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willingness to consider details. Tho nations, in
tho order in which they havo accepted, are:
Italy, Great Britain, France, Brazil, Sweden,
Norway, Peru, Russia and Japan. To those ex
pressing a willingness to confer in regard to de
tails a tentative statement has been submitted
embodying details suggested by tho president
this statement being submitted for considera
tion, however, with no intention of insisting
upon any particular detail. Tho exact phrase
ology of tho agreements may not bo tho same
In all cases. If tho principle is indorsed tho
government is willing to confer with open mind
11)1 to minor points.
A GROUNDLESS OBJECTION
Judgo Gary, president of the steel trust,, is
reported as saying: "The proposition to assess
the incomes of men who have incomes of more
than $-1,000, and exempting the incomes of
thoso who receive less than $4,000 per annum,
is one of the worst things that has over hap
pend in this country, because it arrays 97 per
cent of tho people against 3 per cent of tho
people."
It is strange that a man intelligent enough
to be president of a great corporation can ignore
tho fact that under present mcthodB the 3 per
cent are arrayed against the 97 per cent and
havo been for years. For a generation the poor
man. has been made to bear more than his share
of the burdens of tho government through taxes
levied upon consumption. Judgo Gary has never
complained of this, but has heartily used his
great influence to keep those taxes up.
Every tax must be paid out of the Income of
tho man who pays it and is, therefore, an income
tax. All those years tho poor have been pay
ing an income tax not only an income tax, but
a graded income tax, (he percentage being
heavier, as a rule, in proportion as tho income
was smaller.
Tho exemption of $4,000 is intended to
equalize taxation and to distribute the burdens
with nearer approach to equity. And yet,
when this attempt is made, it is denounced as
"one of tho worst things that has ever happened
in this country."
Surely, men like Judgo Gary are blind not to
see the justice of tho Income tax, and their
blindness is the more astonishing when, it is
rememberod that they havo not only been escap
ing tho burden that they ought to boar, but
have, many of them, been the recipients of privi
leges and favors which nover ought to have been
granted.
However, Judge Gary's lament will not avail,
and even ho may yet catch the spirit of die
times and join with the increasing number o
tho well-to-do in indorsing tho progressive
measures which are bringing the people into
their own.
A PRIVATE (?) AFFAIR
On another page will bo found an editorial
from tho New York World calling attention to
ft criticism of the Wilson administration from
a railroad president. He is reported as saying:
"Investigation of wages is not the govern
ment's business. Tho question of the relation of
employer to employee is one that must be
settled among themselves."
The railroad president referred to is one who
belongs to a decreasing group of corporation
officials, among whom the idea is still prevalent
that corporations are purely private institutions
except when favors are to be secured. When
they are asking for something, they clamor for
privileges and when they do so, they bring forth
arguments in abundance to establish the public
character of the corporation. But this public
character entirely disappears if tho public be
comes curious enough to inquire into the
methods of the corporation.
Corporations also claim and enjoy the pro
tection of the government, even to the extent
of asking that the army be called to protect
their property; when they are not in absolute
need of the government's services, they resent
any inquiry by tho public into their treatment
of employes.
Most of the corporation heads have come to
understand that no corporate person created by
tho government is greater than the government
Itself, and that the government can no more be
Indifferent to the conduct of the creatures which
It brings into existonce than can the parent be
indifferent to the conduct of his child.
But let us rejoice, that the kind of interview
to which the World calls attention is not so fre
quent now as it used to bo and will disappear
entirely within a generation. In the meantime
tho government, acting through its watchful
The Commoner.
secretary of commerce, Mr, Redfleld, will keep
its eye on the corporations and see to It tn
they do not use coercion to frighten tho public
away from remedial legislation.
PROGRESS TOWARB- PEACE
War is a matter of feeling rather than a
matter of logic. It can not settle anything that
could not be better settled in a better way.
There is no more reason why nations should
fight out their differences on the battlefield than
that individuals should settle their differences
by physical force. If there is such a thing as
a sense of justice, and wo can not doubt it with
out inviting chaos, tho substitution of might
only delays the final settlement, which must
come at last with accumulated interest. As na
tions differ greatly in size and strength, it is
obvious that war can not be relied upon to
establish justice any more than a fight between
two individuals can be relied upon to determine
which is in the right.
Personal altercations havo been decreased in
number by tho establishment of courts and
courts Tiave grown in value as men have learned
to restrain themselves. We are coming to
understand tho truth stated in holy writ, name
ly, "He" that is slow to anger is better than
the mighty, and he who ruleth his spirit than
he that taketh a city." The conquest over the
evil impulse in one's self is the greatest of
conquests.
The growth In the arbitration of disputes
among nations keeps pace with the growth of
courts in influence, and with growing intelli
gence, ' coupled with development of the heart,
the dominant forces in nations, move toward a
peaceful solution of international problems. It
was a step in advance when duelling was sub
stituted for shooting on sight, duelling giving
time for reflection and for friends to intercede,
but even duelling is passing away because phy
sical encounters offend 'the, universal conscience.
The plan recently proposed by President
Wilson contemplates investigation in all cases,
and is a step toward the substitution of reason
for violence, although it leaves each party to act
independently at the conclusion of investiga
tion. It is a long step toward peace because it
gives time for passions to subside and for friends
of peace to intercede. The time will doubtless
como when all questions will be settled peace
ably by means of arbitration, but as that time is
not yet here, we are justified in making use of
the plan providing for investigation of all diffi
culties of whatever character.
The peace movement will move forward, in
all countries, not at a uniform pace, but surely.
The future is on our side; the cause can not fail.
JAPAN IS FOR PEACE
Japan is the ninth nation, to accept the pro
posed peace plan. The following is an Associated
Press dispatch from Washington under date of
June 2:
"Viscount Chinda, the ambassador from
Japan, late today called on Secretary Bryan with
formal notification that Japan had accepted in
principle the proposed plan advanced by the
United States for universal peace.
"Signatories of the treaty proposed in Mr.
Bryan's .plan would agree to refrain from hos
tilities for a period of at least nine months while
any conflicting claims were under consideration
by an international joint commission. In the
case of Japan, as well as the eight other nations
that have received the proposal favorably, the
response applies solely to the general principle
involved, and none has committed itself to ap
proval of any of the details of the project.
Therefore, it may be many months before the
tentative draft of the convention wiH.v tvjt
Bryan submitted to the various embassies and
legations can be reduced to a form which will
receive their unqualified approval.
"The statement by the Japanese ambassador
that his government was prepared to give care
ful and favorable consideration to the peace pro
posal has no bearing whatever upon the negotia
tions now in progress between the two countries
regarding the California alien land legislation
During his call upon Mr. Bryan this afternoon
the ambassador discussed this subject from vari
ous angles for half an hour, but without any
definite developments."
VOLUME 13, NUMBER 2J
CUBA AND THE UNITED STATES
General Menocal, the new president of Pnv
Is an ardent friend of tho United States and
an interview -with a correspondent for the Sni
ton Traveler General Menocal said:
"I shall try to draw closer tho friendly Hpi
which bind our republic to the United StatM
Trade relations will bo- cultivated, and favor
granted to American products in proportion m
our products are received in the northern
market.
"Affairs during my administration will be
conducted in such a manner as to earn the con
fidence and support of the American people, i
shall work earnestly for the development of
Cuba and her resources, and foreign investments
will be welcomed for all legitimate purposes
"Cuba will conduct herself as to merit the
confidence of her northern friends and will
demonstrate beyond question her right to in.
dependence."
President Menocal's kind words find a respon
sive note in the hearts of the people of the
United States From, every section of this great
country of ours come best wishes for Cuba's
prosperity. Good health and long life to the
talented and patriotic man recently inaugurated
president of Cuba. Good fortune to the Cuban
government, and. may it be in fact a government
of, by and for the people of that splendid island,
WIMJAM SULZER
William Sulzer, of New York, is winning
golden opinions .from men of all political
parties for his splendid fight in behalf of direct
primaries in the 'state of New York. During all
of his public career William Sulzer has dis
played keen- sympathy for everything that gave
promise of genuine progress in tho cause of
popular government. It is not possible for a
man in public life to accomplish all ho would
like to accomplish or to move as quickly as
some of his friends would have him move, but
Governor Sulzer has done well and he will do
better for he is, in truth, a man of the people,
and no one will be able to swerve him from
what he really believes to be the proper course
for tho public good.
A STORY OF MRS. WILSON
A pretty story is told by tho Washington
correspondent for the Associated Press in
this way: The sympathy and charity of Mrs.
Woodrow Wilson were demonstrated, it leaked
out recently, by an unannounced and unostenta
tious visit a few days ago by "the first lady of
the land" direct from the White House to the
bedside of a poor boy dying of tuberculosis. Dr.
Corty Grayson, naval surgeon and aide to the
president, who spends spare moments caring for
the sick of the poor, tojd the president's wife or
a particularly distressing case while discussing
the remedy which Dr. F. 'F. Friedman n claims
ho has discovered for the cure of tuberculosis.
Dr. Grayson said he knew the little fellow was
in the last stages of consumption, and thougn
there was little hope he was trying to prolong
his life. Mrs. Wilson was touched. Collecting
a bunch of spring flowers from the garden w
the president, she accompanied Dr. Grayson i
a White House automobile to the home of tne
unfortunate boy in the poor district of the na
tional capital. Neighbors spread the news oi
the visit.
They say that there is a powerful lobby at
T1 v?on ling t0 nrevont the passage of the
tariff bill. Why not compel the lobbyist at
Washington to wear a uniform that will identify
them so that senators and members of the houso
will be ashamed to be seen in company with
A MAN'S BARGAIN
If I cry out for fellowship,
A comrade's voice, a comrade's grip.
A hand to hold me when I slip,
An ear to heed my groan;
Renew that hour's dark ecstasy,
When all Thy waves went over me,
And Thou and I, with none to see,
Were joined in fight alone.
If I demand a sheltered space
Set for me in the battle-place,
Where I at times could turn my face,
A screened and welcome guest;
Decree my soul should henceforth cease
From its wild hankering after peace,
And. rest in that which gives release
From the desire of rest.
If I for final goal should ask,
Some meaning for the long day s tasK,
Some ripened field that yet may Das
Secure from hurricane;
Point jto Thy locust-eaten sheaves,
The burnt-out stars, the still-born leaves,
And. by the toil no hope retrieves,
Nerve me to toil again! -
-.G. M. Hort in London Academy.
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