The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-07-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.
President Attempting to Arrange an Ar
mistice Between Russia and Japan.
Unusual Opportunity Presented

ing Instituted negotiations whichprom
lses to bring about peace between
Russla and Japan, is now trying dill
gently to arrange an armistice between
the opposing armies. OF course, tn,
subject partaking as it does of a mil
ltary character, is most delicate one
and the president could not urge tb,
arrangement on either power unles.
he were in position to offer some
guarantee with regard to the attitude
OF the other, which he obviously can
not do. He is, nevertheless, present
Ing ~ the strongest possible light tht
humane side of the proposition anG
the pity of it if more lives should BE-
lost at time when permanent peace
seems to be in sight.
st present there seems TO be little
likelihood that the president humane
efforts will prove successful, because
OF the insistenee by Japan that she
cannot risk a loss of the strategic ad.
vantages she now enjoys in Manchuria
without some more definite and frank
indication from Russia that she de.
slres peace than lat nation has thus
far given, even in her someWh at EQUIV.
ocal response to the presidents iden.
/ tical note. Russia on the other hand
| pursuing her time-honored policy OF
/ avoiding every semblance of frankness
in her diplomacy, positively refuses to
commit herself. Japan, somewha at n at.
urally, assumes that Russia will be
compelled to adopt a more reasons able
| attitude when the battle for which Oy-
anna is now preparing has been fought.
| This view is generally shared in the
diplomatic corps in Washington, but
there is deep regret that the battle.
which must inevitably result in fearful
loss of life, cannot be prevented. There
are few diplomats of more sanguine
temperament who insist that it nav be
possible for the president to succeed
in his humane negoti ations even where
any other man would fail.
The president and Secretary Taft
have between them brought the Loomis-
Bowen case to a close after very
thorough investig of every phase
of the affair and the exoneration of
Secretary LOOMS, although Secretary
Taft was compelled to censure Mr..
LOOMS for his indiscretion in engage
ing in enterprises which might have
placed him in a compromising position
between his duty as minister and his
personal interests. The president sent
to Secretary Taft a scathing letter of
rebuke to Bowen, concluding with an
order that Mr.. Bowen be dismissed,
Reading between the lines Of the pres
ident's letter it is obvious that his in
5dignation against Bowen was chiefly
due to the fact that Bowen, in pursu-
ance of hobby regarding Secretary
LOOMS lack Of dishonesty, was guilty
Of thorough lack Of loyalty. secre-
tary LOOMS on the other hand, while
guilty Of indiseretion in some direc-
tions, has always been noted for his
loyalty to the administration and TO
the United States. Secretary Taft, who
conducted the investig alton, is still
convinced of Bowen's entire honesty.
although he is equally convinced that
Bowen is almost monomaniac on
the subject Of MIR. LOOMS character.
By standing by his friend, Paul
Morton, secretary OF the navy, the !
president has incurred severe criti-
cism, but is possessed Of too much red |
blood to look at many matters from a.
purely judicial standpoint, and he is
in this instance completely convinced
that Secretary Morton was wholly and
absolutely innocent of any RESPONSE
blllty for the illegal rebates granted
by the Santa Fe. The president more
over gives great credit to Mr.. Morton
Tor the frank and manly stand he took
before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission and attributes to Mr.. Nor
'on's testimony a large share of the
success achieved by the government
q putting q stop to the practice of
abroad rebates.
Examinations are now taking place
n Washington and San Francisco for
positions as naval paymasters which
re now open to the public and which
re commanding unusual attention.
he examinations are severe and MANY
i those who were designated to ap-
ear before the examining boards
ave fallen cut; SO many, in fact, that
is suspected that still further exam
nations will be held later on in order
} fill the thirty-fve vacancies which
ow exist. Originally there were 1000
publications., of which number 100
ere designated to appear before the
samining boards. Seyenty-fve ap- :
cared, but only fifty mine passed the /
MYSTICAL examinations. Fifty-six of
lose appeared for the mental exami-
ations and of these sixteen have be-
'me discouraged and dropped out.
bile it IS regarded as certain that a ri
rye number Of those rem naming will |
il to pass.
An examination which will present
unusual opportunity to graduates
civil engineering schools will take