The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-23
ARBITRATION CONFERENCE.
Gen. j. w. Foster Addresses n Gather
ing of Distinguished Men.

WASHINGTON. April 22.-Three hundred
MISUNDERSTANDING men met in Met
zerott's Hall this afternoon for a confer
ence to promote the propaganda for inter-
national arbitration which has been sup
ported by many religious and secular or
ganizations since the Venezuelan boundary
dispute first inspired talk Of war with
Great Britain and the United States. There
were several prominent publicists and bust
ness men conspicuous in the proceedings.
but the rank and file OF the deiegates-who
numbered some three hundred and came
from most of the States and Territories
were educators and clergymen. There also
was a notable absence Of governmsnt off,
Gals. for. although invitations had been
extended to the President, his Cabinet. the
Supreme Court. all members of both houses
of Congress and many others Of the polit-
ical circle. and though the cooperation of
many of these dignitaries had been counted
upon, not one Of them put In an appearance
at the afternoon meeting. Some OF the we'll
known men seated among the delegates
were Edward Atkinson. of Boston; Pres;-
dent Angel, University OF Michigan, Gen.
Brooke, T.. 8. A.; Bishop Chatard. Indian
apolis; President Eliot. of Harvard; ex-
Commissioner of Education ID. 3. Eaton, OF
Amherst; Gen. o.. o. Howard, Z: 5. A.; DR..
New York; ex-Minister to Austria John
A. Kasson; Cyrus II. Mccormick. Chicago:
President Patten, Princeton, and Charles
Dudley Warner.
Mr.. Gardiner G. Hubbard. of Washington.
called the conference TO order. and his IN
PRODUCTION of the temporary chairman, ex-
Secretary of State John W.. Foster as the
arbitrator between China and Japan.
evoked Applause. After a few words OF
welcome on behalf of the local omman
and the municipal authorities OF Washing
ton MIR. Foster said:
pride at the record which our country has
made i'm the past half century of ~unbroken
peace with all the nations OF the earth
and OF a steady adherence to the settle
pacific method of arbitration-a record al
most without parallel among the nations OF
sembled 10 to our government
any new departure in it's policy on this sub
iect. but rather to strengthen and confirm
Compulsory arbitration between nations pre-
sents problems and difficulties not easy of
solution. and 1t will be a great gain to the
general cause II out of your deliberations a
plan shall be evolved which will meet the
objections and solve the difficulties. 1t seems
a utopian idea TO anticipate a general dis
until barbar.sm and the spirit of conquest
and oppression snail be banished from the
earth. governments will be forced to main
among people who profess to be governed
by the principles OF a common Christianity,
and especially between nations kindred In
lineage, language and institutions, a better
method of adjusting the differences which
must arise between them must be found
than by the bloody arbitrament of war. The
English speaking race Is by far the most
numerous of the great Caucasian family,
and IL is intrusted by Providence with the
t asrlsi,anit interests fn the Of SUrld' and an If
this conference shall result in a
permanent plan whereby their differ
ences may be adjusted by arbitration, 1t
will win for itself the fame of one of the
memorable assemblies of all history"
Next Judge DAILY. for the on
permanent organization. reported the selec-
ton of the following officers: President. Hon.
George f. Edmunds; vice president for In
diana, Governor claude Matthews. Speeches
were then made by ex-senator Edmunds and
others.