The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-09
MINDS SWAYED
BY FANTASIES
Other Nations Profess to Believe
That This Country Is Prepar-
ing for Military Conquest Of
Canada, and Talk of Arbi-
tration Treaty Is Only
Blind.
ny WILLIAM r. STEAD.
tspecial Gable 10 rho rlme,-ptspa,ch

London April Sit probably VIII
worry greatly surprise my American
readers to know how general the i'm
preston s. on the continent Of Europe
ihat President Tafts arbitration pro-.
posals are only intended to mask an
Impending attack upon canada To-
Gay was coniidcntially approached BY
Two Influential foreign journalists who
asked me whether We did not perceive
That This WAS the ultimate objective
OF President TaftiS policy. or course
roarcd With laughter, which they
ecemed TO think very much displaced.
One OF them. Russian. said lie sin
cnreiy Hoped 1t was true. because II
the United states were 10 be involved
IN an attempt to conquer Canadn. 1t
would effectively limi, any possibility
here OF doing mischief TO itussia in
the Ear East.
only mention this TO illustrate tho
fantasies which sway mems mindn
when they contemplate the course OF
political crcnts from a distance OF
1000 milcs
The movement in favor or the An
Sio-American arbitration goes OF
iDace, was one OF deputatlon that
waited npon the Lord Mayor this week
HSEinS MIN 10 undertake. officially, TIE
direction Of the development move
inen;. The Lord Mayors reply 10 IN,
Gcputation, which represented the FIRE.
churches and peace societies. was ex
rci!ent In tone and taste and full OF
Zoo sense Ecntteinen" he said in
effect, ~ am not only able. but eager
70 DO everything can in this direc.
ticn. but the appeal 10 the religion.
ORGANIZATIONS of the country should no,
manate from nc. although am per
itctiy VIKING to support 1t. ANY such
appear ought TO be made in the firs,
Instance ny a joint committee reprg.
sentinS Anglicans. Free Churchmen
se"s ana Catholics Create a unil or.
s h.ioN which would represent the
Whoie religious sentiment Of the coun
Try ana let that body. which. II II likes
San shelter itself under the aerjs ~
me Alansion House. appeal to ali their
associated organizations throu9ho,,,
ne country, first, to give expression To
'ne'r sen nnients: secondly, to take the
initiative cvoking q sentiment for
'chcFal mass meeting of citizens.
Churchiy UnfHcation.
The wisdom Of this advice
iecoSnized immediately. and Mr. Never
q me Free Church Council, proceeded
,,' pen up communication with the
Nrchbishop OF Canterbury. the cbiar
"a Dbl and the Catholic Archbishon 81
" estniinster. IT would be ono OF tbe
most delightful OF the by-producfs =,
PRESIDENTS Taft's initiative if nc co,,1d
succeed on this supremacy Important
dov,,
on SO wide basis ns 10 include tho
Jews '- elie
me greatest satisfaction IL express
ca mere by those who know him. at thu
+ news that J. Brown Scott. formerIv
one OF tho american delegation to The
,a asme aohierenee. has been appointed
permanent secretary that Is to saw
the executive OF the administrative Of
ficc OF tho Carnegie endowment for
international peace. had the pleas
IRE or seeing Mr. Scott almost daily
curing all the critical times of the
last Hague Conference and In com
mon with all those who worked In the
cause or peace and arbitration I form
Ell the highest Idea. Of his grim tcnao-
tty of purpose. his clear grasp OF
fundamentals. and his tireless indus
try.
rhe veto bill has been struggling
this week through the obstacles which
have been piled in its path by the on
position. 1t is a short bill, with the
fewest clauses but in order to obstruct
its progress 500 amendments have been
Put down by the opposition, each OF
which has to be moved seconded. de-
hated and divided upon.
II debate were allowed to any
,cngth'the bill would not get through
committee until next Christmas, even
with continuous session.
liberals VIII he Drastic,
But there is no intention on tho
part OF the Liberals to allow any
Yuch carefully engineered obstruction
TO stand in the way Of giving effect
30 the national will. After a certain
number OF days and nights have been
consumed in discussing the earlier
emend ments the bill will be passed by
timetable arrangement by which
20 much time will be given to each
clause and all the remaining clauses
Will BIO passed by the use, II needs
bc of tho gulllotine.
There is not the least shrinking on
tile part Of the Liberals to ADOPT ting
the most drastic measures that may
be required. while on the other side
there Is an ever Increasing realization
of the fact that tho veto bill Is In It's
essence n most moderate measure, and
that tho Lords may thank their lucky
stars that they have been allowed to
get off SO cheap.
The most interesting episode In Par
lament this week was the clash boz
tween Lord Hugh Cecil and Mr.. Bal
four on the question OF the alleged
decay Of parliamentary intelligence
and integrity. Lord Hugh Cecil had
expressed himself very strongly on tho
ground that, thanks to the mechanism
Of party politics. political independ-
ence had gone by the door, and the
4 House Of Commons WAS politically COR
rupt. Now, corruption is an ugly word.
and no one, not even Hilaire Belloc,
who is the Thersltes OF the hour, has
Sentured to impute any pecuniary COR
ruption to tho members of the Com
mons. His charge is limited to the ac-
cusation that peerages arc paid for