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The Commoner.
FEBRUARY 2, 1906
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hospitality of tlio Japanese? I have read, and
even heard, that among the more ignorant classes
thece is a decided anti-foreign feeling, and it is
not unnatural that those who refuse to reconcile
themselves to Japan's new attitude should blamo
the foreigner for the change, .but we did not en
counter this sentiment anywhere. Never in our
own country have we been the recipients of more
constant kindness or more considerate attention.
From Marquis Ito down through all the ranks of
official life we found everyone friendly to America,
and to us as representatives of America. At the
dinner given by Minister Griscom there wore pres
ent, besides Marquis Ito, the leader of the liberal
party, Count Okuma, the leader of the progressive
party (the opposition party), and a number of
other prominent Japanese politicians.
At the dinner given by Consul General Miller
at Yokohama, Governor Sufu and Mayor Ichihara
were present. The state and city officials wher
ever we have been have done everything possible
to make our stay pleasant. The college and school
authorities have opened their institutions to us
and many without official position have in un
mistakable ways shown themselves friendly. We
will carry away with us a number of handsome
presents bestowed by municipalities, colleges, so
cieties and individuals.
We were entertained by Count Okuma soon
after our arrival and met there, among others,
Mr. Kato, of the state department, and President
Hatoyania, of the Waseda University, and their
wives. The count's house is half European and
half Japanese, and his garden is celebrated for
it3 beauty. At Viscount Kano's we saw a delight
ful bit of home life. He is one of the few daimios,
or feudal lords, who has become conspicuous in
the politics of Japan, and we soon discovered
the secret of his success. He has devoted him
self to the interests of agriculture and spent his
time in an earnest and intelligent effort to im
prove the condition of the rural population. He
is known as "The Farmer's Friend." His house
is at the top of a beautifully terraced hill, which
was once a part of his feudal estate. He and
his wife and six children met us at the bottom
of the hill on our arrival and escorted us to
the bottom on our departure. The children as
sisted in serving the dinner and afterward sang
for us the American national air as well as their
own national hymn. The hospitality was so gen
uine and so heartily entered into by all the family
that we could hardly realize that we were in a
foreign land and entertained by hosts to whom
we had to speak through an interpreter.
In the country, fifteen miles from Kogoshima,
I was a guest at the home of Mr. Yamashita, the
father of the young man, who, when a student in
America, made his home with us for more than,
five years. Mr. Yamashita was of the Samuari
class and since the abolition of feudalism has
been engaged in farming. He had invited his
relatives and also the postmaster and the prin
cipal of the district school to the noon "meal.
He could not, have been more thoughtful of my
comfort or more kindly in his manner. The little
country school which stood near by turned out
to bid us welcome. The children were massed
at a bridge over which large flags of the two
nations floated from bamboo poles. Each child
also held a flagj the Japanese and American flags
alternating. As young Yamashita and I rode be
tween the lines they waved their flags and shout
ed "Banzai." And so it was at other schools.
Older people may be diplomatic and feign good
will, but children speak from their hearts. There
is no mistaking their meaning, and in my memory
the echo of the voices of the children mingling
with the assurances of the men and women con
vinces me that Japan entertains nothing but good
will toward our nation. Steam has narrowed the
Pacific and made us neighbors; let Justice keep
us friends.
Copyright.
JJJ
WHAT ABOUT JOHN D.?
Is it significant that with all the noise con
cerning the efforts of Missouri's attorney gen
eral to obtain the truth concerning Standard Oil
methods, service has not been obtained upon John
D. Rockefeller? It is true that Mr. Hadley has
Tendered service to the people in his catechism
"of Henry H. Rogers and in some of the facts al
ready produced. But the things so far learned
during this investigation are mere hints com
pared with what John D. Rockefeller could tell
and what he might be forced to tell if pursued
"by a relentless examiner.
' We are told that Mr. Rockefeller is in hiding
and that representatives of Missouri .authorities
are unable to reach the fastnesses .where he is
concealed. Our police officials pride themselves
on their ability to invade the hiding places of the
burglar in the metropolis and of the highwaymen
in the mountainous sections; yet In such Instances
as these the officers are resisted by armed forco
and they take their lives In their hands whon
they undortako the hunt. Is it possible that in
this land the representatives of the law are not
able to serve a subpoena upon the richest man in
all the world? Is it possible that with all of our
legal machinery wo are unablo to reach with a
simplo writ a man whose boast it is that within
recent years he has given $16,399,922 for a
university in the city of Chicago, and yet who
at the very time that boast is given its widest
publicity is fleeing from the officers of the law?
John D. Rockefeller knows more about Stand
ard Oil methods than any other man, and per
haps more than all of the other men associated
with his great trust. He should be required to
take the witness stand. Let us see whether as
a witness, sworn to toll the truth, he Will follow
the rule laid down by his more or less distln
. .guished son who recently said: "I believe that
it is better for the doctor to sacrifice a human
life than to tell a lie which would save it."
JJJ
' A NAUSEOUS MESS
, The trial of Norman Hapgood, editor of Col
lier's Weekly, on a charge of criminal libel pre
ferred by Justice Deuel, has developed into an
investigation that reveals a very nasty mess.
Justice Deuel, a member of the New York bench
is a stockholder in "Town Topics," an alleged
society paper in New York, of which Colonel
Mann is editor. The testimony so far brought
out, while it may prove the bravery of Justice
Deuel in instituting the case, certainly does no
credit to his discretion, for the revelations are
sufficient to show clearly the long and systematic
course of blackmail pursued by the publishers
and editors of that publication. So strong was
the evidence that Editor Hapgood was promptly
acquitted.
That the wealthy society men and the
financiers of New York should for years tame
ly submit to being "held up" very clearly
shows a sad state of morals In the exclu
sive circles of Gotham. It seems that "Town
Topics" did not profit from what it printed, but
from what it suppressed, and the payment of
round sums by prominent financiers and society
leaders to escape being pilloried in that scandal
mongering sheet must be taken as evidence that
they were unwilling to have a great many of their
doings made the subject of public discussion.
The public will readily recall the stinging
commentaries made by Colonel Henry Watterson
on "The 400," but in the light of the revelations
made since the Hapgood libel suit began it must
be admitted that Colonel Watterson, despite the
fact that he wields a trenchant pen, fell far short
of the real facts. The whole is a shocking com
mentary on the social conditions existing in the
American metropolis. That such a publication as
"Town Topics" could have pursued Its blackmail
ing tactics through a long series of years with
out being brought to book by some one of its
many victims, seems almost impossible.
But the revelations in this particular case
are in line with the revelations in the great in
surance cases. It is added evidence of the fact
that something radical must be done to clear
the social and financial atmosphere if the country
is not to be polluted beyond redemption. Collier's
Weekly has performed a distinct favor to the pub
lic and to reputable newspapers by exposing the
disreputable methods of "Town Topics" and call
ing public attention to another phase of the social
and financial conditions now existing in Gotham.
JJJ
MR. ROOSEVELT AND DEMOCRATS
A democratic publication printed in Illinois
warns democrats and democratic editors against
"the habit of giving utterance to fulsome com
mendation of the policies and acts of President
Roosevelt and his administration." That publica
tion says "Mr. Roosevelt was elected as a repub
lican and if he ever shows a leaning toward demo
cratic policies it is because he finds it convenient
to adopt them temporarily for republican pur
poses." It adds:
"As president of the United States Mr.
Roosevelt is entitled to fair treatment, but
every democrat should remember that in giv
ing way to sentimental utterances of the'presi
ddnt's policies he is laying the snare that .will
compel an inglorious backdbwn or .taking back
of utterances and he Is violating his duty to
his own party."
. "Fulsome commendation" should not be i in
dulged in with respect to Mr. Roosevelt's policies
or those, of any other man. But so far as we
have observed democrats have followed Mr. Roose-
velt only as Mr. Roosevelt has followed democ
racy. Whatover Mr. Roosevelt may do democrats
generally will have nothing to retract unless it
bo the expression of confidence in Mr. Roosevelt,
which expression was given under the impression
that ho meant what ho said.
Even though thero may bo "an inglorious
backdown" on Mr. Roosevelt's part, thero Will bo
none on the part of democrats who have rushed
to his support when ho has declared In favor of
some reform along democratic lines.
Democrats who have given Mr. Roosevelt en
couragement when ho has declared himself In
favor of reforms for which democrats have all
along contended have not violated their duty to
their own party. Thoy have discharged their
duty as citizens and as democrats, and they have
shown that they are more interested in obtain
ing "the greatest good to tho greatest number"
than they are in 'tho triumph of any particular
party or Individual.
The day has gone by whon a party may bo
strengthened by tho refusal of its members to
support their principles .simply because those prin
ciples are advocated by men of an opposition
party. Democrats have had the right to take tho
president of the United States at his word, and
in all of his proposed reforms Mr. Roosevelt has
had the consistaut and patriotic support of demo
crats generally. Nothing will arise, nothing can
arise but the demonstration of tho claim that
democratic reforms are unwise which need cause
any democrat who has encouraged Mr. Roose
velt to regret tho position ho has taken.
Even though Mr. Roosevelt does not jwttfy
the confidence which democrats and men generally
have placed in him, thero will be no "Inglorious
backdown" on the part of those good citizens of
all political parties who have encouraged the
president in every instance when ho has peg
claimed the good democratic doctrine that the
corporations are the servants rather than the mas
ters of the people.
JJJ
A NEBRASKAN'S "DISCOVERY"
A republican member of congress, Representa
tive Norris of Nebraska, has, we are told by the
Washington correspondent for the St. Louis Globe
Democrat, discovered "an effective way of induc
ing 'the senate to take cognizance of tho proposi
tion of amending the constitution to secure direct
election of senators." The Globe-Democrat cor
respondent explains:
"Mr. Norris has advanced the proposition
In a new form, and has sugarcoated it in a
fashion that, it is thought, may commend it
to senatorial consideration. Judge Norris
provides for election of the president for eight
years and forbids a second terra. This is
likely to be amended in the house to six
years. The measure also provides a four year
term for ngressmen, which is expected to
help it in the house, while the six year presi
dential term will make it popular with the
public at large, and when it gets to the sen
ate, its friends calculate, it will look go goQd
that that body will find embarrassment in
amending it to strike out the reorganization
. of methods of electing senators."
If Mr. Norris really believes that he has
"sugafcoated" this proposition in a way to cdm
merid it to senatorial consideration he is a very
guilable gentleman. He ought to know that "the
United States senate, as at present constituted,
never "finds embarrassment" in amending any
measure, or destroying any measure, 'which is not
acceptable to the interests which the senate faith
fully serves.
Does any man imagine for a moment that a
measure increasing tho term of the members of
the lower house to four years, increasing the
presidential term to six years, and providing a
plan for the selection of senators which would
make impossible the election of a considerable
number of the incumbents, will "look so good"
that senators will "find embarrassment in amend
ing it to strike out the reorganization of methods
of electing senators."
There isn't a well informed school boy in the
United States who couldn't tell this republican
congressman from Nebraska that he Is either tho
victim of a woefully misplaced confidence or else
has permitted a friendly newspaper to offer in his
name an insult to the intelligence of the people.
JJJ
A "VICTIM"
- .
Lincoln Steffens recently said that he regards
Henry H. Rogers as "a victim of the existing sys
tem of,political corruption, just as clearly a victim
as some. ward healer." Mr; Steffens is usually
clear in :his statements, but it must be confessed
that he should have provided a diagram for this
one.
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