Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-11-03
Washington Letter.
CFHoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT

DDS devised by the Hague Tribunal, for
the settlement of the acute situation re-.
sulting from the recent firing on Brit
ish fishermen by the Russian feet is
regarded in Washington as a distinct
triumph for the cause of international
peace, and is the occasion Of great graf
itication to President Roosevelt. whose
reference of the Plus Fund case to the
Hague, followed by his pursuading the
European creditors of Venezuela to
submit to the arbitrament OF the same
tribunal restored that court from the
disuetude into which it had sunk to
one of the foremost factors in the pro-
motion of universal peace.
1t must not be supposed that Russia
and Great Britain haye, as yet, submit.
ted their difference to arbitration. how
eyer, although that may be the ultimate
outcome of the present move. The in
ternational commission Of inquiry to
which the difference between Russia
and Great Britain will now be submit
ted will merely make an impartial in
vestigatiop of the facts and compre-
hensive statement OF its findings, a
statement which, in words Of the con-
vention, "has in no way the character
of an arbitral award" ut leaves the
conflicting powers entire freedom as to
the effect to be given to this statement
1t was believed by the devisers Of this
method of examination into information
al disputes, tina! such statement would
either make manifest to the conflicting
powers just method of settlement or,
in the event Of failure to do so, would
pave the way 70. international arbitra
ton, while, in any event, the proceed
ings of the commission Of inquiry would
necessarily tide over that crucial period
which inevitably follows the occasion Of
an international rupture.
The hope is strongly expressed by
certain diplomats IN Washington that
Russla's resort to the Hague in this in
stance, followed at no distant date, as
is probable, by the reassembling OF rep.
resentatiyes Of the powers signatory to
the Hague convention in response to
the invitation Just issued by President
Roosevelt, for the purpose Of promoting
universal peace aud mitigating, perhaps
minimizing, the horrors of war, and
actually lessening the frequency of war,
must tend to create moral force which
in turn, will effect cessation Of exist
Inc hostilities between Russia and ia
pan.
A reecho of the famous postof1ice in
yestigation Of year ago has just been
heard throughout the country in the
publication of two letters addressed by
President Roosevelts secretary to J.
N. Tyner, once Postmaster General and,
until the summer of 1908, Attorney
General for the Postodice Department
When the postoffice investigation was
concluded the President issued mem.
orandum in which he characterized in
scathing terms the conduct Of Tynel
and his nephew. by marriage, Barrett
who together appeared to be RESPONSE
BILE for the admission to the mails OF
numerous get-rich quick concerns and
other fraudulent companies who, as the
President pointed out, had through the
neglect Of duty, or the culpabillty, Of
Tyner and Barrett, had been enabled
to swindle thousands of people, many
of them those who could least afford
the loss, out Of many thousands of dol
lars. Tyner and Barrett had been in
dicted and were subsequently tried on
the charge of conspiracy to defraud
Tyner, who has suffered stroke of pa,
ralyis, was carried in and out of court
suffered numerous "sinking spells
when in the presence of the jury, had
"to resort to restoratives," and the two
men who, under the law, must be Joint
ly acquitted or jointly convicted, were
acquitted. Tyner then wrote letter
to the President demanding that he re.
tract the statements he had made in his
memorandum. The President replied
through his seer etary, that although
Tyner had been acquitted Of the charge
brought in the trial, he could not re-
tract his statements which were based
on grounds additional to those involved
in the trial and which were in them
selves ample to warrant all that had
been contained in the memorandum
This latter Tyner did not make public
but waiting, apparently, until tie
heighth Of the campaign, he replied tc
the Presidents letter of last June and
has only now made public his reply.
To Tyner's last communication the
President has directed his secretary to