New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-11
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

THE OPIUM cONFERENCE.-Cons
erable interest has been expressed In the
delay I'm the meeting of the lntcrnatlonu
Opium Conference. which was TO have tax
en- place at The Hague last winter lhis
delay is due 10 the fact that at the last
minute the scope of the conference was
broadened and the nations invited to par
tlcipate were requested 20 come prepared
with statistics and data on other haoit-
forming drugs, including cocaine and NOR
phine This proposition was cheerfully ac-
coded TO. but 1t has taken time to pre-
pare the necessary data. This is now
understood TO he complete. and the Meth
erlands government Will soon issue an H.
vtation to the powers to meet at 1he
Hague on October IL. The American dele
gates TO the conference Will be the XII
Rev. Robert IT, Brent the Episcopal MIS-
slonary Bishop Of the Philippines, VINO
represented the United States at the form
or conference at Shanghai; Or. Hamilton
Wright, who was also at the conference
and Henry ]. Fingers, of Santa Barbara.
an active member OF the California Board
OF Pharmacy, who has had considerable
oxperience In the effort 10 suppress the
trade In opium on the Pacific Coast. The
secretary will be Frederick Huidekoper' or
Washington.
UNDERWOODS DIFFICULTY.-It has
I.np been a recognized fact that where
man makes n charge that is wholly with
ont foundation q retracton and an apology
are comparatively easy, but that when
man insults another by stating merely
Tho truth a retraction IS difficult TO enect
This Is the situation with Representative
Underwood, the Democratic leader OF the
House, and Representative Ollie James
between whom the friends of both have all
day been trying TO effect a reconciliation
AS told in these dispatches this morning.
Mr.. Underwood said yesterday In DEBATE
that Representative James had Just come
ont OF a successful campaign for Senator
where q play 10 the galleries purchaser
,o+os" etc Mr.. Underwood referred, OF
couree n the course OF Representative
Janes. related in this column In The
Tribune Of June 30, where IL was told now
bv taldng advantage Of the ignorance OF
the Kentucky voters. Mr.. James had gone
I'D and down the state asserting that be-
cause his opponent. Senator Paynter, was
paired with Senator Guggenheim' that
clearly showed that Mr.. Paynter was IN
league with "the interests" and that lie
and Senator Guggenheim were In perfect
accord. 1t has been pointed out TO MT
rTnderwood to-day that this assertion
coming from the Democratic leader or the
House. may cost Mr.. James his ooNeteu
sea+ In the Senate. lie has captured the
Democratic nomination IN Kentucky. II IS
true. but he has vet 10 gain the election, and
Mr. I-nderwoods truthful assertion VIII
make effective campaign material for the
Republicans who hope to put mernoer
Of their party in Mr.. Paynter's seat MI.
Underwood does not want to lose seat
in the Senate for MS party and he would
gladly undo this mischief, but he IS IN
great difficulty because he knows his as
sart,on n be strictly IN accordance with
the facts and he cannot truthfully DENY
81 AS The late Secretary Rusk used tore
mark. "Cau man a liar II you like and
if II makes you feel better You can take
II back and apologize But don't prove
him one unless YOU want him 70 he your
enemy fer life.
NOT NYsTERIOUS-There Is nothing
mysterious in President Taft's sudden de-
termination TO spend the week end al
Beverly, conflicting reports TO the contrary
notwithstanding The official life OF the
Chief Executive Of this great nation so
completely overshadows his private and
personal life that people are apt 70 for
get that his actions are often controlled
by the same personal motives as those OF
men in private life. To those who know
the anxiety with which Mrs. Taft is look
Ing forward to the adjournment or this
session and the Presidents arrival at
Beverly. and the trial II IS 10 her 10 have
him detained in Washington trial some
what aggravated, perhaps. by her deli
cate although improving health-there is
nothing mysterious in the Presidents TAX
ing advantage Of situation which seems
TO make possible a three days absence
from Washington 10 spend that interval
with his family. His decision was made
suddenly, after consultation with the lead
ers in Congress, who assured him that
none Of his policies would suffer by his
absence and that neither the wool bill nor
the free list bill would be ready for his
disapproval before Monday. He will. of
course, keep In close touch with affairs
here while he is away and he will return
on Monday or Tuesday, according 10 the
developments in the meantime.