Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-10

much of the time in the House of Repre-
sentatves and the United States Senate,
where he has been prominent in interna-
tional affairs. He is today the chairman of
the foreign relations committee of the Sen
ate, and such is the head of the
gressional branch of our treaty making
power.
'Uncle Sam is bigger as an international
quantity than he has ever BEEN" said Sena-
within the past few years. The world pow
ers now realize that he is their equal and
it may be said that lie is at the head of the
procession
When did this come about, senator?' l
asked
Our big growth began during our war
with Spain,'' said Senator CuIlom. Before
that the great European nations rather
looked down upon us as secondary force
in tie worlds politics. They considered
nation of smart traders-fresh, green.
and exceedingly b0aStful. They talked of
us as worshipers of the dollar. and ap-
peared to think would not fight and
could not if We would. They disparaged
our navy and laughed at little army as
compared with their gigantic military ma
chimes. The war showed them that our
gunners knew how to shoot, that we under
stood how to handle our ships, and that
our army was not restricted by the num-
bers in the ranks. They learned that every
American citizen makess good soldier tim
Der. and that the American national spirit
10 iiol dIeCleu ny tie american pocket DOCK.
Our easy success in that war astounded
them. and they began to respect Uncle
Sam. They increased that respect when
with John Hay as Secretary of State, we
put ourselves at the front in settling the
Chinese trouble which followed and they
now regard us one of the biggest factors
in every world problem. Our opinion is
asked before any settled policy is pro-
muigated-l might even say before it is
formed"
The United States and China.
Did the United States really do much as
to the Chinese settlement senator?'
''It did everything was the reply Had
ii not been for our government China would
now be divided up among the great nations
of Europe. Such a division was contem-
plated and Germany, England and Russia
had each taken a foothold when Secretary
Hay said that the international policy
should be the open door, that is. that
China should be independent and free TO
the trade of all nations. After that the
other powers fell into line and advocated
the same policy. The comparatively easy
terms of peace which China secured were
largely due to the United States, and today
the fact that that country is not the fight
Ing ground of the war between Japan and
Russia is due to the mastery state papers
of John Hay. We have also opened up
China to trade as never before. By our
rev treaty the local taxes on goods from
station to station throughout the empire
nave DeeH dpOllSIeu new treaty ports nave
been thrown open, and on the whole China
has been made free trading field for the
world
Our Secretary Of State.
"You seem to give Secretary Hay all the
credit for that work. senator?"
Il do" replied Senator Cullom. ''Othe-s
lave helped carry out his ideas. but his is
the master mind far our diplomatic
relations and successes are concerned. 1
consider Mr.. Hay very great man. He is
the greatest Secretary of State this country
has ever had. He has Statesmanlike abIl-
ity of the highest order allied to sterling
courage, and the genius of common sense.
He is experienced in dealing with foreign
ers and with nations. He is man of let
ters and speaks the foreign languages
f1uently. He is cool, conservative, and at
the same time bold and quick to act. No, I
don't think we have ever had as great a
Secretary of State. The whole world
acknowledges his ability"
John Hays Early Life.
How long have you known Secretary
Hay?'
"All his life," the reply. He comes
from my state having been born at War
saw. in the western part. on the Mississippi
river His uncle Milton Hay. was my Jaw
partner. and 1 knew his father very WELL
He was a doctor and a man of ability. l
remember he once introduced me when 1
spoke in Warsaw. His introduction was
longer than my speech. but it was good
nevertheless.
my first close association with John HAY |
was when he entered my Office in Spring |
field to study law. He had been to school |
at the Academy in Springfield and had then |
gone east to Brown University. where lie |
graduated Our firm was that of Hay &
Cullom. and John came into the office |
largely on account of my partner, his |
Uncle Milton Hay. This was just before |
~ ~l,o.. InI,y niuh taar, min
teen years Old
.'What kind of law student was he.
senator?' / asked.
HE was very bright" said Senator Gull |
lom He had not been in the Office six |
weeks before he could tell him what we |
wanted in the way of papers and he would |
go off and draw them UP. He could draw
up bill in chancery, and. in fact. almost !
any kind of a paper We had other stu
dents who could never learn.
st must have been then that Hay be-
came acquainted with Lincoln?'' said l.
yes. although l suppose Lincoln must
have known Hays father and may have