Nebraska Newspapers

    ARBITRATION
TAKES PUCE
Of CONFLICT
Powers Won Over to
Ways of Peace.
TAFT SEES 6REAT PROGRESS
Special Message Discusses
Year's Intercourse With
Other Countries.
REVIEWS MEXICAN CIVIL WAR
2MUC- cl A-e'.ca« Troop* on
Se-ft^em B-.-Set Explained—For
i gr Trace Relation*— Need
Far America* Sfercnar.t
Her me
. -i. a. Ivr T—Preeideat Taft
to*. M*t •« • otters* a rpectal tees
MS - fnt-isti rrUIivas TAe uie.
rtfr WlMi:
c. rrtdk>M cf Ur I'tHdl Slate*
* u :^r.* co litrtee bate continue*:
•* ' • uso j>i»? Iwr.t.- mciitb* upon a
U* <>f 'be u-oa! £ood a ill and
i»j. -f!‘f ft«riTae
Arbitral
. .rr iijh-i u,a-a* .10 un
; ii^il *o»rn«!it on tbe part
*m p* tor Lrotdrr arm: ration, j
la :: r re icxJtioa of tbe manifold
!»&. f.- u aoai.:u4 :a tbe mention of,
tt* poOey tf lit wtUenwat of inter
n* tf p.tr ’ay arbitration rather
t!..* a wax, and Is ir f-ontr to a
a ,<*.. ,.*4 demand for an advance In
t&a tlrrerUag on the part of the pro
p- <t ’.St rafted Stairs and ot Greit
l-'i - * of K'aace. erw art.trillion
ti .'.r» »»re B~80tlat*d last sprit:*
wi'fc Grra' llritain sad Fnnrt, (hr
i< raw Of arfct a a rr designed. as «*>
! rf It -.far profitable of thor
to nirnd tbr scope and obli
fi-msu of ttt poUry of arbitration
sacftKi in tor present treaties with
tfc- • *o»«rate* at*. To pare the way
tor *ia» treaty a lt* the railed State*
« :r»t Mr » ala : p'>uaud an tn portent
»a :a t»» allien. e with Japan.
* ad lit Kr*t* b garerninect also ex
to ed the ar-sjuafloes arlta signal
i.-*od * 'L Ta* new treat!** hare been
» frited U> the senate and are
‘ta adiiee and consent to
ttw.r t*!.:.ii'lo« All the essentials
or ifceee Important treaties bate Ion*
♦»*.« urn. and u m my earnest ;
bm» that ite) * til receive prompt
•fid itrotaMr actwat
CU«a e* A Ison 4, Co. Settled.
I am slid to report that on July l|
r>! the iaertcaB claim of Alsop A
• o acatoat the ibfr.mrst of Chile t
•at Anally a loomed of by the decision j
** u: Hntonalc majesty George V. to!
skua, as amiable compositeur, tbe
matte, bad been referred lor deter-1
irits tr.n llts majesty made sn
*' • «d • .-4r:» SljPitMMA to th“ !
< rt «!.-b vas promptly paid
t :*«*•• iraject of tbla con
»• t.- happily ell mine ini from
•i- etwea tbe republic of]
t tt<e an. 'he t e ed States tbe only
i t * •_. *• or (no deodes bad
T« ■ ‘tn *a sCtci any serl
e < n< ra *:.d makes tosstble tbe
»4 uriepHM of tbe tela
t* * of fr ■tut tip srAfeh It ha* been
ft- . of this Eoverruaent la every'
1 • j •« further and cultivate
A'fcrtration*.
•a - tr a <■- the rrartl
r; ■ i • i-a. ” hi or the
« •: jrUlntio* I Be under
a t. .. 1 -;*■>* of «-ot.rll»a*l«o. I am
fc*’ to . !t-.n to the part ol the
l • • * Stale* la facilitating amicable
t- • — -«ii* < di/pute* < htrt menaced
♦ , r-rr -»» *- n I*r-’»f.Bia and Costa
!• ~ 'utt. pf,a Haiti c.nd the Do
Lirlr^a r<^a.fciW
the date ot their tnuepend
ntr Cdhotahtt ted fo*ta Kira bad
Ue* » rUc( a eolation of a boundary
dial te. natch came aa a herttare
•res. Co!oat)U to the near republic of
HMuir.a m* <U !#fnt.lt; tile a* an.
l»Oepra<f«0* aatiot Although tbe dla
p -tat»» had sot. Ktdd this durst Kin
m d» -.-MA to the prciidect of
frat' .ader the 'era* of an arbitra
tion tnar; the at lhierpre'aiioa
rt :be |ir«ei*i «- ft (be a«ard ren
der ed bad her n - matter ot serious
dtesareemetlt tot* era the two coca
trie ! dh out: »-• "n< lor widely dtf
te». : line* e*rh i- der *he terms ot
•Be ra liectljr and tluce
•*' h twiadary dueatioo had beer
it- * .hjert ol (raiik-n diplomatic ne
■■ betweer the parties. In
Jas .a/s !*»#. at lit request of both
g • ..* • (» 'I .a-sit represent ms
the* :.-<■* < tsle*>:;c* at the depart
»-■ ’ <! at*’*, and subsequently eon
r*hd« . - protocol MibadtUti thlr ton*
pe- •: - r •••< «•<».» t© the arbitral
Ji dgwra ot 'fee fctrf rtlee o! the
I »i-. i»ir« wbe cobse&ted to act
t» u e*|^-r.y. A oouBdary commts
»*er. rtRhg *a the utu-rhatlorc
; %-f be now been appointed,
and ' • s«ac!.’d *hsl 'be arguments
* • S t a rtijr ;.rt» u.~l and that this long
s'» o is do -,'e t. .11 te honorably
ar icoluM
• -**. • to- sx-if. ago It appeared
that the Dominican republic and Halt!
were about to enter upon hostilities
because of complications growing out
of an acrimonious boundary dispute
which the efforts of many years had
failed to solve. The government of
the United States, by a friendly inter
iMisitlon of good offices, succeeded in
prevailing uopn the parties tc place
their reliance upon some form of paci
fic settlement. Accordingly, on the
friendly suggestion of this govern
ment. the two governments empow
ered commissioners to meet at Wash
ington In conference at the state de
partment in order to arrange the
terms of submission to arbitration or
the boundary controversy.
Chamixal Arbitration Not Satisfactory.
Our arbitration of the Chamizal
boundary question with Mexico was
unfortunately abortive, but with the
earnest efforts on the part of both
governments which Its importance
commands, it is felt that an early
practical adjustment should prove pos
•4KL.
Mexico.
The recent political events In Mexi
co received attention from this gov
ernment because of the exceedingly
delicate and difflcult situation created
aiong cur southern border and the ne
cessity for taking measures properly
to safeguard American interests. The
Severnir.i-nt of the United States, in
its dt-iire to secure a proper observ
ance and enforcement of the so-called
neutrality statutes of the federal gov
ernment. issued directions to the ap
propriate officers to exercise a dili
gent and vigilant regard for the re
quirements of uch rules and laws. Al
■ gh a ■.edition of actual armed
conflict existed, there was no official j
recognition o' belligerency involving
the technical neutrality obligations of
international law.
On the Cth of March last. in the ab
sence of the secretary of state. 1 had
a personal interview with Mr Wilson,
the ambassador of the United States
to Mexico, in which he reported to me
that the conditions in Mexico were
much more critical than the press dis
patches disclosed; that President Diag
was on a volcano cf popular uprising;
that the smalt outbreaks which had
occurred were only symptomatic of
the whole condition; that a very large
per cent, of the people were in sym
pathy with the insurrection; that a
general explosion was probable at any
tlme. in which case he feared that the
<40.000 or more American residents in
Mexico might be assailed, and that
the very large American investments
might te injured or destroyed.
After a conference with the secre
tary of war and the secretary of the
nary. I thought it wise to assemble an
army division of full strength at San
Antonio, Tex., a brigade of three regi
ments at Galveston, a brigade of in
fantry in the Los Angeies district of
Southern California, together with a
squadron of hattie.-hips and cruisers |
and transports at Galveston, and a j
smaT squadron of ships at San Diego. ]
At the same time, through our repre- i
tentative at the City of Mexico, I ex- |
pressed to President Diaz the hope ;
that no apprehensions might result '
from unfounded conjectures as to |
these military maneuvers, and as
sured him that they had no signifi :
oance which should cause concern to ,
his government.
The mobilization was effected with j
great promptness, and ou the loth of .
March, through the secretary of war j
and the secretary of the navy, in a let- |
ter addressed to the chief of staff. 1 j
issued the following instructions:
"It seems my duty as commander !
in chief to place troops in sufficient I
number where, if Congress shall di
rect that they enter Mexico to save
American lives and property, an ef
fective movement may *>e promptly ;
made Meantime, the movement of the
rrcopr to TexaB and elsewhere near
the boundary, accompanied with sin
cere assurances of the utmost good
will toward the present Mexican gov
ernment aid with larger and more
frequent patrols along the border to
prevent insurrectionary expeditions
from American soil, will hold up the
hands of the existing government anil j
will have a healthy moral effect to pre |
vent attacks upon Americans and !
th«ir property In any subsequent ger !
end internecine strife. Again, the !
sudd<-n mobilization of a division of j
troops has been a great test of our j
armv and full of useful instruction,
white the maneuvers that are thus j
made i-.ssible an occupy the troops !
rr.d their officers to great advantage.
"The assumption by the press that
1 contemplate Intervention on Mexican
soil to protect American lives or prop
erty is of course gratuitous, because I
seriously doubt whether I have such
authority under any circumstances,
.ind If 1 had I would not exercise -it
without express congressional ap
proval. My determined purpose, how
ever. it to be in a position so that
when danger »o American lives and
property in Mexico threatens and the
existing government is rendered help
less by the insurrection, I can prompt
ly execute congressional orders to
protect them, with effect.
"Meantime. I send you tills letter,
through the secretary, to call your
attention to some things in connection
with the pr< -ence of the division in
•he southwest which have doubtless
-centred to you. but which [ wish to
I emphasize.
“In the fit st p'ace. I went to make
the mobilization a first-class training
for the army, and ! wish you would
give yo.:r time and that of ihe war
; c d'.cge to advising and carrying out
| u.zncuvers of a useful character, and
’ plan to continue to do this during the
uex. ’hree months. By that time we
:rsy expeit that either. Ambassador
Wilson's tears will have been realized
and chao3 and Its consequences have
, nsued. or that the present govern
i .:,eut ot Mexico will have so read
Justed matters as to secure tranquillity
.—a result devoutly to be wished. The
troops can then be returned to their
posts.
‘"Second. Texas Is a state ordinarily
peaceful, but you can not put 20,000
troops Into It without running some
risk- of a collision between the peo
ple of the state, and especially the
Mexicans who live in Texas near the
border and who sympathize with the
insurrectos, and the federal soldiers.
Tor that reason I beg you to be as
careful as you can to prevent friction
of any kind.
“Third. One of the great troubles
in the concentration of troops Is the
danger of disease, and I suppose that
you have adopted the most modern
methods for the preventing and. If
necessary, for stamping out epidemics.
That is so much a part of a cam
paign that it hardly seems necessary
tor me lo call attention to it.
“Finally, l wish you to examine the
question of the pnirol of the border
and put as many troops on that work
as is practicable, and more than are
now engaged In It, in order to prevent
the use of our borderland for the
carrying on of the insurrection. I have
given assurances to the Mexican am
bassador on this point.
'I sincerely hope that this experi
ence will always be remembered by
the army and navy as a useful means
of education, and I should be greatly
disappointed if it resulted in any in
jury or disaster to our forces from any
cause. I have taken a good deal of
responsibility in ordering this mobil
ization, but I am ready to answer for
it if only you and those under you
use the utmost care to avoid the dif
ficulties which 1 have pointed out."
1 am more than happy to here re
cord the fact that all apprehensions
as to the effect of the presence of so
iarge a military force in Texas proved
groundless; no disturbances occurred.
From time to time communications
were received from Ambassador Wil
son, who had returned to Mexico, con
firming the view that the massing of
American troops in the neighborhood
had bad good effect.
The insurrection continued and re
sulted In engagements between the
regular Mexican troops and the insur
gents, and this along the border, so
that in several Instances bullets from
the coclending forces struck American
citizens engaged in their lawful occu
pations on American soil.
Proper protests were made against
these invasions of American rights to
the Mexican authorities.
The presence of a large military
and naval force available for prompt
action, near the Mexican border,
proved to be most fortunate under the
somew hat trying conditions presented
by thi3 invasion of American rights.
Had no movement theretofore taken
place, and because of these events it
had been necessary then to bring
about the mobilization, it must have
had sinister significance. On the
other hand, the presence of the troops
before and at the time of the unfor
tunate killing and wounding of Amer
ican citizens at Douglas, made clear
that tlie restraint exercised by our
government in regard to this occur
rence was not due to a lack of force
or power to deal with it promptly and
aggressively, but was due to a real
desire to use every means possible to
avoid direct intervention in the af
fairs of our neighbor, whose friend
ship we valued and were most anxious
to retain.
The poiiey and action of this gov
ernment were based upon an earnest
friendliness for the Mexican people
as a whole, and it is a matter of
gratification to note that this attitude
of strict impartiality as to all fac
tions in Mexico and of sincere friend
ship for the neighboring nation, with
out regard for party allegiance, has
been generally recognized and has
resulted in an even closer and more
sympathetic understanding between
the two republics and a warmer re
gard one for the other. Action to
suppress violence and restore tran
quility throughout the Mexican repub
lic was of peculiar interest to this
government, in that it concerned the
safeguarding of American life and
property in that country. On May 25,
1911, President Diaz resigned. Senor
de !a Barra was chosen provisional
president. Elections for president
and vice-president were thereafter
held throughout the republic, and
Senor Francisco I. Madero was for
mally declared elected on October 15
to the chief magistracy. On Novem
ber r> President Madero entered upon
the duties of his office.
Honduras and Nicaragua Treaties
Proposed.
As to the situation in Central
America, 1 have taken occasion in the
past to emphasize mo3t strongly the
importance that should be attributed
to the consummation of the conven
tions between the Republics of Nica
ragua and of Honduras and this
country, and I again earnestly recom
mend that the necessary advice and
consent of the senate be accorded to
these treaties, which will make it pos
sible for these Central American re
publics to enter upon an era of genu
ine economic national development.
Our relations with the Republic of
Panama, peculiarly important, due to
mutual obligations and the vast in
terests created by the canal, have
continued in the usual friendly man
ner, and we have been glad to make
appropriate expression of our atti
tude of sympathetic interest in the
endeavors of our neighbor in undertak
ing the development of the rich re
sources of the country.
The Chinese Loans.
The past year has been marked in
our relations with China by the con
clusion of two important internation
al loans, one for the construction of
the Hukuang railways, the other for
the carrying out of the currency re
form to -which China was pledged by
treaties with the United States, Great
Britain, and Japan, of which men
tion was made in my last annual mes
sage.
Knowing the interest of the United
States in the reform of Chinese cur
rency, the Chinese government, in
the autumn of 1910, sought the assist
ance of the American government to
procure funds with which to accom
plish that all-important reform. In
the course of the subsequent negotia
tions there was combined with the
proposed currency loan one for cer
tain industrial developments in Man
churia, the two loans aggregating the
sum of >50,000,000. While this was
originally to be solely an American
enterprise, the American government,
consistently with Its desire to secure
a sympathetic and practical co-opera
tion of the great powers toward main
taining the principle of equality of
opportunity and the administrative in
tegrity of China, urged the Chinese
government to admit to participation
In the currency loan the associates
of the American group in the Hu
kuang loan. While of immense im
portance in Itself, the reform con
templated in making this loan Is but
preliminary to other and more com
prehensive fiscal reforms which will
be of incalculable benefit to China and
foreign interests alike, since they will
strengthen the Chinese empire and
promote the rapid development of in
ternational trade.
When these negotiations were be
gun, it was understood that a financial
adviser was to be employed by China
in connection with the reform, and in
order that absolute equality in all
respects among the lending nations
might be scrupulously observed, the
American government proposed the
nomination of a neutral adviser, which
was agreed to by China and the other
governments concerned. On Septem
ber 28. 1911, Doctor Vissering, presi
dent of the Dutch Java bank and a
financier of wide experience in the
Orient, was recommended to the Chi
nese government for the post of mone
tary adviser.
Especially important at the present,
when the ancient Chinese empire is
shaken by civil war incidental to its
awakening to the many influences and
activity of modernization, are the co
operative policy of good understanding
which has been fostered by the inter
national projects referred to above
and the general sympathy of view
among all the powers interested in the
far east.
New Japanese Treaty.
The treaty of commerce and naviga
tion between the United States and
Japan, signed in 1S94. would by a
strict interpretation of its provisions
have terminated on July 17, 1912. Jap
an’s general treaties with the other
powers, however, terminated in 1911.
and the Japanese government ex
pressed an earnest desire to conduct
the negotiations for a new treaty with
the United States simultaneously with
its negotiations with the other pow
ers. There were a number of impor
tant questions involved in the
treaty, including the immigration of
laborers, revision of the customs tar
iff and the right of Americans to hold
real estate in Japan. The United
States consented to waive all techni
calities and to enter at once upon ne
gotiations for a new treaty on the un
derstanding that there should be a
continuance throughout the life of the
treaty of the same effective measures
for the restriction of immigration of
laborers to American territory which
had been In operation with entire sat
isfaction to both governments since
1908. The Japanese government ac
cepted this basis of negotiation, and
a new treaty was quickly concluded,
resulting in a highly satisfactory set
tlement of the other questions re
I ferred to.
A satisfactory adjustment has also
ben effected of the question growing
out of the annexation of Korea by
Japan.
Europe and the Near East.
In Europe and the near east, during
j the past twelve-month, there has been
I at times considerable political unrest.
The Moroccan question, which for
some months was the cause of great
anxiety, happily appears to have
reached a stage at which It need no
longer be regarded with concern. The
Ottoman empire was occupied for a
period by strife in Albania and is now
at war with Italy. In Greece and the
Balkan countries the disquieting po
tentialities of this situation have been
more or less felt. Persia has been the
scene of a long internal struggle.
These conditions have been the cause
of uneasiness in European diplomacy,
but thus far without direct political
concern to the United States.
In the war which unhappily exists
between Italy and Turkey this gov
ernment has no direct political inter
est, and I took occasion at the suita
ble time to issue a proclamation of
neutrality in that conflict. At the
same time all necessary steps have
been taken to safeguard the personal
interests of American citizens and or
ganizations in so far as affected by the
war.
Ia spite of the attendant economic
uncertainties and detriments to com
merce. the United States has gained
markedly In its commercial standing
with certain of the nations of the
near east. Turkey, especially, is be
ginning to come into closer relations
with the United States through the
new interest of American manufactur
ers and exporters in the possibilities
of those regions, and it is hoped that
foundations are being laid for a large
and mutually beneficial exchange of
commodities between the two coun
tries.
International Conventions and Confer
cnees.
The supplementary protocol to The
Hague convention for the establish
ment of an international prize court,
mentioned in my last annual message,
embodying stipulations providing for
an alternative procedure which would
remove the constitutional objection to
that part of The Hague convention
which provides that there may be an
appeal to the proposed court from the
decisions of national courts, has re
ceived the signature of the govern
ments parties to the original conven
tion and has been ratified by the gov
ernment of the United States, together
with the prize court convention.
The deposit of the ratifications with
the government of the Netherlands
awaits action by the powers on the
declaration, signed at London on Feb
ruary 2C, 1909, of the rules of interna
tional law to be recognized within the
meaning of article seven of The Hague
convention for the establishment of an
international prize court.
Fur-Seal Treaty.
The fur-seal controversy, which for
nearly twenty-five years has been the
source of serious friction between the
United Staies and the powers border
ing upon the north Pacific ocean,
whose subjects have been permitted to
engage in pelagic sealing against the
fur-seal herds having their breeding
grounds within the jurisdiction of the
United States, has at last been satis
factorily adjusted by the conclusion of
the North Pacific sealing convention
entered into between the United
States, Great Britain, Japan and Rus
sia on the seventh of July last. This
convention is a conservation measure
of very great importance, and if it is
carried out in the spirit of reciprocal
concession and advantage upon which
it is based, there is every reason to be
lieve that not only will It result In pre
serving the fur-seal herds of the north
Pacific ocean and restoring them to
their former value for the purposes of
commerce, but also that it will afford
a permanently satisfactory settlement
of a question the only other solution
of which seemed to be the total de
struction of the fur seals. In another
aspect, also, this convention is of im
portance in that it furnishes an illus
tration of the feasibility of securing a
general international game law for the
protection of other mammals of the
sea, the preservation of which is of
importance to all the nations of the
world.
The attention of congress is especil
iy called to the necessity for legisla
tion on the part of the United States
for the purpose of fulfilling the obliga
tions assumed under this convention,
to which the senate gave its advice
and consent on the twenty-fourth day
of July last.
International Opium Csmm'ssion.
In a special message transmitted to
the congress on the seventh of Janu
ary, 1911, in which 1 concurred in the
recommendations made by the secre
tary of state in regard to certain need
ful legislation for the control of our
interstate and foreign traffic in opium
and other menacing drugs, I quoted
from my annual message of Decem
ber 7. 1909, in which I announced that
the results of the International Opium
commission held at Shanghai in Feb
ruary, 1909. at the invitation of the
United States, had been laid before
this government; that the report of
that commission showed that China
was making remarkable progress and
admirable efforts toward the eradica
tion of the opium evil; that the inter
ested governments had not permitted
their commercial interests to prevent
their co-operation in this reform; and.
as a result of collateral investigations
of the opium question in this country,
I recommended that the manufacture,
sale and use of opium in the United
States should be more rigorously con
trolled by legislation.
Prior to that time and In continua
tion of the policy of this government
to secure the co-operation of the inter
ested nations, the United States pro
posed an international opium confer
ence with full powers for the purpose
of clothing with the force of interna
tional law the resolutions adopted by
the above-mentioned commission, to
gether with their essential corollaries.
The other powers concerned cordially
responded to the proposal of this gov
ernment, and, I am glad to be able to
announce, representatives of all the
powers assembled In conference at
The Hague on the first of this month.
Since the passage of the opium-ex
clusion act, more than twenty states
have been animated to modify their
pharmacy laws and bring them in ac
cord with the spirit of that act. thus
stamping out, to a measure, the in
trastate traffic In opium ami other
habit-forming drugs. But. although 1
have urged on the congress the pass
age of certain measures for federal
control of the Interstate and foreign
traffic in these drugs, no action has
yet been taken. In view of the fact
that there is now sitting at The Hague
so important a conference, which has
under review the municipal law3 of
the different nations for the mitigation
of their opium and other allied evils, a
conference which will certainly deal
with the international aspects of these
evils. It seems to me most essential
that the congress should take lmmedi- j
ate action on the anti-narcotic legisla- |
tion to which I have already called at- j
tenticn by a special message
Foreign Trade Relations of the United
States.
In my last annual message I re
ferred to the tariff negotiations of the
department of state with foreign coun
tries in connection with the applica
tion, by a series of proclamations, of
the minimum tariff of the United
States to Importations from the sev
eral countries, and I stated that, in its
general operation, section 2 of the
new tariff law had proved a guaranty
oi continued commercial peace, al
though there were, unfortunately, in
stances where foreign governments
dealt arbitrarily with American inter
ests within their Jurisdiction in a
manner injurious and inequitable
During the past year some instances
of discriminatory treatment have been
removed, but I regret to say that there
remain a few cases of differential
treatment adverse to the commerce of
the United States. While none of
these instances now appears to amount
to undue discrimination in the sense
of section 2 of the tariff law of August
5, 1909, they are all exceptions to that
complete degree of equality of tariff
treatment that the department of state
has consistently sought to obtain for
American commerce abroad.
While the double tariff feature of
the tariff law of 1909 has been amply
justified by the results achieved in re
moving former and preventing new,
undue discriminations against Ameri
can commerce, It is believed that the
time has come for the amendment of
this feature of the law in such way as
to provide a graduated means of meet
ing varying degrees of discriminatory
treatment of American commerce in
foreign countries as well as to pro
tect the financial interests abroad of
American citizens against arbitrary
and injurious treatment on the part of
foreign governments through either
legislative or administrative measures.
it would also seem desirable that
the maximum tariff of the United
States should embrace within its pur
view the free list, which is not the
case at the present time, in order that
it might have reasonable significance
to the governments of those countries
from which the Importations into the
j United States are confined virtually to
articles on the free list.
The fiscal year ended June 30, 1911,
shows great progress in the develop
ment of American trade. It was note
worthy as marking the highest record
of exports of American products to
foreign countries, the valuation being
in excess of $2,000,000,000. These ex
ports showed a gain over the preced
ing year of more than $300,000,000.
There is widespread appreciation ex
pressed by the business interests of
the country as regards the practical
value of the facilities now offered by
the department of state and the de
partment of commerce and labor for
the furtherance of American com
merce.
Crying Need for American Merchant
Marine.
I need hardly reiterate the convic
tion that there should speedily be
built up an American merchant ma
rine. This is necessary to assure fa
vorable transportation facilities to our
great ocean-borne commerce as well
as to supplement the navy with an
adequate reserve of ships and men.
It would have the economic advantage
of keeping at home part of the vast
sums now paid foreign shipping for
carrying American goods. All the
great commercial nations pay heavy
subsidies to their merchant marine, so
that it is obvious that without some
wise aid from the Congress the United
States must lag behind in the matter
of merchant marine in its present
anomalous position.
Legislation to facilitate the exten
sion of American banks to foreign
countries is another matter in which
our foreign trade needs assistance.
Improvement of the Foreign Service.
The entire foreign-service organiza
tion is being improved and developed
with especial regard to the require
ments of the commercial interests of
the country. The rapid growth of our
foreign trade makes it of the utmost
importance that governmental agen
cies through which that trade is to be
aided and protected should possess a
high degree of efficiency. Not only
should the foreign representatives be
maintained upon a generous scale in
so far as salaries and establishments
are concerned, but the selection and
advancement of officers should be defi
nitely and permanently regulated by
law. so that the service shall not fail
to attract men of high character and
ability. The experience of the past
few years with a partial application of
civil service rules to the diplomatic
and consular service leaves no doubt
in my mind of tbe wisdom of a wider
and more permanent extension of
those principles to both branches or
the foreign service. The men selected
for appointment by means of the ex
isting executive regulations have been
of a far higher average of intelligence
and ability than the men appointed
before the regulations were promul
gated.
I tnereiore again commend 10 me
favorable action of the congress the
enactment of a lair applying to the
diplomatic and consular service the
principles embodied in section 1753
of the Revised Statutes of the United
States, in the civil service act of Jan
uary 16. 1SS3. and the executive orders
of June 27, 1906. and of November 26,
1S09. In its consideration of this im
portant subject I desire to recall to
the attention cf the congress the vary
favorable report made on the Lowden
bill for the improvement of the foreign
service by the foreign affairs commit
tee of the house of representatives.
Available statistics show the strict
ness with which the merit system has
been applied to the foreign service
during recent years and the absolute
non-partisan selection of consuls and
diplomatic service secretaries who in
deed far from being selected with any
view to political consideration have
actually been chosen to a dispropor
tionate extent from states which would
have been unrepresented in the for
eign service under the system which
it is to be hoped is now permanently
obsolete. Some legislation for the per
petuation of the present system of ex
aminations and promotions upon mer
it and efficiency would be of greatest ]
value to our commercial and interna- ‘
uonal interests. i
WM H. TAFT.
• «« t*-e Choir Loft,
ft <«*» »• *k rrr tor you. dw.* *fel»
t>n« : t«* to • fr*r« of joy ia tier
♦«*!■ '»t ea y»cr »o»~* brufce co that
|:r
T« sBtvrrrd the so
pr»to
;»« * ..cays it >* tb* fttji'T* and
mi !ts* rtlWftt * bo fcawt
t<. • i L«vt la tbe rorr.t-r and speak
et» » «rfe«* iis#y »r« •pok’*» to —Ki
*•£«»
Optimistic.
"Are you one of the people who
think this is going to be a bard win
ter?"
“No One of the ladies to whom I
have been paying alimony has got
married again "
Ennobling.
(liven a fine pedigree, small feet and
plenty of good clothes, almost any
woman feels qualified to speak with
condescension concerning the lower
classes.
One Thing Intervened.
"I Bay. old btjy. lend me an X.”
"Would IT I could, dear chap, but
there's an algebraic difficulty in the
way.”
"What is itr
“An X with me Is an unknown quan
tity."—Pathfinder.
Might Better Wait
Many a woman has made the terri
ble mistake of marrying merely to
show the public that she had the
chance—Chicago Record-Herald.
So Unusual.
"Hon. Hiram Digger is an orator ot
rare repression ”
“In what particular?”
"He used the substantiate 'con
fidence.' In one ot his speeches the
other day. and did not quality It with
the adjective 'implicit' “
Up to Oats.
Showman—"Walk in. ladles and
gentlemen, and see the Aztec giants,
descendants of a long-extinct race!”—
Meggendorfcr Blaetter. j
“And a Fool There Was.”
“Who was that fool you bowed tor
“My husband."
“Oh. ]—er— l humbly apologise."
“Never mind. I’m not angry. But
what a keen observer you are!”—
Judge.
A Better Chance.
“I see you have quit the beanery for
a swell restaurant."
“Only temporarily. They have a bet
ter line of winter coats, in case I can
pick one up by mistake."
More Accurate.
“Elinor and Mary had quite a squab
ble last night over Venice, and Mary
proved she was right."
“But Elinor has seen Venice.”
"And Mary has seen it twenty
times— in moving pictures."
His Specialty.
Agricultural Editor—Do you think
your farmer friend could pen a stray
farm article now and then?
Practical Subscriber—Yep, if the ar
tide's pigs, he kia.
Hood’s
Sarsaparilla
Cures all blood humors, all
eruptions, clears the complex
ion, creates an appetite, aids
digestion, relieves that tired
feeling, gives vigor and vim.
Get it today in usual liquid form or
chocolated tablets called Sarsatabs.
BOY CARRIED OFF HONORS
inquisitive Person Probably Still Is
Looking for Information That
He Didn’t Get.
Every one who has lived in a small
town knows the type of person gener
ally detested there for his inquisitive
habits. That even children delight in
thwarting the purposes of such a per
son is shown by an incident related by
a New Englander.
A woman In a New England town
wished a friend to share her cider
Vinegar and sent her nine-year-old son
to deliver it. He returned quickly, his
face wearing a satisfied smile.
“Mrs. Brown was much obliged, raa,
but I met Mr. Parker just after I got
there. He said. Hullo, sonny! I won
der if you’ve got molasses in that jug?’
' and I said 'No, sir.’ He said. “Got
| vinegar?’ and I told him ‘No. sir.’
“At last he said. ‘Well, that’s a jug
i in your hand, ain't it?’ and I put my
! jug on the ground and said, ‘No. sir.’ ’’
BOTANICAL BADINAGE.
She—Ah, dearest one, when you
! are gone I shall pine away.
He—Tut! tut! Spruce up.
Fellows in Distress.
An efficient woman principal of a
Xew York grammar school, though
devoid of good looks and bearing ihe
marks of long service in her profes
sion. still retains the charm of a de
lightful frankness. One day while
watching the pupils pass out of her
building two by two. as usual, she no
ticed one boy marching alone, with
his arm to his eyes, sobbing tumultu
ously. In answer to her solicitous in
quiry as she drew him from the line.
J the little fellow wailed: “I—1 haven't
! g-got no pardner!"
j The principal extended a prompt
I and sympathetic hand. “Shake, dear
boy. shake!” she invited. “I haven't,
either.”
Precise.
The proofreader on a small niiddle
; western daily was a woman of great
precision and extreme propriety. One
day a reporter succeeded in getting
1 into type an item about “Willie Brown,
the boy who was burned in the West
\ end by a live wire.”
On the following day the reporter
found on his desk a frigid note ask
j ing. “Which is the west end of a
j hoy 7’
It took only an instant to reply—
i “The end the son sees on, of course.”
—Ladles’ Home Journal.
Measure of His Intelligence.
Fido's Mistress (sobbing)—I've lost
my dog; my sweet little innocent
pet!
Friend—I’m so sorry. Have you
put an advertisement in the newspa:
per?
Fido’s Mistress—Oh, what would he
the use? The poor darling doesn’t
know how to read.—Woman's Home
Companion.
We are apt to speak of a inan as
being lucky when he has succeeded
where we have failed.
The only female in the world who
has no kick coming is the mermaid.
-V
Bxie Memory
r: . - T J>-'1
ersJ
because
‘v'f
says