Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-06-22
washington LETTER.
WAsHINaroN, D. G., June, II, 1905.


The decision Of Russia and Japan to-
conduct their peace conference in the
capital Of the United States will doubtless
prove source Of qualification to all loyal
Americans even though they appreciate that
there are some dangers entailed by the
suddenly enhanced importance Of Wash
ington as a diplomatic center, In itself
the decision implies compliment to this
country for the reason that it is testi-
monial to the perfect neutrality which the
United States has maintained throughout
the struggle Of Russia and Japan for the
supremacy OF the far east Japan feared
the partisan interests Of Europe, and per-
sistently objected to meeting the Russian
commissioners in any European capital
save that Of its ally, England. Russia
objected to London and would not listen
to the suggestion that the peace negotia-
tions be conducted near the seat of war, or,
in fact, anywhere in Asia. Consequently
the United States became the natural place
in which TO seek compromise city, and
when this was made clear to the Presidents
he Immediately proposed Washington, all
though his previous influence had been in
favor Of the Hague, for the sentimental
reasons surrounding that birthplace of
international arbitration and universal
peace movement.
Once the preliminaries to the formal
conference of japanese and Russian plen-
ipotentaries are settled. this country will
have little official relation with the nego-
tiations. According to custom it is in
cumbent on this country to play the part
of host and provide place for the meet
ings Of the delegates, but there is an
abundance Of such places in Washington,
so that obligation presents few difficulties.
It has been suggested by the President
that, If Washington in August proves
uncomfortably warm, the pIenipotentaries
may easily adjourn to some cooler city for
a time to return to Washington later in the
season. The President has even said that
ii this course is determined upon, he will |
place two naval vessels at the disposal Of
the conferences to take them to some place
like Newport or Bar Harbor, presumably
the dispatch boats the Dolphin and the
Sylph. There is no doubt, however, that
if the plenipotentaries succeed in effecting
peace convention, and the President is
certain that they WILL that it will be
signed in Washington and will 90 down in
history as the treaty Of Washington, being
the first convention Of great international
Importance ever signed in tine capital Of
the United States
People in Washington are watching with I
a good deal Of interest for the promised
explanation Of the designations of Messrs.
Judson and Harmon who were retained by
the government as special counsel in the
prosecution Of the rebate case against the
Sante Fe railroad All that is known so
far is that these attorneys have resigned
because Of a difference Of opinion with
Attorney General Moody, but it is sus-
pected in some quarters that this difference
arose with regard to the possible prosecu-
ton Of Paul Morton, Secretary Of the
Navy However, the Attorney General
has promised to publish an explanation
which will accord with the views Of him
self and the distinguished counsel and the
conservative public will await that expla-
nation.
Attorney General Moody has recently
voiced plant against the newspapers of
this country because, he says, they want
the Department Of Justice to try its cases
before the tribunal Of the press, as he
expresses it. In other words, the Attorney
General maintains that the newspapers
insist on knowing and on publishing the
discoveries and plans Of the Department
before they are revealed in the courts, and
that in this way the cases of the Govern
ment are weakened by their revelation in
advance to the attorneys for the defense.
" lily cLNAI may 'S cOAAC ftOAbA III thtc
complaint there seems TO be little of reason
why the department should not refuse to
reveal information when such revelation
would weaken the Governments case, and
the newspapermen charged with the duty
Of reporting the work of the Department
have never preceiyed any reluctance to sup
press information when it pleased the At
torney General to do So
Attorney General Moody made one com
plant in conversation with your CORES
pondent recently which deserves considera-
tion and even support by the law-abiding
people Of the country. He said that with
a view to preventing an innocent man from
suffering the lawmakers had gone to al
radical extreme in placing obstacles in the
way Of prosecuting criminals, or men