Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-26
At THE WHITE HOUSE
The President to Move for
Peace of the Powers.
EARLY ACTION IN VIEW
DISCUSSING JUDGE PARKER'S
LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE.
President Wheeler Criticises Philippine
Independence Proposition-Callers
Make Political Forecasts.
EARLY ACTION IN VIEW

President Roosevelt's announcement or
Saturday to the delegates of the Interpar-
liamentary Union that, at an early date, he
would invite the nations of the world to
send delegates to a second peace conference
whose work should be supplemental to that
Of the conference at The Hague, is regard
ed as historic advance toward the adjust
ment OF International difficulties through
the medium Of arbitration. quite natural
ly, the question arose as to how soon the
President might call the conference. He did
not indicate, in his address, the probable
time Of his issuance of the call Attention
was directed to the fact that both Russia
and japan, the powers now locked in MGR
tai combat, are signatories to The Hague
convention, and 1t was suggested that The
President might not call the second con-
ference until the close Of the Russo-Jap-
aneSe war.
Preliminary Inquiries.
1t can be stated that the President will
not await the conclusion of peace between
those two powers before issuing his call.
1t is his present intention to call the mat
ter to the attention of the nations of the
world in about six weeks, with view to
ascertaining their desires as to the time
and place of holding the second conference.
These preliminary inquiries will be made
through the Department OF State. AS soon
thereafter as the replies received shall war
rant the President will issue his formal
call for the conference
Meantime the delegates of the Interpar-
liamentary Union will have reached their
several countries and made their reports to
their governments. 1t is not expected that
a long time will elapse after America shall
have made its preliminary inquiries before
replies are received, as all the powers Will
be prepared for the inquiries. The proba-
bility now is that the formal call for the
conference will be issued early in the COM
Ing year.
Views on the Parker Letter.
The letter of acceptance of Judge Parker
was frankly discussed by White House
callers today. Republicans were some
what unanimous in agreeing that it Is
considerably stronger than the speech Of
acceptance Of the democratic nominee,
but they do not regard it as comparing
with the letter of acceptance OF President
Roosevelt. Furthermore, they do not be-
lieve that 1t is strong enough to unite the
cropping elements of the democrats or
peppery enough to infuse fighting virility
into the democratic ranks. The various
callers made suggestions to the President
as to the letter of his opponent, but he
carefully refrained from comment In
tended to reach the public ear.
Besides numerous republicans who saw
the President during the day, one of his
friends who called was DR.. Benjamin 1de
Wheeler, president of the University of
California. DR.. Wheeler is an old-line
democrat, but has not voted the demo-
cratic ticket since 1892. He is personal
friend of former President Cleveland and
warm admirer of President Roosevelt.
Discussing several phases of the letter of
Judge Parker, DR.. Wheeler said:
'On the Philippine question Judge Par
kers views will not strongly appeal to
many people. Not one-half of 1 per cent
Of the people of the United States favor in
dependence for the Filipinos now or ever.
Independence and self-government are not
synonymous The American citizen will
favor education of the Filipino until he is
fit for self-goverment, and he may reach
that state in the course of some years, but
he will never attain independence. Not
only will we keep the Philippines, but we
will possess other territory if it becomes
necessary. l crossed the continent of this
country six times year on business, and
come in contact with many people. l
have found comparatively few who regard
the democratic position on that question
as sound.
LAS to the criticism of President Roose-
welt on account of the pension order, the
views of Judge Parker are not calculated
to cause alarm. He approves the SUBJ
stance of the action Of President Roosevelt,
but dfsapproves of his methods. He pro-
poses to do the same thing by act of Con-
gress. AS a matter Of fact Congress has
approved of this action already. Congress,
realizing the effect Of the order of the
President, appropriated money for the in
creased pensions and did everything in the
way of approval except in passing an act
of that kind
Commissioner Wares Comment.
Eugene Ware, pension commissioner. held
a short consultation with the President,
probably about the portion of the Parker
letter referring to the pension order. Mr..
Ware was pressed for some statement OF
opinion as to the Parker letter, but all he
would say was: Il don't think Judge Park
er has read up on the subject Of PENSIONS
West Virginia Forecast.
Maurice D. O'Connell. solicitor of the
treasury, and George E. Roberts, director
OF the mint, both Iowa men. called on the
President. Il have been talking with some
people from West Virginia. said Mr..
OConnell, "and they tell me there is no
question about the state going for Roose-
velt I saw democrat who admitted to
me that this was certain. Friends from all
parts OF the country tell me the President
will be elected by a larger vote than that
received by Mckinley, and / believe that
thinking democrats feel this way" Mr..
O'Connell will leave Washington in a few
ooyS hoh q SPSohA6 touI VI louT weeks.
Judson w. Lyons, another treasury Off
cial, was a caller at the White House.
Register Lyons Is the most prominent col
ored officeholder in the country He is
scheduled to make a number of speeches to-
ward the last of October in various parts
OF the country. The itinerary has not been
prepared.
Conference With Officials.
Secretary Taft Of the War Department,
who has recently returned from his vaca-
tfon at Murray Bay, Canada, called on the
President to talk over some matters. Sec
retarY Taft will soon leave Washington for