New-York tribune., 1908-12-22
Mr.. CONNERS SEES WAR
HIS IN EYE ON GERM4NT {.
That Country Ready to Se'ae Tern
t0ry. Says HomecOmer.

William J. Corners. chairman Of the Democratic
State Committee, who returned yesterday on tne
Amerika after a tour of the larger cities OF tle
Continent covering about six weeks, says tn0t
Germany is preparing to seize a slice of territory
but he did not risk prediction about the parucu-
lar location of the slice to be taken.
Il tell you" said Mr.. Conners. those Germans
are getting ready to spring something AS soon as
YOU strike German soil you are impressed WIN
the fact that the Germans are a snuny lot OF
people. The country Is full Of soldiers ana theS
are all wool and yard wide as soldiers 100 l
think the only thing that holds Germany oacK
from reaching out and taking slice OF terrl'oi'
Is the lack OF ready money.
Il guess all you folks noticed over here that
the German Emperor got his the otner day. ana
he had 10 stand for 1t, too. The Chancellor gave
him good calling down. Berlin Is the finest CITY
on the Continent with big forest right In the
middle of it, and no is permitted 10 cut down
a tree in the empire without permit from tne
government. and then you've got to plant one /"
its place.
Then they clean their streets over there. You
think New York does pretty we'll with sweeping
and sprInkling but, say, the people here ooh
know the first principles OF clean streets as they
have them in Berlin. On my word OF honor' d
fellow goes around with rubber what-d ye-ca1-
EN- and he squee- gees every bit OF dirt OF the
Dsyement till you could sit down on it with DUCK
pants and not get marked. And there Is reno"
alongside that all the dirt is properly taken
care Of
from a railroad like the New York Central to
German or French railroad is like going from the
dining room here at the Knickerbocker down 10
Bowery eating house. There's Just as Wide
difference To get up to standard they will
have to build their railroads entirely over Ihey
are inferior in every respect.
How about Paris?'
Say my young friend, Paris is swift place,
said the Democratic state chairman. They 90
things there twenty-four hours in the day that
INF he ted
York" And then Mr.. Conners laughed heartily at
some of his experiences in the French capital.
What did you hear along political lines?
Nothing. nothing at ALL" said Mr. Conners. l
didn't go talk politics went to get away from
them But 1 can tell you thing. and that is that
they take off their hats to over there now as a
nation Fifteen years ago We were good deal OF
a Joke over there But we not joke any
longer. They admit that we have one or the hneSt
navies In the world and know how to run II
England has navy twice as big as any otner ma
ton but q lot of her ships old junk and not
ht to go into commission. The London newspaper
with the greatest circulation is the that prints
the most American news. The others ought to take
the hint, but they Jog along in the same old rut.
Amy one try sWindIe you on your trip?
''They did not" said Mr.. Conners, briskly- They
looked ne over and made up their minds that If
they tried II on I'd get theirs first, and they let
alone"
DO you indorse Norman z. Macks plan for
permanent national headquarters for the Demo
crats?"
We'll 7 don't know" said Mr.. Conners. "I don't
expect to get excited about the next national cam
paign right away We shall have state cam
paign in between. A lot of good men can come and
go before the next ational campaign.
Mr.. Corners was accompanied by Mrs. Conners
and by Mr.. and Mrs. Wall of Buffalo The state
chairman will be here until Thursday morning, and
will see Charles T. Murphy. the Tammany leader
before he goes home Buffalo.