Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-12-07
All contributions BY corporations TO

All contributions BY corporations ia
any political committee or for any 20.
litical purpose should be forbidden by
law, directors should not be permitted
to use stockholders money for such
purposes, and, moreover, a prohibition
of this kind would he, as far as Il
| went, an effective method Of stopping
the evils aimed at In corrupt practices
Gets.
| The Hague Conference.
Tho first conference of nations held
at The Hague in 1900, being unable to
dispose of all the business before 1t,
recommended the consideration and
settlement Of number of important
questions by another conference to be
called subsequently and at an early
date. These questions were the follow
Ing: a. The rights and duties Of neu-
trails; (2) tho limitation Of the armed
forces on Lara and sea and Of military
budgets; () the use Of new types and
calibers of military and naval guns; ~
the inviolability Of private property at
sea In times Of war; (O the lombard
ment Of ports. cities and villages by ma.
val forces. In October. 1904. at the in.
stance Of the interparlIamentary union,
l issued Invitations 10 all the powers
signatory to The Hague convention to
send delegates to such conference
and suggested that 1t be again held at
The Hague
From all the powers acceptance was
received, coupled in some cases with
tho condition that we should wait until
the end Of tho war then wagjng be-
tween Russia and japan. The emperor
OF Russia, Immediately after the treaty
OF peace which so happily terminated
this war, In note presented to the
president on Sept. 13 took thu initiative
In recommending that the conference
be now called. The United States gov
eminent In rcspons, expressed it's cor
dial acQuiescencc and stated that il
would as matter Of course takx part
IN the new conference and endeavor to
further its aims. We assume that all
civilized governments will support the
movement and that the conference is
now an assured fact. This government
Will do everything in its power to Sc
cure the success Of the conference to
the end that substantial progress may
be made IN the cause Of International
peace, Justice and good will.
Monroe Doctrine.
Inere are certain essential points
which mus never be forgotten as re-
CARDS the Monroe doctrine. IN the frs,
place, we must as a nation make It ev-
ldent that we do NOT intend to treat 1t
III any shape or way as an excuse for
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT on our part NJ tic OK
pense Of the republics to the south.
But we must make it evidon, that We
do not intend to permit the Monroe doc.
trine to be used by any nation on this
continent as a shield to protect II from
the consequences of its own misdceds
against foreign nations. The Monroe
doctrine docs not force MS 10 Interfere
TO prevent the punishment of port
save to see that the punishment does
not assume the form of territorial occu-
patton in any shape. The case is more
difhcult when il refers to contractua.
obligation. This country would Ger.
tain!y decline 10 go to war to prevent q
foreign government from collecting n
just debt. On the other hand. it Is
very inadvsable to permit any foreign
power to tax. possession. even tempo.
rarily, OF the custom houses Of an
American republic in order TO enforce
the payment Of its obligations. for such
temporary occupation might turn into
Il permanent occupation. The only es.
cape from these alternatives may at
any time he that we must ourselves
undertake to bring about some arrange
ment by which 80 much as possible OF
just obligation shall he paid
10 do So instlres the dafaultiny re.
public from having 10 pay debts of an
improper character under dlrcsg, while
II also i.sNrc. homes. creditors Of ne
republic from being passed by in the
interest of dishonest or grasping cred
ttors.. Moreover, for the United States
10 take such Il position offers the only
possible way Of nsuring us against
clash with some foreign power. The
position is therefore in the interest of
peace as well as in the interest of JUS
tice.t -
SantO Domingo.
Santo Domingo has now made an ap-
peal to us. and not only every principle
OF wisdom, but every generous instinct
within us bids us respond to the up-
peal. The conditions in Santo Domingo
have for a number of years grown
from bad to worse until year ago all |
society was Oh the verge OF dissolution.
Fortunately Just at this time a ruler
sprang up in Santo Domingo who, with
his colleagues, saw the dangers threat.
cn.nG their country and appealed to the
friendship OF the only neighbor who |
possessed the power and the Will to |
help them. There was imminent dan.
ger Of foreign Intervention. The pa
thence OF foreign creditors had become |
and at least two foreign ma
tions were on the point Of intervention
and were only prevented by the unotfi-
cial assurance Of this government that
1t would itself strive to help Santo
Domingo in her hour of need.
Accordingly, the executive depart
ment of our government negotiated a
treaty under which we are trying to
help the Dominican people to straight.
en- out their finances. This treaty is
pending before the senate. In the
meantime a temporary arrangement
has been made under which the Domin-
lcan government has appointed Amer