The San Francisco call., 1904-09-13
PROBLEM
IS DISCUSSED
Parliamentary Union,
Assembled at Worlds Fair,
Talks of War and It's Cure
WORLD is REPRESENTED
First Assistant Secretary of
State Greets Delegates in
Behalf of the President

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 1.-THE one hun
dred and twentieth conference Of the
Inter-Parliamentary Union opened to-
day in Festival Hall, at the Worlds 5
Fair grounds. Two hundred and twen-
ty-six legislators from England and
practically every European Parliament
were in attendance to discuss questions
the solution of which by this confer
ence may have a worldwide sig
nificance. There also was an American
group, headed by Congressman Richard
d. Bartholdt of st. Louis and L. Bur
ton of Cleveland.
In accepting the office Of president
Congressman Bartholdt dwelt at length
upon the purposes of the conference,
and expressed the opinion that its work
would finally result in the attainment
of universal arbitration and universal
peace.
Francis B. Loomis, First Assistant
Secretary of State, who represented
President Roosevelt, spoke in part as
follows:
I am glad to welcome the delegates and
members of the Inter-Parliamentary Union to
this city and to this country. The Govern
ment of the United States and it's people are
pleased to have you here. The President Of
the United States authorizes me to extend to
you his kindest and most cordial greetings.
Valuing he does the blessings OF peace.
earnestly desiring the diminution and lessen
ing of the rigors and horrors Of war your
coming is particularly grateful TO him, for
you are about to discuss phases OF a problem
of deeply human and worldwide interest, the
peaceful settlement OF international disputes.
Within the last one hundred years there have
been than two hundred in which
international differences have been adjusted by
the peaceful method OF arbitration IN one form
or another. and the Government Of the United
States has been party to about seventy OF
these arrangements.
I desire to compliment the Inter-Parlia-
mentary Union upon the declaration which II
made at its conference held in Holland In
1894 in favor Of a permanent court of arbi-
tration and the subsequent development Of It's
plans for such court, prepared by a COM
purpose The parliamentary Union de-
serves credit for practically forecasting five
years in advance what proved to be the most
salient work OF the peace conferences at the
Hague.
The cause of international arbitration Is
making notable and permanent progress. Since
your last meeting. Great Britain and France.
France and Italy. Great Britain and Italy.
Holland and Denmark Great Britain and
Spain, France and Spain, France and Holland
and Spain and Portugal have concluded
treaties pledging themselves during period OF
five years to submit certain classes OF cases
TO the Hague tribunal The signing OF these
treaties marks distinct and promising ad-
vance.
1t is not necessary to believe that all Of
the wishes and all the dearest and completest
ideals of those who hope for universal peace
and universal disarmament may be realized.
Still. the saying Is, Nothing is impossible" "
and while the way seems long and the diff
culties almost insuperable, yet by hard and
sensible work and earnest and prayerful
striving you may so animate. inspire and up
lift those who follow you that the latter may
have the glorious fate to dwell in the time
when
THE war drums throb no longer and the
battle flags are furled.'
Then followed the reports Of dele
gates from each nation Of the progress
of the cause Of peace in their respec-
tive countries, which concluded the
days work.