The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-07-05

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! Events OF the past week mere nave
centered chiefly in the negotiations
for peace between Russia and Japan.
At first there was disposition to
scott at the President s efforts to bring
about an agreement. His critics were
disposed to say frequently that he had
! been ''butting-in and that the out
come was certain: He would be as
sured that his offices We're not desired
and that the peace negotiations could
be looked after in Europe.
These predictions have proven false
and the President has scored heavily.
He feels proud of his efforts in bring
ing the two belligerents together.
Secretary Hay was absent. No one
can possibly say it was the Secretary
of State who turned the trick. The
President has worked and planned in
season and out of season how to exc
cute his plans for assuring negotia-
tions. He told one of his callers-Sec-
rotary Atkinson of Hawaii, mot long
ago that he had been SO busy attend
ing to the peace business that he had
little time for other matters.
! Nevertheless the coming and going
of numerous diplomats at the White
House has not always been as serious
as one might think. The President
has enjoyed the guessing of the news
70 hot fron OF
these meetings. He told a small COM
pany of newspaper correspondents re-
Gently how on an occasion of an inter
view with the French Ambassador,
which was supposed to be momentous
in connection with peace, the errand
had to do almost solely with the pre-
sentation to him of certain books,
written by the French Ambassador, in
which the President was interested.
| One feature of the peace negotia-
tions at the White House has been the
unusual secrecy observed. AS rule a
way can be found to ascertain the
news about affairs of general interest,
centering in the President IS offices.
To those he knows the President Is
communicative. He has always been
in friendly touch with members of the
newspaper profession, ever since he
entered public life. But during the
| peace negotiations the President dem
onstrated that there are times when his
lips are sealed and when news, al
though much desired by the people in
general, can not be had from the
White House. However, as soon as the
. negotiations had reached a stage where
publicity could do no harm, the Pres
ident forthwith made public all that
could be wisely given out.
THE JAPANESE MINISTER.
The bringing together of the two
; belllgerents by an American President
is likely to have far reaching 1ntiu
ence. It's moral effect will be excel
lent, as showing that the American
nation is a force to be reckoned with
in the world s politics. The meeting
of the plenipotentiaries here, which
now seems assured, will call the at
tention of all Europe to the American
capital and, under all the circum
stances, can but increase American
prestige. The friendly attitude OF
Japan towards this country has beer
evidenced by the frequent and cordial
visits of the japanese Minister, Taxa
hira, to the White House. This aged
man, STOPPING with years, is quite a
democratic figure about the capital
He drives around in a little electric
carriage, as complacently as though he
I -
riages for years. His conferences with
the President have been of an especial
ly frank and earnest character, of all
which his government has been kept
fully informed. The minister has a
wide acquaintance in Washington. II
is a practical acquaintance for him
matte corps.
MOODY A FAILURE.
Governmental affairs have been quiet.
except for revival of the efforts to
prosecute Secretary of the Navy, Paul
Morton, for violation of rate laws
while vice President of the Atchison
Topeka and Santa Fe. That inciden,
has some ugly features and Attorney
General Moody seems to have become
eiHbIuliSu. u Special COMMISSION, OF
which Ex-Attorney General Judsor
Harmon was one, having been appoint
ed TO consider the Santa Fe case ana
made recommendations, is known tc
! have favored the prosecution of Mr.
Morton. Mr.. Harmon was attorney
general under President Cleveland and
IS regarded as a very competent man
However, he and Mr.. Moody could not
agree and there has been falling out
with the result that Mr.. Harmon and
his associate, Attorney ,Judson. of St
Louis, have resigned. All in all Mr.
Moody has not gained in the genera,
estimation by the part he has borne
1t was thought he might achieve some
success as an attorney general He
was distinct failure as Secretary OF
the Navy, much to the disappointment
of his many friends. The opinion pre-
walls that he will hasten his retirement
from the cabinet. He was an efficient
and capable member of the Nationa
House for many years. But his career
In the cabinet has been a general dis
! apuOlnfmp0t He ir procaou+inr N.