Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-25
nOOoENELf is URGED
TO KEEP HANDS OFF

TO KEEP HANDS OFF
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23-With the
whole country practically at his back in
an attitude of saying. Don't do that"
President Roosevelt is yet undecided on
the proposition of the powers to arbitrate
the claims against Venezuela.
Those senator's and representatives who
are IN Washington are almost unanimous
IN the opinion that the president should
Keep his hands off the job. The president
has entered a refusal to the first intima-
ton of the power proposal, but that i'm
timation was merely a feeler Now the
direct request of the powers is before him
and he must soon give a direct reply to
them.
1t is the opinion Of Washington that we
have so far come out of the imbroglio
with credit. but that we might get seri-
ously entangled If our chief executive at
tempts TO act as accountant for the Ven
ezuelan claims.
No one here advances any reason as to
why the powers should call on our presi-
dent for the great task, when The Hague
tribunal is constituted for just that pur-
pose. 1t Is tribute to him and the United
States to be asked to do the work by all
parties concerned, but whether he could
do it and at the same time take care of
our interests is another matter.
Senator Cuilom, chairman of the senate
committee on foreign relations. declined
last night to be quoted, but IL can be
stated that he is disposed to regard 1t as
q step to be avoided If possible. Senator
Cullom yesterday received several tele-
grams from constituents in Chicago, ask
ing him TO see the president and request
him not to serve. Senator Cullom will
present these kilograms today.
Senator Foraker, Of Ohio, a member of
the committee on foreign relations, said:
Il sincerely trust the president win not
consent TO act as arbitrator in the Ven
ezuelan controversy. 1t is asserted that
by accepting the position Gs arbitrator,
ma responsibility attaches to the United
States. That may be true, but at the
same time the foreign powers will nat
uraily expect the United States to as
sumo certain obligations in support of
any decision the president may render.
The course OF the president and the sec
retatry of state has thus far been firm,
but entirely neutral and / have no rea-
son to believe that there will be any ma
terial change in our policy which may in
volve as in serious complications with
any of the parties to the Venezuelan con-
troveTsy.
Senator Morgan, of Alabama, the rank
ing Democratic member of the commit
tee on foreign relations. Nsaid:
II do not put it too strongly when /
say that il is ridiculous for Germany and
Great Britain to ask the president of the
United States to arbitrate this case.
There is precedence for such action on the
part of a president in boundary disputes
and in cases where the disputes have
not reached the point of war. But there
is no precedent for such arbitration when
once a state of belligerency has been es-
tablished Acts of war have taken place
and war was declared by Great Britain.
BIG RATTLEsHIP MAINE
is READY TO GO TO SEA
NEW YORK, Dec. 23-The recent order
of the navy department to hurry UP the
finishing touches on the battleship Maine
has been followed out at Cramps ship
yards. a World dispatch from Philadel-
phia says:
With steam up the battleship lies in the
Delaware river ready to go into commits
sion. Her hull is painted dazzling white
from stem TO stern. while at night hun
dreds OF tiny electric lights make her
decks as bright as day.
The following big guns have been placed
on board the Maine: Four 12-inch breech
loading rifles, sixteen 6-inch rapid fire
guns, six 3-inch rapid fire guns, eight g.
FOUNDERS, six 1-pounders, two colts, two
s-inch rapid fire field guns and two sub
merged white head torpedo tubes.
ITALY QUITE WILLING
FOR ROOSEVELT TO ACT
ROME. Dec. A.-Italy's reply to the ar
bitration proposal of Venezuela, through
Minister Bowen and the government of
the United States. among other things
says Italy would be pleased If the ques-
ton was settled by the arbitration of
President Roosevelt, and adds that If he
does not accept Italy will have no objec-
ton to submitting the solution to The
Hague tribunal.