The Washington times. [volume], January 27, 1916, HOME EDITION, Page 8, Image 8

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THE WASHINGTON TIMES; THURSDAY; JANUARY 27; 1916.'
lelfelungton Wm&f
PUBLISHED EVERY KVENINO
(Including Sunday)
J?y 'iTie Washington Times Company,
jtWi X1UN3ET BUILDING. rfnn.,Y.
ijltANK A. MUNSEY, President
& H. TITHERINGTON, Secretary.
SH, POPE, Treasurer.
-
Tear (Including 'Sundays). P.M.
Months, 11.75. Threa Month. Me.
f
THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 1916.
DETENTION OF MAILS
The heart of the question of the
detention of mails by a Belligerent ii
n&t whether they arc going into or
earning out of an enemy country. It
liPVinf. uVioHior tViv nri linunrl tn or
from the United States. It is noil
whether they aro carried in. Ameri
can vessels. None of this in time of
war is tho fundamental principle
any more than in ordinary contra
band. The question is whether mails arc
being put to uses proper, under the
laws and customs of nations, or to
uses improper. The privileges of
flrst class mails are very distinctly
defined, and it should be a very sun-
pie matter to determine, on the
tbiuui iucis oi me contents oi man -
lnxerierea wun oy any Deuigerent,
wjiethcr those privileges arc abused
Qt are not abused.
iUo serious issue, "therefore, is
liable to come out of the diplomatic
negotiations now on between the
BjKtish government and the Ameri
can Government as to the detention
o mails in which wc are directly or
indirectly interested.
NO BLOCKADE OF QERUANY YET
'Wi
eighing advantages and disad-
VantntTPS. ihr RriHcli frnvnrnmanf I
His decided that the benefits that
could be gained by a straightfor-
ward blockade of Germany would 1
not compensate for the antagonisms
tliat would be inspired , among neu
trals. Instead of declaring a block
ade, the government will go ahead
under the policy of the orders in
council, rather than attempt the
complicated and dangerous business
oi blockading neutral countries that
serve as gateways to Germany.
Whatever may be thought of the
policy thus announced, and in which
Parliament has acquiesced, it must
be, .recognized as bespeaking a de
termination to make every conces
sion to the rights and sensibilities
of neutrals. Critics of the AsqUith
government repeatedly pointed out
during the discussion yesterday that i
the blockade could be carried on
under the precise regulations on
forced by tho United States, and ac
quiesced in by Great Britain, dur
ing the civil war. But despite this
Sir Edward Grey was unwilling to
attempt such a -radical course. He
poinded out that, blockade or no
blockade, it must be necessary at
length to sift the merchandise des
tined to neutral ports and pass that
which was unobjectionable either as
t character or presumed destina
tion; therefore in the end it would
b no more effective to call the in
terference a blockade.
iThere arc some grounds to suspect
tljat the abandonment of the block
ade proposal was actuated not by re
gard for the feelings of the United
States, but by consideration of Hol
land, Sweden, and Denmark. This
country could not possibly object to
such a blockade, such an application
of; the ''continuous voyage" and "ulti
mate destination" doctrines as were
developed and enforced during the
civil war by this nation. On the other
hand, Sweden had bitterly protested
ablockade. None of the three Scan
dinavian countries, nor Holland, had
ever enforced such a rule, as the
United States had done. Its onus
would have fallen on them more
heavily than on the United States.
The abandonment of blockade, there
fore, may reasonably be" attributed to
concern for those countries' senti
ments; not to any special desire to
please the United States.
QROUP PRINCIPAL" PLAN
.One of the most significant ad
ministrative changes made in the
schools here for some years is that
outlined b'y Superintendent Thurston
before the Board of Education yes
terday providing for "group princi
pals" for several groups of Wash
ington schools in close proximity.
3 The policy adopted years ago of
ejecting small buildings here has
resulted in increasing the overhead
cost of running the schools; and it
has been a great handicap in obtain
ing proper .supervision. Under the
present arrangement tho principal
of, an eight-room building has no
supervision over teachers in her
building, though she is burdened
with much administrative work con
cerning the building and the buying
of supplies. A 'parent who wishes
to complain about the teaching given
her child in the third grade cannot
go to me principal; ne muse go 10
the supervising principal, who has
from eight to twelve buildings to
watch out for.
How little this defect has been
understood is shown by the general
assumption mat ine cignin graae
teacher is a principal. The report
of the Cleveland commission merrily
(barged up all eighth grade teachers'
Balaries to "supervision," thus'mak- a dollar worth moro than normal, wc
ing that' item a heavy one, whereas havo tho opportunity to buy sccuri
tho cost of supervision in Washing-: ties at marked-down prices. . And wo
ton schools is exactly $30,000 a year, '
less than almost any city of its size
in thc.cQUntry. That is .no virtue,
it ought to bo more. But such is tho
fact. s
The "group principal" plan is a
good, one from tho standpoint of the
teacher. . Tho eighth grade teacher
had gone as high as 'she may expect
to go. Thero was no incentive for
her to study supervisory methods,
for there was no likelihood of her
being called upon to supervise.
Under the new plan eighth grade
teachers have a chance to enter into
the work of supervising from twenty
to thirty rooms. They still must
teach but their time will bo left
free during instruction from special!
teachers, .such as drawing, domestic
science, manual training, and other
instructors. This time may then be
given to keeping in touch with tho
work of other teachers.
This is only one of tho many ex
periments tried in th'e schools re
cently to make for better adminis
tmUnn. Tin. mmmimitv .famiM fni
an intercst in thig sort of jnnova.
tfon deslgncd to raiso the educational
standard and the efficiency of the
gystcm
BUYINQ FOREIQN RAILWAYS
When, some time ago, a great in
ternational investment corporation
was organized by powerful groups of
American financiers, it was an
nounced that the object was to go
out and buy interests in big cor
porate properties in other countries,
especially the other Americas; be
cause, it was explained, the one sure
way to break into the markets was
to control the great buying factors
!inmthose countries
To own the railways, say of Ar-
Bentina, means to sell them their
rails, cars, locomotives, equipment;
to lend them their money, get the
benefit of land grants that will in
future as in the past be given to en
courage more construction. It means
to establish close affiliation with in
dustries served by these railways; in
short, it means to substitute United
States capital and domination for
the capital and domination of Eu
rope in that country.
Argentina has about one-third the
area of continental United States,
but only about 20,000 miles of rail
road. That is, it is about one
fourth as ivell provided with rail
roads as is this country. There is
very certain' to be great railroad ex
pansion there for several decades to
come. The present railway system
of Argentina is estimated to repre
sent a capitalization of about
$1,200,000,000, or perhaps one-fifteenth
that" of the railroads of the
United States.
Seemingly the actual business of
buying into these properties has
been making headway, for some
mysterious gold' shipments from this
country to Buenos Aires, which were
not at all understood here, arc ex
plained from London. It is stated
that Americans have been buying
Argentine railroad stocks, and that
the gold goes to help pay for them.
The possibility of American domi
nance through railroad ownership is
suggested by this development. Sup
posing that one-half the capitaliza
tion of Argentine railways is rep
resented by bonds, there remains, in
order to dominate them, merely the
necessity to secure control of the
share capital; a little more than a
quarter-billion of dollars would be
enough to do this. Compared with
the huge investments in our own
railways, it is apparent that this
would be a very small investment.
Or, if it be kept in mind that nearly
half the railroad mileage of the
world is in the United States, it will
suggest that, with our own primary
investment in this kind of property
pretty well completed, the possibil
ity of expansion into a field that
Americans know better than any
other people, are almost unlimited.
There is no country that can com-pete-with
our own in building rail
roads; particularly, in building them
for the purpdsc of opening up new
regions and securing development.
South American growth nnd expan
sion would be magnificently prompt
ed if United 'States capital and man
agerial capacity should come into
control, or even influential affiliation
with the transportation service of
that continent. Americans have in
deed had vastly more to do with the
upbuilding of Latin-American trans
port systems than is t erally real
ized; but they have j rated chiefly
with European capital, which has
compelled them to make their prop
erties tributary to Europe when buy
ing supplies. The beginnings of o
United States buying campaign in
Argentina point to a new part for
this nation to play there. Good in
dustrial and railroad shares in South
America are on the bargain coun
ter, because their holders, whether
there or in Europe, need the gold.
The United States is the one .reser
voir of gold holdings powerful
enough to undertake such vast oper
ations at this time. Our money sys
tem, from being about the worst in
the world a few years ago, is now
so good that dollars are at more or
less premium in nearly every coun
try on earth. In other, words, with
have the dollar.
BRITAIN IN, LINE AT LAST
That opposition which is merely
opposition is always highly vocal
when it has the privilege of free
noiso that appertains to democratic
institutions. A few weeks ago the
opposition to compulsory military
service in Great Britain was so noisy
that it managed to get itself taken
very seriously, even in Britain. Yet
when the parliamentary measuro
camo to tho voting test, opposition
dwindled to unimportance on the
first reading, and well-nigh to the
vanishing point on final passage of
the measure.
But even at that, there was still
tho insistent belief that organized
labor in Britain was still hostile to
conscription or any other .extreme
measures calculated to strengthen
the position of the empire Or
ganized labor, it was insisted, would
never assent to such measures;
rather, it would plunge the country
into internal industrial war, if neces
sary, to prevent tHeir adoption.
Now comes from the labor con
ference at Bristol the announcement
,that two votes were taken by thc
dclcgates representing 2,000,000
union workers, on resolutions in
dorsing the attitudes of the govern
ment and of the Labor members of
Parliament who stood by the gov
ernment. One resolution was adopt
ed by a vote of 1,500,000 to 600,000;
the other by 1,800,000 to 200,000.
It may fairly be' assumed that
with this labor issue thus adjusted,
Britain has squared away and will
hereafter be entitled to recognition
as a united country, ready to stand
for the common intercst with all the
power and resources it can command.
If it be said that a year and a half
of internal bickering has been re
quired to bring this result, Ameri
cans, of all people, ought to be
charitable in their attitude toward
these troubles of a democracy. In
the civil war epoch the North had
its vocal and virulent copperheads;
even so late as 1864 the slogan of
the campaign against Lincoln's re
election was "the war is a failure."
That was long after Vicksburg and
Gettysburg had marked the turning
point of the struggle. Yet in the
election of 1864 McClellan, on that
platform, polled 1,808,000 votes
against 2,216,000 for Lincoln. The
British showing is not particularly
discreditable to national patriotism
when compared to the Amcrfcan poll
ing of 1864.
Safety First keeping Nebraska
off that itinerary.
Despite the invention of tabloid
cocktails, the fashion edicters haven't
done away with the hip pocket.
Now for a bumper crop of per
sons who will place their interests
in the hands of their friends.
A lot of good alibis are due to fall
into innocuous desuetude if this
street car tie-up thing is ever ad
justed.
At that there are fons of persons,
standing up for the car companies,
who would be glad to have scats.
Lack of dyestuffs hasn't yet af
fected many noses. '
Another thing to be grateful for
groundhog day will soon be here,
and settle this weather question.
If that Michigan man really has
perfected an apparatus to use booze
in the gas tank, a great deal of tink
ering with the carburetor can safely
be predicted.
Bureau of Commerce .
Stops Weekly Reports
Showing copper Imports of JSS.496 and
exports worth I3.C63.8G6 for tho week
ended January 15, today's weekly state
ment was announced to be the last that
the Burerfu of Foreign and Domestic
Commerce will Issue.
Several weeks ago the Chamber of
Commerce of the United States ques
tioned the accuracy of the weekly state
ments and the methods employed in Pre
paring them. Secretary Rcdfleld was
Informed that the aggregate figures of
four weekly statements did not tally
with the statistics In the monthly state
ments. He then began an Inquiry -which
resulted In the following notice being
appended to today's copper statement:
"It has been decided to discontinue
these weekly statements of Imports and
exports of copper after February 1, 1916.
"Tho statements were Instituted soon
after tho outbreak of the European war,
when, owing to the abnormal conditions
prevailing, the business public was In
need of current Information regarding
the general trade movement. Since the
trade situation has become compara
tively settled these statements are no
longer of sufficient importance to Jus
tify their continuance. The extra work
Involved In their compilation at the va
rious custom houses, can, with ad
vantage, be diverted to the regular
monthly reports which are much fuller
and more accurate and cover a period
better adapted to comparative study."
"Dry" Measure Reported
Favorably to Committee
The subcommittee on prohibition of
tho Senate Judiciary Committee has or
dered a favorable report to tho main
committee of tho Shcppard prohibition
amendment Tho action taken was
unanimous. It Is expected the Judiciary
Committee will soon report the meas
ure to the Senate,
CUBANS WOULD Fly
TO ME IF U. S. BID
See 'Themselves As Belgians of
America, and Merely Await
the Word.
HAVANA. Jan. 27. Tho suggestion
made by Washington that Cuba Join In
tho rencral prepjarcdness movement. In
creasing tho strength of her armd
forces, has been cordially received here,
where tho life of a soldier appeals far
moro strongly to tho illiterate than tho
hard labor of tho cane fields or tho
city streets, while an officer's commis
sion seems very attractive to tho young
men who. possessing that llttlo learning
which Is a dangerous thlnir. havo yet
found no nlaco In tho civil service The
press Is giving tho proposition much fa
vorablo attention, as are many of tho
leading officials, civil and military.
In an Interview Major Gustavo Rod
riguez, of the general staff, say:
VOur armed puardlans can never cost
too much or consume too much If they
bring peace and tranquillity to all or
ders of llfo In tho nation: tho cost of
maintaining them will bo negligible
compared to tho priceless bcnotiu of
neucc, tran(tullltty-and tho republic ata-
"On tho other hand, vd all know the
debt of gratitude we owe to the united
Stulco, tbo gicat nnd generous nation
that not only gave uh our liberty but
continues to guard It for us. How shall
we reply If. finding itself at war -with
another nation, that generous peoplo
hall say to us, "If you cannot help
us nt least defend yourselves, for you
know that your island Js a magnificent
strategic point for America, and all
eyes will turn upon you.
While Anici leans may smile at the
flambovancy of the foregoing, most up-
ncr class Cubans arc mont Rurieus
about tho nart Cuba shall play In any
war Involving the united states.
Thla
u-im Ktrlklns-lv evidenced when the ta
bles brought tho canard that the Jap
anese had landed on Torluga Island,
Mexico. The story reached nero in
time for tb- early uflernoon papeis and
Prcsidont Mcuaca! hastily called tho
cabinet together. From 6 to S o deck
that same evening he discussed with
his ministers the mean-lies t0 be taken
by Cuba In tho apparently Imminent
event of war between the United State
Jinil Japan. ... .
"The Cuban, like every Spanish-Ameri
can, craves excitement, it is -wim a
delicious thrill' that Cubans say and
they say It often that in case of -war
between the united states ana me uer
mans Cuba will be in the line of first
attack. Bhudderlngly they hug the
glorious prospect of Cuba's becoming
tho "Belgium of America."
As a first result of Washington's rec
ommendation President Menocal has
slciied a decree suspending the literacy
requirement for enlistment In order that
the army shall without delay be re
cruited to the authorized strength of
10.000 men.
Although the optimistic official statis
tics show that but .10 per cent of the
population in Illiterate, it Is from that
3U ncr cent soldiers must te cnielly re
crulted. The smallest smattering of
learning raises a Cuoan from the labor
ing to the office-seeking class, from tho
would-be recruit to the aspirant for a
commission; and. moreover, tho highest
average of physical fitness is to be
found In the agricultural districts where
illiteracy nrevalls. 1
While there may be no truth In the
story published by El Hcraldo dc Cuba,
a rabid opposition organ, owned and
directed by Orestes Ferrera, speaker of
tho House, that Secretary of Govern
ment Hcvla has drawn up elaborate
plans for fortifications and heavy guns
to protect Cuba's coasts, It is a fact that
some congressmen are preparing bills
Which provide for coast defense, both
with land batteries and submarines, and
there is a general feeling that the
Vulted States not only will authorize
the making of a new loan for such a
purpose, but may help Cuba bear the
financial burden.
IN CAPITAL TOOA!
Lecture, -The Sources of th Teaching of
the Sermon on the Mount." Prof. I. J.
I'eritz. Hall of the Collego of Illitory.
American University, 3:40 p. m.
Meeting, Credit Men's Section of the Retail
Men-bants' Association, In headquarters, S
p. m.
French flotilla benefit. New National, 4:30 p.
m.
Mld-ycar commencement of District high
schools. McKlnley Manual Training School,
S p m.
Illustrated lMlur on original boundary or
milestones of the District, Fred E. Wood
ward, lecture hall, Smithsonian Institute,
8 u. m.
Testimonial dinner to Samuel Gompers. by
Central I-ator Unl-n. Rika' Hall. S p. m.
Dinner. Washington Traiflo Club. ItsJeUh.
"X p. m.
Dinner, to National Association of Heal Es
tate Exchanges, by nesl ltate Orokcrs'
Association. New Wlllard. 7 p. in.
Reception and dance, students of Steward's
liuslness college. narruu minima nan.
Entertainment and card party, benefit of the
Catholic Home Hureau for Dependent Chil
dren. Carroll Hall. 8 p. m.
Matlng. art section. Twentieth Century
Club, l"t Columbia road northwest, S p. in.
Masonic-New Jerusalem, No. : George C.
Whiting. No. 22; Temple-Noyes. No. SJ;
Naval. No. 4. Itoyal Arch; La Fayette. No.
S; Kalllpolla Grotto. .
Eaatem Star William F. Hunt. No. 1.
Odd Fellow a Covenant, No. 13. and Salem,
No. 22; Excelsior, No. 17, and Columbia.
No. 1.
Knights of Pythias Harmony. No. St.
Maccabees Georgetown Review, No. 10,
dance.
Knights of Columbus Benefit Performance
Dramatic Club. Keane Council, Dance of
Inter-Council Dancing Association.
Socialist party T. P. S. U meeting.
Meeting, Thomas Jefferson Council, No. 12,
Junior Order United American Mechanics,
New Masonic Temple, 7:30 p. in.. Eighth
and F streets northeast.
Lecture, "From the Potomac to the Pacific,"
by Ralph II. Hamilton. Holy Cross Acad
emy. 8 s. m. . . . . .
Address. "Paul and Silas In Prison and the
Conversion of the Jailer." Rev. U U
Dauers, Fifteenth Street Christian Church.
Amusements.
New Nutlonal-"It Pays to Advertise." 8:15
p m.
Belasco-"The Greatest Nation," 8:20 p. m.
Poll's -The Law othe Land," 2:15 and 8:15
p. m.
Ketth's-Vaudevllle. 2:13 and 8:15 p. m.
Casino "East Lynn," 8:15 p. m.
GayetyT-Burlesque, 2:10 and 8:10 p. m.
Loew's Columbia-Photoplays. 10.30 a. m. to
11 p. m.
Tomorrow.
Meeting,- National Democratlo Women of
America, Ebbltt Hotel. In. ft .
Dance, under auanlces young people. All
Souls- Church. 1742 Church street northwest.
Entertainment and dance, parish hall. Grace
lnlannnnl fourth flnlff tOWH. 8 P. IX.
Installation of officers. George Dewey Camp..
No. 7 U. 8, W. V., northeast Masonic
Temple, 8 p. m. , ., .
Masonlc-St. John's. No. 11: Hope. No. 20;
Royal Arch. Capitol, No. 11; Anacostla, No.
12; Mt. Pleasant. No, 13.
Eastern Star Takoma, No. 12: Cathedral, No.
14; fit. John's Lodge, No. 18.
Odd Fellows-Phoenix. No. 2S; Central, No. 1,
and Metropolis, No. 18.
Rebekah-Dorcas, No. 4; Martha Washlnxton,
No S.
Knights of Pythlas-Syracustans, No. 10;
Rathbone-Superlor, No. 2. . .. .
Pjlhlan Blsters-Rathbone Temple, No. J.
National Union-East Washington, founcll.
Daughters of Amerlca-Oolden Rule Council,
No, 10.
U. B. W. V.-Qen, Eromett Urell Auxiliary.
ir i
Fight for Merchant
Marine- Will Prevent
Seamen's Act Repeal
-- -
Longer Test of Provisions of La Follette Measure
Assured Administration Support, Labor's De
termination, and Post Bellum Maritime Com
petition Factors of Control.
, By JUDSON C. WELLIVER.
It may be set down as practically certain that the La Follette
seamen's bill is not" going to be repealed nor essentially modified by
the present session of Congress.
Trtis is the consensus of view among both the advocates and
the opponents of the measure.
Even legislators who for a long time opposed the- bill and at
the time of its passage were doubtful of 'its advisability,' are in sonic
cases now insisting that it shall1 get a longer test than, has been
possible, and under something like normal conditions.
ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT.
Proponents of the measure have never
shown their hand very fully; but they
havo permitted It to be-Jtnown that a
general assault on the legislation would
open a fight which would kill weeks
of time, and probohly end In failure.
If the Administration ever had seri
ous thought to weakening and revers
ing Its attitude on this measure, it has
latterly determined to stand pat.
" Quite aside from tho political expedi
encies of the situation, there are some
other reasons why the Administration
believes It can afford to support tho
legislation. It la believed that under
present conditions In tho shipping world
the Increased cost of operating ships
under the American flag can be met.
and competition carried on with the
merchant navies of other countries.
In fact, one of tho arguments that
are now strongly advanced In favor of
the McAdoo ship purchase legislation 4s
that If the Government ownB and oper
ates the ships It will be financially row-
eriui enougn to comply with the condl
tlons of tho La Follette law. and crad
ually. by Imposing regulations on alien
shipping trade with this country, to
raise other countries' merchant fleets to
the American standard In regard to
service conditions among seamen.
Labor Fights Change.
At alVy rate, that experiment Is going
to be urged upon Congress. The labor
organizations have made It very clear
that they will be bitterly hostile, in the
forthcoming campaign, toward whoever
attempts to surrender the ground they
think they have gained through tho
passage of the seamen's law. Politi
cians of neither party havomuch fancy
for meeting such a charge during tho
coming political battle.
Some of the politicians declare that
the political necessity of letting the La
Follette bill go unchanged at this time,
has strengthened the McAdoo shipping
measuro 1ft CongreJss.YThev argue In,
this way;
There may be some losses, for a time.
In creating a bigger "merchant marine.
Ships, whether old or new. aro com
manding fancy prices. Ships must flnU
business to do: and when expensive
ships, expensively operated, are put into
the business of developing trade there
must be ample financial bacftlng to
carry through the period of develop
ment. No power Is so well ablo to
meet thla promotion expense, as It
might be called, as the Government,
Period of Competition.
It is Impossible at this time to Judge
conditions In shipping after tho war.
But all the authorities believe unit there
wilt bo a period of bitter competition
as soon as the balance Is restored to
something like normal, after tho war.
The German ships will be back In busi
ness, and vessels of other countries
that have been withdrawn for war use
will also become competitors once more
for general trade. If the United States
seriously attempts to make a big fight
for a real placo In the maritime ship
ping world, It will find Itself facing
a determined opposition. Germany and
Britain will make greater efforts than
ever; the Scandinavian countries and
Japan, which have mightily advanced
CALVE IS MAGNET
FORCAPITALSOCIETY
Famous Artist Will Appear
Today For Benefit of French
Flotilla Fund.
Washington society Is expected to be
out in lirgi numbers tMs .v't'-n-'en to
attend the French flotilla benefit at 4:30
o'clock at the National Theater, at
which lime. Calve and other famous
artists will be heard. Tho proceeds are
to be devoted to the relief work carried
on In France through tho "surgical
automobiles." operating In groups
known aa "flotillas." Mrs. William Cor
coran Eustls Is chairman of the com
mittee, and Is being assisted by many
well known women.
Besides Mme. Calve, who wlIT sing
"The Marseillaise." Mlsa Loralno Wy
man. a nunll of Yvette Gullbert: Galileo
Gasparrl. and CarltfB Salzedo will be
heard. With Mme. Calve. In singing
"Carmen." will be heard a chorus of
Beventy-Hvd young society women of
this city.
Walter Van Rensselaer Berry, who re
cently returned from the war zone,
where he saw the flotillas In action, will
tell of their work.
Miss Gertrude Itoblnson Smith, who
arranged tho concert In New York,
which was a marked success, is In thla
city assisting In the arrdngementa,
SECRETARY WILSON
URGED FOR SENATE
President Said to Be Anxious to
Have Him In Race Against
Knox In Pennsylvania.
Secretary of Labor Wilson may be
urged bv the President to run for Sen
ator hu Pennsylvania to succeed Senator
Oliver.
This Is suggested bv A. Mitchell
Palmer, who has come to Washington
from his State. JThe Administration be
lieves that with his labor record he
could defeat former Senator Knox."
their marltlmo Interest in the last two
years, will not willingly relinquish (heir
gains; and the United States, becauso
of Its wealth and Its big potential Im
portance, once It actually becomes
strong at sea, will bo tho obvious enemy
of them all.
Losses Inevitable.
So the fight to establish a perma
nently Important place for the re
habilitated American marine will very
likely to be a long and bitter one.
Ratea will bo cut and losses made In
evitable. "Suppose," said one Democratic
leader, "that a $50,000,000 private cor
poration should take a charter and go
into shipping. It would look like a
pretty big and solvent affair, equip
ped for a real fight. But as a matter
of fact It would be a pygmy beside
the half-billion and even billion-dollar
shipping combinations that oper
ate under some other flags and with
which It would have to compete. They
could crush it without even feeling
the loss: and they would, rather than
see America restored to a place of
real Importance on the seas.
"There would be none of that sort of
cutthroat competition If foreign ship
ping Interests realized from the out
set that they were, fighting the United
States Government. The would
know that no matter how rich and
powerful they were. It could meet
them and beat them at every move In
the game. The mere name ui,u i. .
tlge that Governm-nt shlnn'r-" '
enjoy, would be the assurance of a
fair chance."
Build Best Fleet.
One more Tccent Administration argu
ment Is being pressed with all insist
ence. Secretary McAdoo s measure
asKs $50,000,000 with which to buy or
build ships. There was a time when
the Treasury had in mind that it could
i,,r .hlna ,rlt rrfinA JT,rtl1f " Thill
vie.w is not being pressed so strongly.
innicau, n is now conieuipiaicu umi
tirst-class ships, the last word In mer
cantile construction, shall be built In
American yards for tho Government
fleet. Secretary McAdoo has been much
Impressed with the argument that tho
way to make this sort of a competition
light la to build the best fleet In the
world: to throw away all tho coal
burning designs, and turn out a fleet
of oil-burning vessels, with greater
speed, carrying capacity, and desirabil
ity as naval auxiliaries in case of need.
He la assured that. If this Is done, ves
sels of this class can, be operated, with
American crews, under American wage
scales, on the conditions laid down by
tho new seamen's law, and yet success
fully compete with any merchant ma
rine in the world.
The proposal of a great merchant
fleet of oil-burning' vessels carries with
It also the Idea of taking full advan
tage of America's superior supply of
this fuel; of conserving that on the
public lands and elsewhere. Great
Britain's supremancy on the seas, since
the days of steam maritime power, has
been dependent largely on Britain's pos
session of a superior supply and qual
ity of tho best coal. Yet coal Is now al
most out of date as a fuel for steam
ships; oil Is the last word, and Ameri
ca's supremacy In oil is even moro
marked than Britain's ever was in coal.
WANTS CITIZENS TO
L
Rhode Island Association Urges
Congress to Let Civic Bodies
Nominate Members.
The choosing of a Board of Educa
tion by the Commissioners from a list
submltted.by the citizens' associations
aifd other civic bodies -with a mem
bership of more than fifty la proposed
by tho Rhode Island Suburban Cit
izens' Association.
A resolution providing for this was
adopted at a meeting last night at the
Sherwood Presbyterian Church and
will bo forwarded to the members
of the District committees of Con
gress. The plan provides for the appoint
ment of nine members for .terms of
three years each . The members are
to serve without compensation. Each
citizens' association or other civic
organization with a membership of
fifty or moro Is to submit three
nnmes.
The members selected can be re
moved only by petition of a majority
of the eligible associations. The board
is to have the same powers In con
nection with the school administra
tion as the present board.
MILESTONES OF D. C.
TOPIC OF LECTURE
Fred E. Woodward Will Tell
A. R., Original Boundary
Lines.
D.
Tho milestones of tho District will
be the subject ofan illustrated lecture
this evening by Fred E. Woodward at
the National Museum. Tho lecture will
be under tho auspices of the Daughters
of tho American Revolution,
It is the Intention of tho committee to
recommend tho preservation of these
stones. In addition to the lecture there
will be short addresses by Mrs. George
T. Smallwood. vice president general
of the D. A R and col. W. W Harts.
superintendent of public buildings and
f rounds,
PICK SCHOO
MID CITY CITIZENS .
OBSERVE BIRTHDAY
Heads of District Government
and Civio Organizations
Congratulate Members.
The heads of tho Dlsttlct govern
ment and presidents nf civic organiza
tions attended 'tho hurfct luncheon to
celebrate tho fifth anniversary of the
Mid-City Citizens' Association last
evening at tho St. Jatnea Hotel, dull
ness was tuboo utid tho members
devoted themselves entirely to enjoy
ing1 themselves.
President Andrew J, Drltcoll presid
ed and Introduced tho uncakcrs. Com
missioner I-ouls V. Browrllow, who mada
tho principal address, after congratu
lating the tmsotiatlon on its contribu
tion to the general Improvement of tho
District and It enterprise, spoke on
the matter of the CommUMincrs
school plans. Ho expressed regret that
there should havo been a mUttnder
standing of tho idea the CommlsMon
era had in mind when they proposed
tho change In the eystem of adminis
tration and announced that while tin
heads of tho District government had
not yet received tho support they felt
their plans deserved, they Intended to
contlnuo their work for the general
public good dcaplto criticism.
Major JRnymond Pullman sno!-:e of
the work of tho Mld-Olty Association as
an inspiration to other organization
nnd to the officials of the Dltttlst
government. He ulsn ipcike at omo
length on the safely flist movement
and the necessity nf all good citizens
giving heed to Its precepts.
President Colladay. of the Federa
tion of Citlrens' Associations, made a
extended plea for the support of tht
central body by tho Mid-city Associa
tion. Corporation Counsel Conrad cyme
also spoke.
A discourse on war byson alleged pro
fessor from Heldelbenr. a number of
interesting: rnvtlcal numbers and ohr
entertainment features were included In
tho program.
defeMTortrade
URGED By FARRELL
President of U. S. Steel Corpo
ration Points Out Need of
Foreign Investment.
NEW ORTvEANS, Jan. 27.-World
trado and finance problems which -will
confront tho United States after the
closo of the European war were dis
cussed today at the opening- session of
tho third National Foreign Trade Con
vention. "
Jam3 A. Farrcll. president of the
United States Steel Corporation, de
clared foreign investment of American
Capital would be a prime necessity to .
meet the keener comnctltion expected In
world, trado after the-war.
Mr. Farrell pointed out that an In
vestment of mora than.- J4,000,00o)dp0 of
British capital in Latin-America,- had
been sent to Latin-America In the' form
of gooda of British manufacture; that
tho interest derived from British for
eign Investments, which total $20,000,
000,000 in value, not only offset tho
United Kingdom's excessive imports
over exports, but retained and strength
ened the Brlt'sh hold on neutral mar
kets throughout the world. He said
British manufactures now are being ex
ported at tho rato of $150,000,000 a month.
Commercial Preparedness.
In conclusion, Mr. Far.-c'.l said:
"Foreign investment is a. commercial
preparedness measure, a source of pro
tection for tho whole industrial fabric
of our country, should th-j world re
cede to political-commercial policies of
irado restrictions. It Is an clement of
strength in our influence aa a natiia
should a wiser instinct realize that
tho true guarantee of tho world's pcaca
Is tho provision of equal opportunity
Alba B. Johnson, president of tho
Baldwin Locomotive Wonts in Phila
delphia, predicted a period of "fever
ish activity in tills country during tho
continuance of the war, and upon its
closo a prostration of the industry and
commerce of all countries." He em
phasized the necessity for a truly na
tional foreign trade policy which would
prepare tho United States for the
keener competition expected to prevail
in world markets. He celled atten
tion to tho possibility of economic, al
liances among those countries whlch
had united their fortune.-i fcr war, and
i.pon the possible adverse effect of
such policies, upon the trado of tho
United States.
Sees Good In Trade Body.
Mr. Johnson said the Fedoral Trado
Commission doubtless would prove of
great benefit to American manufac
turers and exporters. Ho urged tht
creation of a permanent ttrlrf com
mission to enable the United Stated
to adapt itself to tho enanged con
ditions. Edward J. Bcrwind. president of tho
Berwlnd White, Coal Company, discuss
ing investments In 1-atin-Amorica said:
'Tho change in the llnaiklal relations
of tho United Stuted with the European
nations that has taken place within
tho last year would bo conducive to
foreign Investments. American capital
now has the opportunity as naver be
fore to asjume the relation to Latin
America that has been held hcrctoforo
by tho European nations.
"Thero Is probably mora capital avail
able for foreign Investment at the pres
ent timo in the United States than ever
before and thero la ample "opportunity
lor tno uso or money in Latin-AmerJca.
If the Investor and the opportunity ecu
be brought together upon a basis of
confidence and secinity a powerful
stimulus will be given to our foieigij
trade, and an advantage will be vainu4
lor our cummercc that will bo difficult
to disturb.
Foreign Concessions.
Perhaps the most nlluiiug Investment,
and at tho same time tho mopt danger
ous, is tho exploitation of foreign con
cessions of many arietles with which
unscrupulous ptomotcrs appeal to tho
cupidity of unwise or unwary Investors.
Whllo in tho nr.gresatu the amount X
money thus placed at risk is not very
large, tho. effect upon the unfortunate
Investors, and indirectly upon moro
cautious capital, U to create dlstiust
of legitimate and worthy investments
In tho countries to the south of uh.
"The eminently practical form of in
vestment lit rorelgn countries lp the s
tablsihmer.t of branch factories; or dlj
tilbutln depots to cure- directly for tho
trade of tho tributary territory."
Rev. Bauer to Speak.
The Rev. L. L. Bauer Is to deliver
an address tonight in tho Fifteenth
Btreet Christian Church. Ills themn
will he "Paul and Silas In Prison, and
tho Conversion of tho Jailer."