Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-22
WILLIAM I. STEAD TALKS
WITH PRESIDENT KRUGER.
BOER COULD SHAKE THE
CONTINENT OF EUROPE
THE GREAT POPULAR IDOL.
WILL AVOID ALL Personal DEM
ONSTRATIONS TILL THE LAST d.
PLOMATIS APPEAL is MADE.

LONDON, december A.-Wm. L.
Stead has just returned from The
Hague, where he has had a long con-
ference win Mr.. Kruger and has as
certained at first hand the views of
Mr.. Kruger and his counsellors as to
the present situation and future pros
poets. Mr.. Stead has written the fol-
lowing for the Associated Press:
First of all, nothing is decided
about his visit to America at present.
President Kruger has not abandoned
all hope of securing the support OF the
governments of the civilized world in
+. his demand for arbitration. Until the
last government refuses absolutely to
say a word in support of the princi-
pies which they soIemnly laid down at
The Hague conference, Mr. Kruger
Will not partake in popular demon
STATIONS. 1t is recognized that if he
cared to do so he could shake the
continent. The popular enthusiasm for
him is unparalleled since GarlDaldl's
visit to London, but until his dlplO-
matte mission is exhausted, an appeal
to the peoples cannot even be taken
into consideration. Mr.. Kruger is en-
phatic in disclaiming any desire to
involve other nations in war in behalf
OF the Beers. What he asks is that the
governments, which at The Hague de-
ciared their determination to use their
efforts to secure amiCable settlement
OF disputes by means of mediation and
arbitration should make a united Ell
fort to bring the verdict of the civil
lied world to bear on Great Britain.
1.-The English Mr.. Kruger said,
are waging this war in South Africa
ike savages They are burning homes,
destroying dams, cutting trees, devas-
tating fields and creating famine. They
are unable to capture De Wet, but they
are making prisoners of women and
children, who are not treated with Ordl-
nary decency. Hundreds of women
have been confined in prison krall,
near Port Elizabeth with only one
chair, and several of them are expect
ing to become mothers.
Mr.. Kruger AYERS that the provis-
ions of The Hague convention and the
laws and usages of war are trampled
under foot and he wants to know
whether the signatories of this conven-
ton nave anything to say on the sub
ject.
"The man on horseback at this mo-
ment is not Mr.. Kruger, but President
Steyn. He, DelaTey and DeWet are
masters OF the situation, having bet
ter disciplined and more effective force
tnan that which followed the flag at
the outbreak of the war. They have
plenty OF ammunition and replen.sh
their stores continually from the Brit
ism conveys. They have taken enough
} Lee Metford rifles to arm all the Burgh-
ers now in the field. l cannot put their
position better than in the words of
one Of Mr.. Krugers counsellors:
England is our accuser. England
is the sole witness against us. Eng
land is the Judge. England is the eX-
ecutioner and Eengland hopes to profit
by our death. We appealed for arbl-
tration before the war. We are fight
ing for arbitration to-day. We have
the right to expect the sympathies of
the civilized world
Il found Mr. Kruger pale. His hear
ing is not so good as it was. His mind
moves somewhat more slowly, but
every now and then the old fire flashes
from his eyes and you hear the deep,
resonant voice which has so often raj
lied the Burghers in battle.
Queen Wilhelmina is kindness it
self. She has displayed pluck in re-
msrkable contrast to the timidity of
many of her official advisers.
81 found the old mans spirits un-
shaken by his reverses. He disclaimed
any desire to humiliate England and
said they only wanted their rights.
at may interest Americans to know
that Mr.. Kruger's appeal to the civil
lied world would be received every
where with unanimous enthusiasm
were it not for the deep-rooted dis
trust and jealousy of the dynasties of
Hapsburg and Hohenzollern against the
President of republic. If he were a
king the courts would have been open
everywhere. But the central European
monarchs dread the popular enthusiasm
excited by the heroic figure of the re-
publican president pleading for JUS
tice
This feeling, it is we'll to note, is
not shared by Russia.
The Beers will not listen to any
proposals for a compromise They are
una nimous. Failing independence or
arbitration they will prefer to die
lighting"