The National tribune., 1906-04-12

Mebbe so Russia is getting ready for
another war, for il was right on the
heels of the other Hague Convention
that she and Japan few at each 9th
ers throats Anyhow, Russia is rush
ing things. Unexpectedly she has de-
ci6ed to hold the next Peace Conven-
tion at The Hague beginning July 1.
The Russian Empire, in agreement
with the Government of the Neither
lands, proposed to the State Depart
ment last week, through Baron Rosen,
the Russian ambassador. that the Con-
vention be held at The Hague early in
July.
Secretary Root was also given a list
of the questions which the Russian
Government proposes to introduce at
the Conference for discussion.
If it will bring any peace to your
soul TO know what they are going to
do at The Hague. read the following,
and you will know all about it--per-
haps:
The Russian program, as outlined to
Secretary Root provides that all po-
liticaI questions shall be excluded from
the Conference. Other provisions pro-
posed by Russia for discussion are:
Amelioration of provisions of the
Convention concerning the settlement
of international controversies as far as
the Court of Arbitration and the In
yeStigation Committees are concerned.
Additions to the laws and usages of
Land warfare, among others the open
ing of hostilities, rights of neutrals on
land declarations of 1S99-renewal of
one of them.
Additions to the laws and uSageS of
land warfare, among others the open
ing of hostilities. rights uf neutrals on
land, declarations of 1S99-renewal of
one of them.
Compilation of a convention regard
ing the laws and uSageS of naval war
fare relating to the special operation
OF naval warfare, such as lombard
ment of forts by naval forces; location
of torpedoes; change of merchant YES
sells into warships; private property of
beliigerents at sea; time allowed mer-
chant vessels to leave neutral or hos
tile ports after the beginning of hos
tilities; rights and duties of neutralS at
sea, among others the question of con-
traband: rules to which belligerent YES
sells must submit in neutral ports; de-
struction from uncomfortable causes of
merchant vessels captured as prizes.
Into this convention would be insert
ed provisions concerning land warfare
which would apply TO naval warfare;
supplements to the Convention for the
adaptation to naval fights of the prin-
ciples of the Geneva Convention held
in 1864.
Well. did you everi Representative
Williams. the minority leader. has been
one of the worst howlers in Congress
over the power of the Committee on
Rules. of which he is the minority MEM
ber, and has declared that the Commit
tee "throttled" Justice, gagged" free
speech, ''muzzled" the minority. and all
that sort of thing. Well. reflect on this:
The bill in which MIR. Williams was
so interested and which he sought to
put through under the tactics usually
adopted by the Republicans was the
proposed National Quarantine bill,
against which there was much opposi-
ton from the members of the Texas
delegation. The rule provided for gem
eral debate until o'clock, considera-
ton after that, under the five-minute
rule, until o'clock, when the vote was
taken.
The objection of the Texas members
kept the bill from coming up, SO Mr..
Williams. to get it up. got the Commit
tee on Rules to report the order as
quoted. OF course, that was nuts for the
Republicans, and the way they did guy
Mr.. Williams was sure q sin. Then the
Democrats who did not want the bill
considered pitched into Mr.. Williams.
advancing all the arguments which he
the House and declaring that the bill
knitted States Rights" Mr., Williams
retorted that ne would take occasion,
in the course of the debate, to express
his opinion of a code of rules that re-
quired him to resort TO such a pro-
cedure in order to secure considera-
ton of a measure TO protect the men,
women and children of a third of the
country from the ravages of a foe more
deadly than an armed host.
"I am greatly interested in this bill."
said Minority Leader Williams, land as
its author. / want to say that nobody,
not an idiot ever thought that the State
had any authority outside of its bound
aries. This bill is public necessity.
There is not thing in it that any more
touches the sacred rights of the States
reserved and not delegated. than the
aff1uvia of a dead cat in the desert of
Sahara could affect the atmosphere of
the Arctic Circle"
The bill passed all right, but Minor
fly Leader Williams will have anything
but a happy time the next time he op-
poses a rule from the Committee on
Rules.
Senator Dick says that as soon as he
receives the resolutions OF the Ohio
Legislature. urging a further inyesti-
CATION by Congress of the case of Mai.
Estes q. Rathbone, of Ohio, former
Director of Posts in Cuba. he will take
up the matter and try 10 obtain salt
able action by the Senate Committee.
''I am in favor OF anything that will
dc justice to Maj. Rathbone." he says.
The President has appointed Fred
erick w. Whitridge. of New York. Spe-
cial Embassador TO represent the Unit
ed States at the wedding OF the King
of SPAIN
Mr.. Whitridge seems TO be chiefly
distinguished for being director in
numerous banking and trust concerns,
and as a member of most of The swell
New York clubs. Incidentally he is
rich. and has come before the public
as a contributor 10 leading magazines.
for which he has written on political
and economic subjects.
Here's what Secretary of the Navy
Bonaparte thinks of war and prepara-
tion for it, and his thinker is or
straight:
1--WE must keep our Navy abreast OF
the times-must have il ready at any
moment to do its appointed work and
do this well. Those who think Il car
be made ready in a little while and
rest satisfied with this state of prepa-
ration assume the grayest responsible
ity. Had the Monitor been ready q
hours earlier the Navy would have beer
I.