The Washington times., 1902-01-26
PAN-AMERICAN
CONGRESS- WORK
An Instructive Review BY Dr..
John Barrett.
ACRIMONY IN SOME OF THE DEBATES
Scope of the Discussions md Import.
nnce of the Plans Matured
by the Congress.

Hon. John Barrett exMinister TO Siam.
and at present Commissioner General to
the Orient for the Louisiana Purchase Ex-
position, Friday evening delivered an ad-
dress at Columbian University on The
Constitution and Work of the Pan-Ameri-
can Conference" As a member of that
body DR.. Barrett is most competent to
speak of it's operations and achievements,
and his mastery address was listened to
with great attention by large audience.
DR.. Barrett prefaced his remarks by
stating that as the conference had indulg-
ed in no open fights. but had conducted
its operations on the dignified plan adopt
ed by The Hague Convention. the Ameri-
can press had not given it the attention
which its Importance demanded, but that
in the light of history the convention will
be distinguished as one of the most mem
orable and remarkable which was ever
held. Continuing, Dr. Barrett traced the
history of Pan-American congresses from
the days of Henry Clay to that held at
Washington in 1SS9-90, over which James
G. Blaine presided.
Personnel of the Congress.
The present Congress was eminent
in the personnel of its members, the
South and Central American Republics
sending as their representatives their
most famous statesman, diplomats and
lawyers, while the United States was
represented by some of its most distin-
guished citizens. From the outset the
disposition was evident on the part of the
southern Republics to force the United
States to take a leading part, while the
American representatives on the other
hand exerted every possible effort 10 re-
frain from a domineering or ovrbearing
attitude; to such an extent was this
friendly contest carried that the unani-
nous election of ex-senator Davis, of
West Virginia, as vice president Of the
conference, was only prevented by his de-
claring on the floor that he would not
accept the position under any circum-
stances.
Thereupon, and greatly to the sur
prise of the American delegates, Secre-
tary Hay was chosen By acclamation to
be the second honorary president of the
body, the other being the Mexican Minis
ter of Foreign Affairs.
Some Acriminous Discussions.
stated, was that of arbitration, upon
which the discussions were on several
occasions so acrimonious that only a
timely adjournment prevented the with
drawal of several of the delegations and
the consequent disruption of the conven-
ton. Besides this, the interoceanic canal
a trans-con tnental railroad, an interna-
tional claims commission, the proposed
can Republics and many other matters
were discussed, the Importance OF which
DR.. Barrett said, would be perceived only
when the American delegation has made
its report to Congress.
There were nineteen committees ap'
pointed the chairmen of which represent
ed the whole number of countries in the
convention; the proceedings were carried
on in Spanish, but several interpreter!
and English stenographers were pro
vided for the delegates, who throughou
the proceedings were shown the creates
possible courtesy and such hospitalit!
that Dr. Barrett humorously remarked
il would be strange if they did not al
return to their native sountry the vic
tins of dyspepsia.
Suggestion for Colleges.
In conclusion DR.. Barrett urged upoI
the great Importance of disseminatin,
knowledge of the histories, arts, customs
peoples and laws of our Central anG
South American sister republics, in orde
that the Pan-American spirit might b.
increased manifold; and dwelt with EN-
phasis upon the necessity of young Amer
leans acquiring thorough knowledge o
the Spanish language, without which in
tercourse with those countries is difficult