The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-07-11
ADDRESSED {. {.
President Taft Discussed
Arbitration Treaty.
WARM DEBATE IN CONVENTION
Citizenship Day" Discussion Threat
ened to End in Serious Split in
Big Convention in Allan
tic City.

Atlantlc Clty, July On d SPSNNN -
the international Christian Endeayor
convention here President TAFT de-
clared that the negotiations for the
arbitration treaty between Great Bril-
tain and the United States have reach
ed such a stage that there Is no doubt
as TO the signing Of the pact
Il am glad to say" said the presl-
dent, that today we have reached
such a point in the negotiations for
treaty Of universal arbitrations with
one Of the great European powers
that we can confidently predict the
signing OF a satisfactory treaty.
The arbitration treaty heretofore
with Great Britain and other coun-
tries has excepted from the causes
which may be arbitrated those which
involved the vital interests Of either
party or its honor.
"The treaty which we are now CLOS
ing with Great Britain eliminates
these exceptions and provides that all
questions Of international concern Of
n justifable character shall be sub
mltted to the arbitration Of an Impair
lial tribunal"
The president expressed the hope
that eventually half dozen European
countries may make similar treaties.
Such action, he said, would not aDol'
lsh war, but would furnish a forcibls
instrument in preventing II.
Rev. Thomas Evans. Of Nebraska,
preoipitated a warm discussion in the
convention over naming the proposed
league to advocate good citizenship.
DR.. Evans, who spoke in favor %
the use of the word good rather
than the use OF the word Christian
declared that he wanted every inhab-
liant OF the United States. be he or
che Hebrew, Christian or Mohamme-
ian. Mormon or Buddhist, to Join IN
the effort to raise the standard OF citl-
zenship of the country.
Other speakers opposed this all en-
bracing suggestion. one even going SO
far as to say that he did not want He
brews In the movement at all and that
he thought the work could be done
very well without them.
1t has been said," declared this
sneaker. that Hebrews object to the
word Christian being used to desig
nate these leagues. II Hebrews cant
come In under the heading Christian
they need not come in at all. for my
part don't want them
This last statement was too mucH
for Dr.. Evans, who hotly replied
Or. Evans Defends Hebrews.
Good citizenship is better than bad
citizenship and the Hebrews are good
citizens. for my part want all sect'
and denominations to join in this
movement. The trouble with us church
members nowadays is that we are get
ting to be pharisees of the worst kind
We put up bars that Christ knocked
down when he was on earth and then
labor TO defend our actions, wasting
( time and energy that had better be ap
piled to helping the world get better
Even those who are not Christians
will be the better for Joining in this
good citizenship movement"
DR.. Evans is the founder OF th'
Good Citizeiship Day" idea, which Is
for all to observe the Sunday before
the Fourth of July as Good Citizen
shin Day." when they will seriously
think over their duties toward the
state. and whether or not they are
conducting their lives solely for theil
own advancement or for the best In
terests OF the nation as a whole.
The meeting was held In st. James
Methodist Episcopal church to discuss
this movement and to devise ways o.
forwarding the idea. 1t was after DR.
Evans had introduced a resolution
which he wished the meeting to en-
dorse. in which he used the words
good citizenship" instead OF Chris
tian citizenship" that the argument
started. Rather than disrupt the con
ference. DIR. Evans withdrew his mo
tion. leaving the individual churches
TO work out the idea in their own way
for there was not a shadow OF opposI
tIon toward endorsing the idea as
whole.