Wilson Wednesday.
Discussing his action with callers Thurs
day, the president said he was greatly im
pressed with the reasonable attitude of the
railroad men. He added they had not dis
played any feeling of a questionable kind,
nor criticized the interstate commerce
commission.
Various reports have said that the call
of the railroad men on the president was
preliminary to a request for an increase
in freight rates. Western roads already
are preparing such increases for submis
sion to the interstate commerce commis
sion. Under the law the eastern roads
may not apply within the next two years
for increases on rates recently adjudicated
by the commission. Eastern lines, how
ever, are preparing to effect the economies
the commission suggested, by making
charges for free services to large shippers
and to increase their passenger fares.
President Wilson’s letter to Mr Trum
bull reflected his confidence in the integ
rity and soundness of the American rail
roads, and his view that they should not
be the subject of agitation. His letter
follows:—
“Since you read it to me yesterday I
have read again the statement you made
on behalf of the committee of railroad
presidents whom I had the pleasure of
meeting and conferring with at my office.
It is a lucid statement of plain truths.
You asked me to call the attention of the
country to the imperative needs that rail
way credits be sustained and the railroads
helped in every possible way, whether by
private co-operative effort or by the ac
tion, wherever feasible, of governmental
agencies: and I am glad to do so, because
1 think the need very real.
“I cannot say that 1 entertain any deep
anxiety about the matter, except, of
course, the general anxietj" caused by the
unprecedented situation of the money mar
kets of the world; because the interest of
the producer, the shipper, the merchant,
the investor, the financier and the whole
public in the proper maintenance and com
plete efficiency of the railways is too
manifest. They are indispensable to our
whole economic life, and railway securi
ties are at the very heart of most invest
ments. large and small, public and private,
by individuals and by institutions.
"I am confident that there will be ac
tive and earnest co-operation in this mat
ter, perhaps the one common interest of
oiir whole industrial life. Undoubtedly
men both iu and out of official position
will appreciate what is involved end lend
their aid heartily wherever it is possible
for them to lend it.
But the emergency is in fact extraordi
nary, and where there is manifest com
mon interest we ought, all of us to speak
out in its behalf, and I am glad to join
you in calling attention to it. This is
a time for all to stand together in unit
ed effort to common interest and to sustain
it in every legitimate way. The laws
must speak plainly and effo' tively against
whatever is wrong or against the public
interest, and these laws must be ob
served: for the rest and within the sphere
of legitimate enterprise we must all stand
as one and see justice done and all fair
assistance rendered and rendered un
grudgingly/”
NEW PHILIPPINE BILL
Fixed Date for Independence Elimi
nated—Other CksngH Made.
[From the New York Times.]
The new bill presented by the commit
tee on insular affairs amending the gov
ernment of the Philippines will probably
go over to the next session of Congress.
In the meanwhile it will, we trust, receive
careful attention from those best informed
as to its subject matter.
The most noteworthy point in connec
tion with it ia that it abandons completely
the provision of the previous bill from the
same commtttee for turning over the
Islands unconditionally to the natives at
a fixed It also gives to the natives
less unqualified control than was provid
ed by the earlier bill for the period previ
ous to independence. Among the impor
tant changes made by the committee are
the following: The suffrage, heretofore lim
ited to those who can read and write En
glish or Spanish, is accorded to those also
cun j-tooi sgMk nmt* one x>t Ua.aAthw
THE SPRINGFIELD WEEKLY REPUBLICAN: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1914.
languages. A Senate is created chosen
from 12 districts, two each, and of these
two senators, as well as 10 representatives,
are to be from territory not now- repre
sented in the Philippine Assembly: these
latter are to be appointed by the governor
general to hold office until removed by
him; the term of the other senators is
four years. The Senate is to have, the
power of confirming or rejecting appoint
ments made by the governor-general.
The public domain is placed in the hands
of the Philippine government, but all acts
relating to it must be approved by the
president of the L'nited States. All trade
relations between the islands and the Unit
ed States are reserved for legislation to
the United States Congress. The gover
nor-general has a general veto power over
the Philippine Legislature. His veto may
be overridden by a vote of two-thirds of
the members elected to each house, and
in that case the measure so enacted must
receive the approval of the president before
it becomes a law. The governor-general
may veto an item or items of appropria
tion bills. All tariff acts and those re
lating to the coins or currency laws of the
islands must receive the approval of the
president. All laws of any kind must be
reported to the Congress of the United
States, to which is reserved the power to
annul them.
AN APPEAL FOR PEACE ISSUED
ARMAMENTS BLAMED FOR WAR
American Peace Society Aak> Prayers
for Divine Intercession.
The enormous armaments of European
nations, compulsory military service ex
acted from the people, the "insatiable
ambition" of certain rulers "to increase
their personal power,” and “intolerable
secret alliances" between nations are
among the causes of the European war
cited in "a message to the American peo
ple," issued at Washington Saturday by
the American peace society-, calling upon
peace-loving people all over the land to
unite in prayer to-day and direct their
efforts each succeeding day until world
peace is restored. The message, which
by Senator Theodore E. Burton
of Ohio, president of the society, and
A fjbur D. Call, director, follows:—
ahe rightful consequences of the pres
ent European conflict are likely to be
beyond the wildest conjecture. Never be
fore in the history of the world have such
large numbers of men and such quanti
ties of armament been engaged in mortal
combat: never before have such deadly
machines of warfare been loosed in the
destruction of man and of property. Many
thousands of lives are being sacrificed
daily and will continue to be until this
< JK? 1 e conflict is stopped.
“The causes of the war are not hard to
understan ’ nor difficult to explain. The
maintenance of enormous military and
naval armaments by the nations of Europe,
costing no less than $2,000,000,000 annual
ly, and a compulsory military service, have
inevitably stimulated a warlike spirit It
has been alleged that this vast expenditure
was for defense, that it was for the main
tenance of peace, but the present war is
an irrefutable answer to this argument
Men unarmed are not liable to commit mur
der; nations unarmed do not engage in
war. Again, certain sovereigns have had
an insatiable ambition to increase their
personal power and to extend the terri
torial limits of their country, regardless
°f the cost of men or money. Then, too,
there have been the intolerable secret al
liance founded upon an outgrown concep
tion of effective statecraft. Added to these
causes are racial and religious animosities
which have existed for centuries, and trade
rivalries and jealousies which have been
constantly growing more acute.
In the midst of this distressing calam
ity the peace-loving people of America have
X? «»P<»”«»Mfity. The president of
the United States has just asked that the
4th day of October be spent in prayer and
supplication for a speedy termination of
this bloodshed and woe. Ministers might
well deliver sermons calling attention to
the utter follies and irreparable losses of
war not only on October the 4th, but next
Bunday and on every possible occasion. A
similar responsibility rests upon lecturers
and upon the press. The various: peace so
cieties should with renewed vigor bend
their energies toward creating a universal
sentiment for international right reason.
Such efforts, exerted by a people of a
great nation whose neutrality and good
faith is undoubted, cannot fail to have a
salutary effect. 'Die time must eome when
the peoples of the world will demand that
the controversies between nations shall be
settled by some form of judicial procedure
similar to that now used in the settlement
of controversies between individuals.
’The opportunity of the American peo
ple seems at hand. The workers for justice
between nations may be horrified, but they
need not feel discouraged. The cumulative
disasters following in the wake of the
armies, the futility of military theories
the senselessness of it. all are so ap
parent that the constructive upbuilders of
civilization may well believe they are soon
to receive a new hearing before the bar
of humanity. Let us of America, remem
bering all that is best and noblest in our
traditions, do everything in our power to
carry forward the banner of the new inter
national righteousness. Therefore we urge
upon peace-loving people the country over
the importance of immediately discussing
among themselves this terrible situation
and of uniting in prayer and supplication
to-day and to-morrow, and of continuing
their efforts on tach succeeding day until
world peace is restored.”
PROF BOWDEN’S EXPERIENCES.
Arrested in Holland as Spy—War
Spirit in Younger Germans.
A large increase of emigration from Eu
rope to this country as a result of the war of
the alliances is not expected by Prof Henry
M. Bowden of the International college, who
reached Springfield Thursday after a sum
mer spent in Europe. Prof Bowden vis
ited all the countries that are at war ex
cept France, and was in Frankfort. Ger.,
at the time the conflict began. In spite
of war conditions he was able to carry
through most of his intended itinerary and
his only adventure was to be arrested as
a spy in Holland. He easily proved his
identity and was released after being cour
teously treated by the Dutch officials.
Prof Bowden is convinced that Germany
is to blame for the war and that it is her
hatred of England’s rivalry that led the
kaiser to precipitate it He is confident
that the allies will be victorious, and that
the reconstruction of Europe that will fol
low will be executed with more considera
tion for the wishes of the citizens of the
various countries than was the case in
1815, 1848 and 1870.
For that reason Prof Bowden, who is
a recognized authority on immigration,
does not think that the flood of emigra
tion to this country that followed the
revolutions of 1848 and the Franco-Prus
sian war in 1870 will be duplicated at the
conclusion of the present war. There
would thus be no political motive to induce
people to emigrate and the great task of
reconstruction and re-establishment of in
dustry will require, so many workers that
there will be work for all at home and
much of the economic inducement to emi
gration will be removed. In case Germany
should be victorious the situation will be
considerably different, and much emigra
tion would probably result. Definite pre
dictions as to the effect of the war on
emigration and tbe political complexion of
Europe are necessarily uncertain at the
present stage of the conflict.
Prof Bowden's trip was made primarily
for the purpose of studying conditions in
Russian and Austrian Poland regions,
from which thousands of immigrants have
come to this country within the last few
ws. Xte tat wtartaw tasse
...... ...
sections does not mean that they are back
^“td regions, Prof Bowden points out.
They are highly organized industrially and
are capable of supporting a large popu
lation.
The route taken by Prof Bowden led
from Libau, Russia, where he landed early
in June, through St Petersburg, now Pe
trograd, Warsaw, Galicia and southern
Germany. He had reached Frankfort by
Augsut 1, and was staying with a German
family in that city when the war uroke
out. Three of the sons of his host and a
son-in-law were called to the front. None
of them were anxious for the war The
war spirit in Germany seemed to be the
strongest among the younger people. The
older and more experience were wanting
in enthusiasm. Proft Bowden listened
to a war speech that was delivered in the
public Square in Frankfort. The speech,
which was part of the war propaganda of
the government, fell flat.
A different spirit was noticed by Prof
Bowden in England. There was no shout
ing and singing on the part of the young
men, but everywhere a grim determina
tion to see the thing through and to keep
at it with the traditional British bull
dog persistency until Germany is defeated.
German "kultur," Prof Bowden thinks,
is not so immeasurably superior to ev
erything else in Europe as some German
apologists in this country seem to think.
The German government is quite as abso
lute as that of Russia and the poorer
classes are no beter off than they are
m Russia.
Prof Todd Safe in Petrograd.
Word has been received in Boston that
Prof David Todd of Amherst and Mrs
Todd are in Petrograd, Russia. There had
been considerable anxiety over the safety
of Prof Todd and his party, who went
to Russia about two months ago to study
the recent eclipse of the sun.
BRYAN’S BALTIMORE SPEECH
PASSING OF THE DRUM BEATS
Secretary of State Looks Forward to
Era ot Universal Peace.
Going as the personal representative of
President Wilson, who found himself un
able to attend. Secretary Bryan spoke at
Baltimore. Md., . Saturday at the Star
Spangled Banner celebration. The subject
of the address was “The flag.” and Mr
Bryan said that he found his text in the
line with which the poet closed each stanza
of the national anthem —“O'er the landof
the free and the home of the brave. The
development of American ideals, the secre
tary said, had brought with it a wider
freedom and a new type of courage—“a
constant growth in the spirit of brother
hood.” The constitution of the United
States, he said, had become a pattern cop
ied by other nations, and now was to be
seen everywhere the waning of monarch!-
cal authority and hereditary power.
Americans never had hesitated. Mr
Bryan said, to die if necessary in defense
of the - authority for which the flag stood.
“But the. war era has ended in the United
States,”*he added, “and is drawing toward
its close in foreign lands. The convulsions
through which Europe is now passing are
but the death throes of militarism."
Opening his address, Mr Bryan said:—
“I share your regret that the president
could not participate in these exercises,
and 1 appreciate the honor of acting as his
representative He bids me convey to
you his greetings and good will. I com
mend as cordially as he the wisdom and
public spirit which have led your people
to add historic Fort McHenry to your
city’s public grounds.
“You have acted wisely in so arranging
the dedication of this park as to commem
orate, at the same time, the 100th anni
versary of the writing of our country’s
national anthem by Maryland’s illustrious
son. Francis Scott Key. While the genius
of the author finds expression in the bril
liancy of Its phrase, only the fervent spirit
which pervades if is the product of the
circumstances which brought it forth. The
agonizing suspense and the anxious long
ing of the captive are molded into stirring
sentences that cannot fail to call forth a
response from every loyal heart.
"We are entering upon a new age. in
which freedom wil be given new interpre
tations and bravery find new forms of ex
pression. The doctrine of the divine right
of kings has been discarded to no purpose
if the divine right of man does not lead to
man’s elevation. He has become his own
master, to aspire to all the bights that
the Heavenly Father has put within his
reach.
“The theoretical anarchist deludes him
self with the belief that man will have no
need of government when he becomes a
‘law unto himself.’ The coercive part of
government will diminish as civilization
advances—even now a large proportion of
the people have no need of the ‘Thou shalt
nots’ of the criminal law. But while the
restraints of the statutes may be expect
ed to fall into disuse because unnecessary,
the co-operative part of government is in
creasing.
‘‘Let no one think that the texture of
our manhood will be of a lower quality
when its strength is no longer tested by
the stress of war. We could not worship
God as we do if we were convinced that
each generation must be exercised in blood
letting in order to prevent stagnation.
There is as much inspiration in a noble
life as in a heroic death. With peaceful
progress, the avenues of usefulness are
being multiplied—instead of Seeking to ex
tend our territory by the sword, we are
enlarging it by intelligent cultivation of
the soil. It is now 3000 years since Solo
mon declared that ‘he that is slow to anger
is better than the mighty; and he that rul
eth his spirit, -than he that taketh a city;’
and yet the world is just now coming to
understand this truth. In the dav that is
dawning the bravery of self-restraint will
take the place of that bravery which tram
ples upon the rights of others—man will
dare to forgive and leave vengeance to the
Lord.
“Let us address ourselves, then, to the
unfinished work which preceding genera
tions have bequeathed to us. determined to
be worthy of the inheritance which we
enjoy. Hail, flag of the free and the
brave-priceless legacy from the fathers,
baptized in their precious blood. Be our
country's ensign still—and more. As the
world is drawn closer together in the bonds
of a universal brotherhood, may thy col
ors stimulate the struggling, hoping‘hosts
of man to the impulses that are noblest to
the service that is largest, and to the
achievements that are most enduring.”
Flak Sainted by Army and Navy,
A salute of 21 guns to the flag was fired
at noon yesterday at all army posts, naval
vessels and stations and revenue cutters,
by direction of President Wilson at Wash
ington. The salute encircled the glohe,
as it was fired by vessels in Mexican,
West Indian and Asiatic waters and in
the waters of the contending European
powers by the cruisers Tennessee and
North Carolina.
■ —re:
ROOSEVELT AND THE TARIFF.
[From the New York Sun.]
Whenever the colonel discuses the tariff,
as he did in Louisiana, he illuminates n
subject which less wise and daring states
men not infrequently obscure by their out
givings. With respect of it, the republic
ans are hopelealy wrong; the democrats
are viciously ignorant; only the colonel
knows. This much he confesses with that
reluctant self-depreciation which so well
becomes him.
There have been three distinct perforin
in the colonel’s progress toward his present
assurance as to the tariff problem. The
first of them covers the days when free
trade was proud to enrol him under its
banner. The third is the final period.■ in
which a commission engages his ardent
devotion. _
The second period? Alaa! The second
period was one of transition, doubt and
perplexity, if doubt and perplexity ever
have assailed the colonel, and it is the
lasting misfortune of his countrymen that
this interval included the seven years
five months and 18 days of his
administration as president, during which
he did nothing to settle the controversy.
How happy the nation might be if the
days of the colonel’s ascendency had only
coincided with one of his eras of con
fidence on this vexatious question!
FOUR MORE PEACE TREATIES
BRYAN PACTS ABE ACCEPTED
France, Great Britain, Spain and
China Aarree to Refer All Disputes
With United States to a Commission
In the midst of the European war. Great
Britain, France, Spain and China have
agreed to sign peace commission treaties
with the United States. One effect of the
new conventions would be to prevent the
United States from being drawn suddenly
into the conflict. Germany Russia and
Japan have signified their acceptance of the
principle of these treaties, though negoti
ations have not advanced to the point of
drafting conventions. Similar agreements
with Turkey and Greece are almost ready
for signature.
The first four treaties are ready for
signature, and are regarded by President
Wilson and Secretary Bryan as of far
reaching importance. While negotiations
were begun before the European war broke
out, their consummation practically will
safeguard the United States from being
drawn in over any question of neutrality
or other controversy.
With the signing of treaties with Great
Britain, France, Spain and China, the num
ber of pacts of this kind negotiated by Sec
retary Bryan and known as "investigation
treaties," will number 26. Nineteen al
ready have been ratified by the Senate,
comprising the principal countries of Cen
tral and South America; Denmark, Nor
way, Switzerland, Portugal, Italy and the
Netherlands. Secretary Bryan hopes to
have 30 treaties ratified by Christmas,
which he believes will assure the peace of
the United States with the entire world.
The treaties with Great Britain, France,
Spain and China provide “that all disputes,
of every nature whatsoever, to the settle
ment of which previous arbitration treaties
or agreements do not apply in their terms,
or are not applied in fact, shall, when
diplomatic methods of’ adjustment have
failed, be referred for investigation and re
port to a permanent international com
mission, and they agree not. to declare war
or begin hostilities during such investi
gation and before the report is submitted.”
The treaties specify that the report of the
commission shall he completed within one
year after it shall declare its investiga
tion to have begun. Although all the con
tracting parties reserve the right to act
independently after the report of the com
mission is submitted, the administration
at Washington believes a year’s time will
have the effect of “sober second thought”
upon all nations and prevent an outbreak
in the preepitate manner in which Europe
has just plunged itself into war.
Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, the British em
bassador; Senor Don Juan Riano, the
Spanish embassador, and Kai Fu Shah,
the Chinese minister, all have received in
structions to sign the, treaties immediately,
but the French foreign office is so over
whelmed with work that there may be a
delay in completing its arrangements. It
is hoped to have all four conventions signed
simultaneously.
BIG PROHIBITION FIGHT
TO START IN THIS STATE SUNDAY
Antisaloon Leaguei of America and
Massachusetts to Begin Campaign.
What the Massachusetts antisaloon
league claims will be the greatest tem
perance demonstration ever witnessed in
this section of the country is to be put
under way in Massachusetts during the
next week. Nearly 100 orators, the larg
est aggregation of speakers ever assembled
on a single issue at one time in this state,
will call upon the people to support na
tional prohibition outlined in the pro
gram under the joint auspices of the
antisaloon league of America and
the antisaloon league of Massachusetts.
The speakers include many men of na
tional reputation as temperance orators.
Among the number will be Congressman
Richmond P. Hobson of Alabama, Gov
Robert B. Glenn of North Carolina. Dr
Howard H. Russell of Ohio. Dr P. A.
Baker of Ohio, T. Alex Cairns of New
Jersey, “Cyclone” Davis, congressman
elect of Texas, who made his fight on
the prohibition issue, and dozens of oth
ers equally well known. Every section of
the state will be visited in the huge
whirlwind campaign. At each of the
meetings support of the so-called Shep
pard-Hobson resolution before Congress
will be urged. This provides for an
amendment to the constitution tor nation
al prohibition which would make impos
sible the manufacture and sale of intox
icating liquors. In many ways this
gigantic demonstration will be dramatic.
Moving picture films are to be introduced
and will include, in all probability, the
dramatization of Jack London’s “John
Barleycorn.” The flood of speakers, the
extent of the campaign and the final cul
mination with mass-meetings at Boston
on the 26th and 27th, will nil contribute
to what the league says will be the most
spectacular fight ever seen in New En
gland.
Thert is more than local interest at
tached to the campaign. It is the begin
ning of a country-wide battle which will
be waged along the lines to be followed
in this state. One week will be spent in
each state where the liquor traffic is firm
ly established.
Because of its historic associations, Mas
sachusetts was selected as the first state
to push the opening wedge of combat
To the leaders it seemed auspicious that
the fight should begin in the state so
closely associated with initial struggles
for freedom. On Monday next the firsi
big ' contingent of orators will arrive
Then over 50 speakers will be turned
loose. This number will be increased an
the week advances, and by Wednesday
nearly the entire squad of orators will
have settled down to business.
The relation of the league to political
parties, especially the prohibition party,
was summarized by Superintendent Ar
thur J. Davis of the Massachusetts anti
saloon league Monday night. He said that
the league la absolutely nonpartisan. It
forms no alliance with political parties
as such, but welcomes the support of the
good men of all parties.
SCRAP THE GUNS.
[From the Kansas City Star.]
Samuel Butler's social satire, “Ereh
won,” describes a field outside the chief
city where all sorts of machines are lying,
“scrapped.” The visitor to that latest
“Guilliver” land is told that as nearly all
the troubles of the people had been due to
machinery, the people had at last discard
ed all machines.
There is one sort of machines that prac
tically everyone of thia real world would
like to see scrapped—guns. What could
possibly happen after this war with such
results for lasting peace us the dismantling
of the Krupp and Creusot cannon foundries
a»d the Woolwich arsenal?
Unhappily, that is not likely to happen.
But how is civilization to realize the ideal
of swords turned into plowshares until civ
ilization does scrap that kind of machin
exx2
'TO ANSWER THE KAISER
THE PRESIDENT WILL REPLY
NO OVERTURES FOR PEACE
Great Britain Determined to “Deci-
sively Defeat’’ Germany—Allies’
Agreement a Factor.
President Wilson announced Thursday
that he would reply to Emperor William’s
message, which he said contained nothing
that could be construed as a desire for
peace negotiations. . The president told
callers that he had received no official word
from any of the warring nations about
peace. He said talk about peace was still
“in the air.”
Great Britain is determined not to make
peace until she has decisively defeated
Germany. This sentiment has been con
veyed to President Wilson in dispatches
from Embassador Page at London. No
formal message was communicated by the
British foreign office to the American em
bassador, but after Mr Page's conversa
tion with high British officials and on his
own observations he reported that efforts
to initiate peace negotiations through the
allies at this time would be fruitless. Great
Britain, France and Russia have signed
their agreement not to make peace except
by common consent.
Sir Edward Grey’s Position.
Great Britain's position was explained
in detail at London, Eng., says
a dispatch from Washington, D.
C., by Sir Edward Grey to Embassador
Page, who made a long report to Presi
dent Wilson. The British foreign secre
tary declared that England had not sought
war, but since it was forced on her she
was irrevocably determined on crushing
forever the dangers of German militarism
to the world. Sir Edward referred also to
the spoliation by Germany of the neutral
treaty of Belgium, and pointed out that
the allies would expect redress for that
action.
The conference between the American
embassador and the British foreign secre
tary is said to have occurred on the initia
tive of the latter. Sir Edward Grey, it
is understood, explained that in view of
newspaper rumors to the effect that Ger
many was ready to make peace, Great
Britain did not want to appear in the
li^ht of blocking the move wnile Emperor
William assumed the role of peace advo
cate. To make peace now. while Ger
man troops held Belgium and a large part
of France, might cause Germany to exact
unreasonable terms on the basis of occu
pied territory, according to the British
view.
THE KAISER’S MESSAGE
Protesting Against Alleged Violations
of International Rules of Warfare.
The correspondent of the London Daily
Mail at Rotterdam has telegraphed the
text of the message sent by Emperor Will
iam to President Wilson under date of the
4th. It is as follows: —
“I consider it my duty, sir, to inform
you, as the most notable representative
of the principles of humanity, that after
the capture of the French fort of Longwy
my troops found in that place thousands
of dumdum bullets which had been manu
factured in special works by the French
government. Such bullets were found not
only on French killed and wounded sol
diers and on French prisoners, but also
on English troops. You know what ter
rible wounds and awful sufferings are
caused by these bullets, and that their use
is strictly forbidden by the generally rec
ognized rules of international warfare.
“I solemnly protest to you against the
way in which this war is being waged by
our opponents, whose methods are making
it one of the most barbarous in history.
Besides the use of these awful weapons,
the Belgian government has openly incit
ed the civil population to participate in
the fighting, and has for a long time care
fully organized their resistance. The
cruelties practiced in this guerrilla war
fare, even by women and priests, toward
wounded soldiers, and doctors and hospi
tal nurses—physicians were killed and
lazarettes fired on—were such that even
tually my generals were compelled to adopt
the strongest measures to punish the
guilty and frighten the bloodthirsty pop
ulation from continuing their shameful
deeds.
“Some villages, and even the old town
of Louvain, with the exception of its
beautiful town hall (hotel de ville) had
to be destroyed for the protection of my
troops.
“My heart bleeds when I see such meas
ures inevitable, and when I think of the
many innocent people who have lost their
houses and property as a result of the
misdeeds of the guilty.
WntreLM. I. B.”
France Strongly Protest*.
The French foreign office at Bordeaux
Thursday issued a note protesting strong
ly against the statements given to the
American press by the German government
accusing tne allies of using dumdum bul
lets. “Jt is to be feared that these
charges,” the note says, “are but a pre
text to justify the use of dumdum bullets
by the German troops as well as to cause
reaction of American opinion in favor of
the German army. The German govern
ment is carrying on a similar campaign in
Copenhagen.
A REJOINDER TO THE KAISER
French President Cable* to President
Wilson in Reply to the German
Emperor’s Charges.
President Poincare of France has
cabled to President Wilson a reply to the
protest of Emperor William which charged
that the allies had been using dumdum
bullets. The French president declared in
his message that Emperor William was
attempting to shift the responsibility for
the use by Germany of dumdum bullets,
practically since the outbreak of the war.
A dispatch from Bordeaux Friday night
says that President Poincare yesterday
cabled President Wilson as follows:—
"Mr President; I am informed that the
German government has sought to surprise
your excellency’s good faith by alleging
that dumdum balls are manufactured in
th® French state factories, and used by our
soldiers. This calumny is but an auda
cious attempt to reverse roles. Gefmany
has, since the beginning of the war, used
dumdum bullets and violated daily the
law of nations. On August 18, and sev
eral times since, we have had occasion to
bring these acts to the notice of your ex
cellency and the powers signatories of the
Hague convention.”
“Germany, who knew of our protests, to
day seeks to confuse the issue and furnish
herself lying pretexts for fresh acts of
barbarity. In the name of slighted laws
and of outraged civilization, I send your
excellency my indignant protest.
Raymond Poincam.”
FOUND NO DUMDUM BULLETS.
French Medical OHlcers Relate Their
Experience* In the Field.
The eight French medical officers who
were captured by the Germans In Namur,
but who later were released and are at
Rotterdam on their way back to France by
way of England, gave some interesting
stories on the situation in the field from
their standnoUt as surgeons. “We were
obliged to work with the Germans.” one
of them said; "Most of the wounded were
anxious to return to the fight as soon as
possible.
"We saw no evidence of men wounded
by dumdum bullets on either side. We
found the medical service of both the
Germans and the allies excellent, but we
regret that the German wounded often
were discharged from the hospitals to.,
early. In some cases their wounds had
not sufficiently healed, and after their dis
charge the wounds would open again and
complications set in.
"Many of the wounded on both sides
were obliged to be in the field for davs
after they were injured because it was
difficult to find them owing to bushes, trees
and other obstacles.”
TELL OF ALLEGED ATROCITIES.
Partial Hat la Made Public at New
York—On Way to See the President.
The king of Belgium's commission of
protest against German violation of Bel
gian neutrality and alleged German atroci
ties in Belgium, arrived at New York
yesterday en route for Washington, where
they will lay their case before President
Wilson. The steamer Celtic, upon which
the commission made the transatlantic
trip docked recently. A partial list of
the alleged attroeities of the Germans in
Belgium, against which the Belgian king
has sent a protest to President Wilson was
made publie by Count Louis de Lichter-
T .. a ’ se . cre tary of the commission.
“At Linsmeau, when the Germans entered
the village, two uniformed gendarmes at
tacked the Germans,” Count de Lichter
velde said. “In revenge the village was in
vaded on the night of August 10. Two
farms were destroyed; the crops were de
stroyed or carried away; six houses were
burned, and all the men were compelled
to hand over their arms.
“It was found that none had been dis
charged recently, and finally the men were
separated into three detachments. Two
of the detachments disappearel. A third,
consisting of 11 men, was driven at the
point of the bayonet into a ditch and when
they were piled in, the German soldiers
set upon them and beat their brains out
with the butt ends of their rifles. The
11 battered bodies were found later bv
Belgian troops.
“On August 12, after the battle of Hae
len, Col van Damme, commander of a
Belgian regiment, was lying wounded on
the battlefield. He was unable to move.
Several German soldiers found hiffi and.
placing their revolvers against his mouth
blew his head off.
“At Boucelles the German troops went
into battle carrying the Belgian flag. On
August 10, the German cavalry raided the
town of Velen, while the inhabitants slept.
One instance of what they did may be
cited in the case of a man named Deg
limme. whose home was fired and looted.
He and his wife were taken from the house
half naked. He was dragged away in one
direction, she in another. She was released
when two miles away and told to run.
When she ran the German soldiers fired
at her, but she escaped the bullets and
staggered back to the site of her ruined
home in a pitiable condition. Her husband
also was released and fired upon when he
ran. He was found the next, day mortally
wounded, on the road oustide the town."
Count de Lichtervelde said he had read
the statement attributed to the German
emperor in which it was said that harsh
treatment of Belgians was made, necessarv
in some cases because Belgian civilians
fired on German soldiers.
“I do no see how it is possible for a
man to lie so,” Count de Lichtervelde
said.
BELGIAN ATROCITIES.
German Prince Accnae* Peasantry of
All Manner* of Outrage*.
Count von Bernstorff, German embassa
dor to the United States, made public
in New York Saturday an extract from
a letter written to him by Prince Henry
of Reuss under date of August 15 and
received Friday. The extract follows: —
“I hope that we have already protest
ed to the government at Brussels against
the frightful atrocities which were com
mitted and are still being committed daily
by the lower class of the Belgian popula
tion against our brave soldiers, especially
against wounded ones. It seems that the
Belgian government is either helpless or
else does not know the least about these
things, which are worse than the cruel
ties committed during the Balkan war.
“It might be very advisable if the Bel
gian government would be asked from
The Hague to take energetic steps in the
Belgian districts not yet occupied by the
Germans so that an end is put to this
detestable war of franc-tireurs. and that
army fights only against army. The re
ports are coming in daily about guards
being treacherously killed by peasants
and the like, and the fearful cruelty com
mitted even by women to our wounded
soldiers. This will forever remain a
shameful spot in the history of Belgium.
It also seems that in Belgium the minor
Catholic clergy is carrying on an inces
sant agitation.
“The Belgian government apparently
has no idea about all these things, and
it surely does not meet with her inten
tions that the Belgian people commit the
lowest crimes against humanity, which
naturally the Belgian government will
have to be blamed for in the future. It
is still time to prevent scores of crimes.
The cruelties in question are: The goug
ing out of eyes of the wounded soldiers,
cutting out of tongues, cutting off of
limbs, murdering or the wounded who
arc lying on stretchers ready to be taken
to the hospitals, treacherous assaults by
peasants, and the like. Priests who re
ceived our troops in a friendly manner
during the day were at nighttime de
tected with revolvers in their hands par
ticipating actively in the outrages.”
STORY OF GERMAN ATROCITY.
Said to Have Come From Senator
Clark ot Montana.
Prince Nicholas Engalitcheff, former
Russian vice-consul in Chicago, returning
to America yesterday on the steamer Flan
dre, made public at New York a statement
which he said had been given him by Will
iam A. Clark, former United States sena
tor from Montana, with the request that
it be given to the American press. The
statement follows:—
‘‘Tell the American people of this case,
which I have investigated. It is that of a
Belgian family, the father of whom was
shot by the Germans and the mother
lashed to a chair while the soldiers at
tacked her 16-years-old daughter before her
eyes. The mother became a raving
maniac. I have the daughter under my
care.” _____________
INTERNATIONAL REGRETS.
[From Harper 1 * Weekly. 1
Greatly to my regret . . .—Fran
cis Joseph.
In spite of our intense desire for friend
ly relations . . .—Peter.
In the midst of perfect peace, the en
emv surprises us ... Forward with
God . . .—William.
Little as we Incline to do so, we are
forced . . . —George.
. Strong in our ardent desire of arriv
ing at a peaceful solution . . .—Poin
care.
Our menaced nation shudders and
its children have bounded to the fron
tier . .—Albert.
It is with profound regret that we, in
spite of our ardent devotion to the cause
of peace, are thus compelled . . -.—Em
peror of Japan.
Messrs Pentose, Palmer and Pinchot
are conducting a very strenuous cam
paign for the United Slates senatorship
in Pennsylvania. Senator Penrose hns
had a bad throat, but think* it ia on the