The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-04-23

WASHINGTON, April 22.-Three
hundred distinguished looking men sat
in Metzerott's hotel this afternoon for a
for international arbitration which has
been supported by many religious and
secular organiza tons since the Vene-
zuela boundary dispute first inspired
talk of war with Great Britain and the
United States.
There were several prominent pub
licists and business men conspicuous in
the proceedings, but the rank and file
of the delegates-who number some 300
and came from most of the states and
territories-were educators and clergy
men.
There was notable absence of gov
eminent officials. for although invita-
lions had been extended to the presi-
dent, his cabinet, the supreme court,
all members of both houses of congress
any many others of the political circle,
and though the cooperation of many
of these dignitaries had been counted
upon, not one of them put in an ap-
pearance at the afternoon meeting.
THE PROCEEDINGS
of the first session were entirely har-
monious; the speeches dealt in gen
eralities upon the beneficience of arbi-
tration. No utterances were made
which might tend to embarrass the
administration in the conduct OF pend
ing diplomatic negotiations with Eng
land or Spain. Before the meeting,
Secretary Olney was visited by a COM
mittee who outlined the plans for the
conference, and submitted for his ap-
proval the resolutions which will be
presented to the conference tomorrow
The secretary of state found nothing
to criticise in the resolutions and eX-
pressed sympathy with the objects of
the meeting. Although no references
were made to present International
questions, the whole tenor of the
speeches was toward an agreement for
arbitra ton between the two English
speaking nations.
Mr.. Gardiner /G. Hubbard of Wash
irgton called the conference to order
and his introduction of the temporary
chairman, ex-Secretary of State
JOHN w. FOSTER,
as 1.-THE Arbitrator between China and
JAPAN" evoked applause.
After a few words of welcome in be-
half of the local committee and the
municipal authorities of Washington,
Mr. Foster said:
II cannot refrain from expressing
my pride at the record which our cause
has made in the past half century of
unbroken peace, with all the nations
of the earth, and of a steady adherence
to the settlement Of the International
differences by the pacific method of
arbftration-a record almost without
parallel among the nations of the earth.
You have not, therefore, assembled to
recommend to our government any new
departure in its policy on this subject,
but rather to
STRENGTHEN AND CONFIRM 1T
in the policy so long and so consist
emily followed.
Compulsory arbitration between ma
tons presents problems and difficulties
not easy of solution, and it will be a
great gain to the general cause if out
of your deliberations plan shall be
evolved which will meet the objections
and solve the difficulties. It seems a
utopian idea to anticipate a general
disarmament of nations in our genera
ton, and until barbarism and the
spirit of conquest and oppression shall
be banished from the earth, govern
ments will be forced to maintain arm
les and navies. But certainly among
people who profess to be governed by
the principles of common Christianity,
and especially between nations kin
bred in lineage, language and institu-
tions, a better method of adjusting the
differences which must arise between
them must be found than by the
BLOODY ARBTTRAMENT OF WAR.
Next Judge DAILY, for the committee on
permanent organization, reported the
selection of the following officers: Presi-
dent, Hon. George F. Edmunds; also a
list of vice-presidents representing every
state in the union, and including the
following: Colorado, N. R.Hill Califor-
mia, John T. Valentine; Montana, G. w.
H. Dewitt; Nevada, j. w. Adams; Ore
gon, D. S. K. Ruick; Utah. George Q.
Cannon; Washington, Governor John H.
McGraw: Wyoming, Governor w. A.
Richards.
Mr. Edmunds was escorted to the plat
form and in graceful speech, he said:
This aSsemblage, representing the
largest civilized homogeneous body of men
and women on the globe, is extraordin-
airy. The United States is among the
strongest nations of the world. 1t has
the least reason of any great nation, in
a. mere selfish sense to wish for arbitra-
ton. 1t is strong enough, in any but
the most absurd cause, to defend itself,
to promote its policies and to carry on
war, but it's very strength impels it to be
backward" 1t
WAS A PITIFUL THOUGHT
he said, that in this time of peace, over
nearly all the world, more than mil
lion men capable of taking part in the
progress of civilization were kept under
arms and billion dollars diverted to
their support That time must come
when the armies of the world, like that
of the United States would be mere
police body. The force of public opinion
must be as constant as the law of gray
itation for solving the difficult problem
of ending war. The time would comes
when armies, for aggressive purposes,
would be dissolved. and the angel of
peace would blow her trumpet over all
the world.
A letter from Chief Justice Fuller was
read, conveying the regret that his