Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-03-09
NO DANGER OF
EASTERN WAR
Walter WelIman Says All Talk of the
United States Getting Into Trou.
BILE is Foolish.
THINKS ROOSEVELT A SAFE MAN
The President Has No Desire to Hesc
His Legions Towards the
Battle Front.

tWalter Wellman in Record-HeraldD
There is not one chance in 10000.
600 that the United States is to he
come involved in the Asiatic war -
This statement was made 10 me by a
member of the American government
whose relations with President Roosc
welt and Secretary Hay are so close
and confidential that IT, well may be-
said he spoke for them. Naturally
the president and secretary Of state
cannot make public utteranceS on
such a question. But their views and
the views of the leading members OF
the government here are so well
known to their intimate friends and
coniidantes that I am able to reflect
them with accuracy. To many reed
ers il may seem that any such as
surance is superfiuous. And yet your
correspondent, during a recent jour
ney in the northwest. was often ask
ed the question If there exists any
serious danger OF the United States
becoming embroiled in the hostilities
between Russia and Japan. More
over. the somewhat excited and al
most hysterlcal outgivlngs of the
Russian press, prompted in part by
the Russian government itself. have
served to increase the feeling of anx
iety and to add to the fear that soon
er or later the United States may be
| involved. II is also true, as any
one may discover by leaving Wash
ington and conversing with the peo
pie out in the states, that there ex
lists just a little trepidation on the
score of President Roosevelt's suppos
ed love for military operations and
his penchant for getting into any
muss ,nat may be going on in ..,s
neighborhoOd. THIS feeling does ex
list to some extent. and IL exists
among the very men who most ad
mire the president. They do not be
lieve that he is rash or tnat he would
wantonly take steps which nigh
plunge this country into war. Bu
they feel that If, through the exigen
cies OF circumstances, a strained re
lation were to arise between tn,
United States and Russia. the presi
dent might not be as discreet ant
cautious as, for instance. Mr.. McKin
ley would be were he still alive, ant
in the presidential chair.
On these accounts | have sought
information as to the actual state o
opinion In our government with ref
erence to this possibility. Such in
formation ! have sought in the high
est quarters. There is here not tn,
slightest fear that the United States
may be drawn within the vortex o
war. There Is no desire that tht
United States become involved. Their,
Is no belief that this country has any
stake in the outcome of the present
hostilities which could in any prob
able contingency warrant the draw
ing OF the sword by the Unite,
States. President Roosevelt has JUS
as much idea OF embroiling this coun
try in war with Great Britain or Mex
leo or Italy as he has of taking tn,
part of Japan against Russia. which
Of course, means tnat he has M
thought of such a thing. and neve
has had. Russians may feel tha
American sympathies are with N
pan; they may feel that there exist
a real danger the United States may
In the end, take part In the struggl
on the Japanese side. But their fear
are groundless. The only way II
which Russia could draw the Unitet
States into hostile action would b,
by making war upon the United
States, and no one In his senses be
lieyes Russia will do such thing a.
that.
The American government has de
clared its neutrality. No matteI
what may be the Russian method o.
the Russian ideas about the American
method. our government means wha
II says. IL Is neutral, and neutral i
will remain. IL may be true that, con
sidered purely as a temperamenta
affair President Roosevelt has
keener liking for war than some 9th
er presidents we have had. But n,
one ever knew him to favor wa
merely for the sake OF a chance /,
fight. He would quickly draw tn,
sword TO defend a great principle. bu
he could not be forced into a auarre
without great provOcation, nor with
out having the right on his side. Tn,
men who are close to the president
who talk confdentially with him al
most every day. who know his In
nermost thoughts. know how foolisl
and far-fetched IL the idea which ha!
obtained, more or less vaguely tha
he is always spelling for a fight"
Apart from the important fact tha
the president alone can not, ordinar
lily speaking, make war. and war mus
be declared by the congress, whicl
congress never does unless supporte,
by overwhelming public opinion
there is 40 purpose or desire on III,
part of President Roosevelt or an,
OF his advisers to create a diplomatic
situation which shall strain relation
and bring on the danger of wa
through Inflammation OF public opir
Ion. Members OF the cabinet tell M
there is scarcely a conceivable con
tingency in which this attitude wouI
be changed. The United State
would not fight to oust Russia fror
Manchuria, no matter II Russia clol
ed the commercial door there and ar
rounced an intention to keep II fol
ever shut. The United States woul
| not fight II Russia were to defeat tn
Japs and annex Korea. What woul
happen II Russia we're In the end I
overwhelm Japan and, as the pric
OF victory. insist upon virtually d,
stroying the island kingdom, stir u