The Elbert County tribune., 1905-01-12

Bolivia and Peru. and between a num-
Der of other nations: All the important
powers of the world with the exception
of Russia and Japan now have agree
ments of this sort and when the present
war between the two countries named
Is concluded they will doubtless follow
the example OF the others.
Peace Conference.
In January an international peace con-
ference was held in Washington. at
which resolutions were adopted urging
this government to support every move
ment to establish by peaceful means the
reign of law and Justice among nations
In September President Roosevelt in
response to request made by members
OF the 1nterparliamentary union. who
held meeting at the Louisiana Pur-
chase exposition. promised to call a
second peace conference at The Hague.
This promise he kept by sending notes
to the various powers later in the year
making the suggestion. In general, they
received the proposal favorably. but de-
clined to commit themselves to any
specific time for the meeting. Russia
and Japan assented to the principle in
volved, while declining to have the pres
ent war become the subject of arbitra-
tlon in any way.
The Year In Europe.
In Europe, outside of Russia, the year
was rather uneventful The church ques-
tion continued to occupy the attention
OF France. Efforts to upset the policy
OF the government failed and the prob
lem seems to be in a fair way of be-
ing permanently and peacefully settled.
In Germany. where commercial depres-
sion has existed for some time things
have taken turn for the better. Trade
has improved, the factories are busy
and fewer persons are without employ
ment. In Servia Peter Karageorgevitch
was crowned king and for the present
affairs in that restless little state are
comparatively quiet.
OF Importance to the families involved
were the births of heirs to the thrones
of Russia and Italy.
In spite of the granting OF greater re-
ligious freedom, the modification OF the
exile system and promised reforms and
in spite Of the fact that the country had
a great war on its hands serious internal
troubles disturbed the authorities of
Russia. Won Plehve, minister of the
interior and secretary of state for Fin
land was assassinated July &c in St
Petersburg. Riots occurred in st. Pc
tersburg, Moscow and other cities in De-
cember in which many persons were
injured and n number reported killed
Appeals for local self-government were
made by the zemstvos and were list
ened to by the czar but not granted
The struggle between the reform and
conservative parties promises to be one
OF the features of Russian internal his
tory In the coming year.
Lassa, the mysterious city" of Tibet
is mystery no longer. A British mill
tary-political expedition entered its sa-
scred precincts last summer and brought
the unwilling lamas to terms.
Panama Canal Begun,
In glancing back at the history - the
year in the United States the one fact
that stands out more prominently than
all the rest is the beginning of work on
the great Panama canal. Only a begin
ming has been made but II has brought
the project out of the domain of specu-
lation into that of reality. The treaty
between this country and the new re-
public Of Panama which was negotiated
In the fall of 1908 was ratified and pro-
claimed in Washington in February. Pa
pers transferring the French interests
in the waterway were signed in Paris
April %. 1904, and the property was
formally turned over TO representatives
of the United States at Panama May A.
A board of canal commissioners, headed
by Rear-Admiral John G. Walker had
been appointed earlier in the year. Rules
for the temporary government of the
canal zone were made and Gen. George
w. Davis OF the army was made gov
ernor A competent chief engineer was
found in the person of John +. Wallace
of Chicago. who Immediately went to the
isthmus and assumed direction of the
work. 1t has not yet been definitely de-
cided whether the canal shall be a sea
level one or OF the lock- pattern. The
disposition at present seems to be to
build 1t with locks, but in such way
that 1t can be changed to a sea level
canal without impeding traffic. The OBJ
lection to making waterway without
locks is that 1t will take too long and
not that the estimated expense OF $780,
100000 is too great.
National Politics.
For a presidential election year 1904
1n..t
The national conventions, with the ex-
ception of that of the democratic party,
aroused only passing interest. At the
republican gathering in June the nomi-
nation of Theodore Roosevelt was fore
gone conclusion. The choice OF Senator
Fairbanks for the e-presidency was
made without a contest. At the demo-
cratic convention the situation was diff
ferent No one knew beforehand who
the nominees were to be, nor the exact
character OF the platform to be adopted.
The proceedings were followed with in
terest from day to day. until Parker and
Davis were nominated and the position
of the party on the financial question
was declared. Roosevelt and Fairbanks
were elected by larger plurality than
had been generally looked for. Even
Missouri chose republican electors,
though electing a democratic governor.
When the result of the election in the
states had become known Mr.. Roosevelt
Immediately issued a statement declar-
ing that under no circumstances would
he again be a candidate for president on
the ground that he was opposed to the
third-term principle.
Commercial Prosperity.
Commercially the year was one OF
general prosperity for the whole of the
United States. Trade of all kinds was
good, prices were maintained and COM
plants on the part Of business men
fnfrenupnt There CRSSa-
tion in the formation of gigantic trusts.
partly because some of them had proved
failures so far as dividend paying was
concerned and partly because the anti
trust legislation of congress was feared
by the promoters. The decision against
the Northern Securities company was
affirmed by the United States Supreme
court in March. putting an end to that
particular kind OF combination. The
union of railroads in regard to rates was