Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-06-12
lake MOHONK conference
By When Inaugurated---The Place
Where Held---Those Attending.
By r. S. Turk
No Il

Where Held---Those Attending.
by r. S. Turk
No. l..
ii was our pleasure to attend at
Mohonk Lake, New York, on the Goth,
21st, and 22d of May, what is known
as the Lake Mohonk International Ar
bitration Conference. This naked
statement to our readers conveys little
information, because, the objects while
they may be guessed from the name of
the conference, the point at which it
was held, and the auspices under which
it was held, are not generally known
to our people. In order, therefore, that
our readers may know something of
this conference, l shall attempt briefly
Il description of the man who inaugu-
rated it, the place where it was holden,
and the objects of its assembling.
About fourteen years ago a Mr.. Albert
Is. Smiley, Il Quaker by religious pro-
fession and tendencies, a gentleman of
education, culture, wealth and gener-
Gus impulses, began to study the modes
by which strife among nations could
be averted, and to further such end
invited to his hotel at Lake Mohonk
conference of some of the leaders in
thought and philanthropy. Thus was
inaugurated the conference which he
subsequently named the Lake Mohonk
Conference. He believed the mode CT
settling international disputes was by
arbitration. He realized that disputes
must arise, that nations are but con-
gregation of individuals, and as indi-
viduals do have differences, so must
nations. He believed that in the end
wars must cease save among savages,
and that the best mode to bring about
universal peace is through some mode
of submitting disputes to the judgment
and decision of wise tribunal, which
when it has considered and passed on
the questions involved, will be upheld
in its judgments and DEGREES by the
nations, as our courts are upheld by the
Nation and the States The conference,
therefore, is step toward Universal
Peace.
The point at which the conference
was held is ideal. 1t was in the large
and commodious hotel of Mr. Smiley
in Central New York, on the top of a
mountain commanding view of the
Catskills and the valleys below, beside
lake as peaceful and as beautiful as
the dream of Mr.. Smiley, of the peace
he would give unto the world. On
leaving New York the route is by the
West Shore railway to Kingston,
thence to New Paltz, where the car
riages of Mr.. Smiley meet the guests,
then drive of seven miles, cross coun-
try and up the mountain to Mountain
House ends the journey. No more
beautiful scene can be imagined than
that which stretches away beneath, as
one drives along those winding roads,
smoothe and easy of grade, built by
Mr.. Smiley and laid out with his own
hands. A great break in the conglom-
crate stone on the crest of the noun
tain shows precipitous bluff four
hundred and fifty feet high, and the
road winds around the foot of this prec-
ipice On the top of it can be seen a
look out, from which the view is SIM
ply enhancing. The wild scene caus-
ed by the tumbling of huge boulders
thrown from the cliff above by the
hand of nature, is probably met here as
nowhere else in all these mountains |
BY the side of and nearly at the foot of
this cliff, deep crevasse or break was
left in mother earth, so that when wa
ter came it filled, and thus was formed
the placid and beautiful Mohonk Lake |
This lake is OF unknown depth at
places, and has no known outlet, but
the water is fresh and pure, and fish
live in il, and canoes glide over its sur
face, which on clear days shines like
DuilllSHCu SilNcI. lie estate OI MT.
Smiley and deceased twin brother,
Alfred, consists of about $4,000 acres,
and has about sixty miles of magnifi-
cent roadway. Walks lead almost
everywhere, and a flower garden sell
dom equalled adds bewitchingly to the
scene. Mr.. Smiley is a native of Maine
He is. an A. NJ. Haverford College,
Phila., and an l.. ID. He and his
twin brother, Alfred, taught school in
Providence, r. L., for many years, and
on a summer excursion found Mohonk
Lake. Being impressed with its beau
ties they purchased it. Each built a
hotel on the mountain near this lake,
and both hotels are crowded with
guests every season, from June LIST to
November LIST, about which time Mr..
Smiley leaves for his winter home at
Redlands, California.
Mr.. Smiley's philanthropy first be-
gan to assert itself, nationally, when
in the administration of Gen. Grant at
his suggestion an Indian Commission
was appointed, so imbued had he be-
come with the fact that the Indian
needed friends, and that something
more should be done to conserve his
rights, than was then being done. About
twenty-five years ago Mr. Smiley in
augurated the Lake Mohonk Indian
Conference, and the Indian has never
had a warmer and truer friend. This
philanthropic gentleman on the 18th
day of March last rounded his eightieth
birthday, and being then at his winter
home in Redlands, Cal, various socie-
ties, the public schools and the people
of Redlands through their representa-
tiveS and mayor visited him in his
home, and presented him with a loving
cup. 1t is not permitted in our space