The National tribune., 1908-03-19

dl or AudHlS W Sdpl. SoSA NA'>S'
Six of the 13 treaties negotiated by
the powers parties to The Hague Con-
ference have been ordered reported IA
yorably by the Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations. Secretary Root and
Solicitor Scott, of the State Department
appeared before the committee, and ex-
planned the purposes of the conVen-
tions The treaties acted upon by the
committee are those against which it is
thought no opposition will be raised in
the Senate, and are as follows: Rela-
tive to the opening of hostilities; con-
cerning the laws and customs of wars
on land; concerning the rights and du-
ties of neutral States and individuals
in land warfare; in regard to the plac-
ing of submarine mines; concerning the
bombardment of undefended towns by
naval forces. and adapting the princl-
Piles of the Geneva Convention to mari
time warfare.
San Francisco wants the President
and Secretary Root to go to that city
to greet the great fleet on its arrival
there. but the President has declined
for himself and Secretary Root. He
has written that Secretary Metcalf will
go, and that it is his place to do so,
and that he shall be considered as the
PreSlQentS personal representative.
Now. what do YOU think of this dog
gerel as applied to a President of the
United States? You can find it in the
Congressional Record-if it has not
been edited out-and it was uttered on
the floor of the United States Senate by
Senator Bailey, of Texas, in an attack
on the currency bills. OF course it was
applied to President Roosevelt. Oh. yes;
you don't know what it is yet? Well,
read it now:
''They tell me that he is brave. SAID
the Texan, land l answer that he is
lust as rash as he is brave. They tell
me that he is honest, and I answer that
he is Just as arbitrary as he is honest.
He is
"sToo bad for a blessing.
Too good for a curse;
wish in my heart.
He were better or worse
"If he were much better he would be
a Democrat, and if he were little
worse he would not obscure and con-
fuse the great issues between us and
our adversaries."
'"The guardianship of the constitu-
tionality of laws by the National judi
ciary was the greatest contribution of
America to the science of politics.
THE maintenance of the prestige of
the Supreme Court shows the growth
of the judicial spirit over that of arbi-
trary force''-EIihu Root.
The above thought was the contribu-
ton of the Secretary of State on the oc-
casion of an elaborate dinner given by
the Embassad0r from Brazil to the per-
sonnel of the Supreme Court
In the absence of all formal speeches
the EN- mbassador asked the Secretary of
State for an expression of some thought
on this occasion, and the above senti-
ment was accordingly printed on the
menu cards at the dinner.
A resolution has passed the House
calling on the Secretary of the Navy
for all letters and data regarding the
cost and bearing upon the removal of
the wreck of the battleship Maine, and
to provide burial for the dead now lying
in the hulk of that ship.
There is mystery about that wreck
which the Government has never want
ed solved, it would seem, or it would
not so long have remained in Havana
Harbor, a menace to navigation. but
worse vet, far worse-witi, the bones
of drowned sailors bleaching in the sea
bottom.
Without doubt the Navy Department
is somewhat amazed at the outspoken-
ness of some of its Admirals and Com
manders, and does not know exactly
how to stop the talk gracefully and
without seeming to put on the gag.
Secretary Metcalf is seeking informa-
ton as to the extent to which officers
of the English navy are allowed openly
n
public prints on matters of policy in
battleship construction, manuvers, etc
1t has been asserted that because of the
much greater freedom allowed in Eng
land in that respect good results are
obtained and the perpetuation of de-
fects is eliminated. There has been
some talk of modifying the existing
naval regulation which prohibits off
GERS of the United States Navy from
discussing questions of policy in the
public prints. and the information gain
ed by Mr.. Metcalf will be fully con-
sidered in any changes that may be
made.
There was time when it was said
that Mrs. Depew did not like several
things that Senator Depew had done
and it will be remembered that she
went abroad. ostensibiy to see her sick
ieilidiiitu iiri
months. Evidently it was all talk.
however, Mrs. Depew was one of the
most interested auditors in the Senate
galleries while her husband was max
ing his set speech in defense of Secre-
| tary Cortelyou's program during the re-
cent panic. 1t is the first time in long
while that Mrs. Depew has been in the
Senate Chamber. Immediately aftel
ending his remarks the Senator hur-
ried to the gallery. where Mrs Depew
was among the first to congratulate
him.
BY vote of eight to five the Senate
| Military Affairs Committee upheld
| President Roosevelt for his action II
the Brownsville case in dischargins
without honor q battalion of the 25tf
Coiored Inf
| It was by Democratic votes that tn,
| President was upheld. Five Democrat
and three Republicans supported him
the Democrats being without exception
4 from the Southern States
The Republicans who voted TO sus
tain the President We're Senators War
rem. Ledge and Warner.
Voting with these were the follow
! ing Democrats: Senators Taliaferro
! Foster, Overman, Frasier and Nc
Creary
! The FIVE who voted in the negative
against upholding the President, wer
SanatnrS ,tva 4,