The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-29

saying that I would be buried under
banyan tree or lost I'm the Jungle. I was
twenty-seven years Old and rather skep-
| teal myself. As / looked back from the
deck OF the steamship and saw my native
shores blur into dim mist and vanish,
thought I was headed straight for an
Asiatic side-track. and that John Bar
rett's disappearance would be perma-
nent
But when I got a view Of Japan. the
whole Orient burst upon my magma
ton. Here 7 said. is the place for use
fulneSs and for study TWO ways were
open for me in Siam. could bulldoze
the king and his ministers. or I could
ask for arbitration. In either event.
however. facts were necessary. I went
70 the teak forests and looked over the
ground in person with a trained report
er's knowledge Of the essentials. The
documents in the case were carefully
examined. I looked up all the prece-
dents OF the Orient
When I was ready, I asked for a set
1 Element by arbitration. Siam had ex-
pected a battle ship and a demonstra-
| ton. Roln Jocqucmyns the Belgian
expert and International lawyer. was
paid $4,000 to fight me. I employed an
attorney at Shanghai. The case went
before the British chief justice for China
and Japan. and the decision on every
point was given 20 this country. DR..
Cheeks heirs were paid a large sum Of
money. Siam was pleased because I
had been fair, and hadn't buIlied the
king with a gunboat Mr.. Justice Field.
Of the United States Supreme Court.
wrote me a congratulatory letter. in
which there was an intlmation that I
would have made pretty good lawyer.
Informed on the Philippines.
When Mckinley was elected President
sent him my resignation. He asked
me to stay another year. and dispose
Of all unfinished business Then came
the war with Spain. I started home to
get a commission in an Oregon regi-
ment. In Shanghai a cablegram was
waiting from John Hay, Secretary Of
State, asking If I would go to Manila
as the correspondent for a syndicate
OF American and European newspapers.
Dewey had just sunk the Spanish squad
ron. 7 remained In the Philippines until
the war was over. Returning home by
way Of Europe. I met and dined with
many statesmen and government officers.
In London I addressed some Of the mem
bers OF Parliament on the Philippine
situation
When I called on President Mckinley
to pay him my respects he said he had
read the address I had made in London.
The Philippine question, he thought.
should be explained 70 the American
people. He didn't know anything about
the islands himself until Dewey captured
Manila. Popular ignorance was woeful
and dangerous. He asked me to repeat nv
speech in different parts of the country.
saying he and Senator Hanna would
make all OF the arrangements. I told
him I would do Il as a matter OF patri-
otism, but not as politics. Invitations
came from boards Of trade and chambers
Of commerce. In Cincinnati I talked to
the great Commerce Club, and sitting
near me was William II. Taft. then a
United States judge, with no thought
venture 10 say. OF service in the Phil
ipplnes or Of the Presidency.
THE and-imperialistic press attacked
and ridiculed me considerably. Out OF
the hostility then ,engendered, has come
the stereotyped witticism that John Bar
rctt is talking again AS a matter of
fact, John Barrett has not talked for
two years. except after repeated urging
and he has declined invitations from
every part OF the United States. I
deny. also. that ] seek personal adver-
Using. / have been interested IN great
questions. and I have been much In
ernest. Furthermore. John Barrett has
never believed in the indispensable man
he is nonexistent-and he would be a
joke or a nuisance il he were an actual
itys
Naturally. I got into the campaign of
1900. defended McKinley's Philippine