The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-04
SIGNED, DESPITE
BAD CH|R0GRAPHY
Peace Scores Another Vic-
tory as God of War RACES
Without
TREATIES SEALED
FOR ARBITRATION
Few Scratches of Pen Signify
Much to World-EngIish
Ambassador Keeps
Golden Rod

WASHINGTON. d. c.. Aug. s.
Knox, your handwriting might un-
dergo little Improvement
With this expression from Presi-
dent Taft. followed by burst of
hearty laughter from the historic
group assembled. the hands of the
clock pointing to $40 2. NJ, the
Anglo-American general arbitration
treaty, first practical step toward the
lasting peace of the world. was sign
ed at the White House to-day
AS the secretary of state appended
his signature to one copy, Mr.. Bryce,
the British ambassador. signed the
other Thereupon the copies were
exchanged and signed again. Finally.
Mr.. Knox. In the scrawl which drew
forth the whimsical criticism of the
President, attached his name to the
American copy of the same general
arbitration treaty with France. a du-
plicate OF which was at the same time
signed in Paris by NJ. Jusserand. the
French ambassador to the United
States.
Thus with a few scratches of the
pen. while a violent storm ragged with
out as though the god of war was
mourning his vanishing trade, one OF
the momentous chapters of the worlds
history was written.
And 1t was all accomplished with
marked simplicity. without sensa-
tional incident or spectacular setting
to mark the event.
At the end. when the President and
Mr.. Bryce parted. there was a hearty
handclasp between them and they
drew aside into a corner fors few
earnest whispered words.
Keeps Golden Rod.
There was a vase on the manteI
In the room overlooking with freshly
gathered golden yellow flowers. Mr..
Bryce leaned over as he was about
TO depart, and selecting a spray. said:
What beautiful golden rod. / be-
lieve It Is your national flower
shall carry away this spray as me-
mento of the occasion"
The signing occurred In the historic
studio on the second floor Of the
White House at the head of the stair
way in the room from the walls OF
which hangs the picture Of the signing
OF the treaty which ended the Span
ish-American war, where the tropics
gathered by three generations OF
presidents are grouped: in the room
where Lincoln meditated alone or held
the fatefuI conferences of the war
between the States; where the eman-
cipation proclamation was conceived
and where the war President spent
his last hours before going forth to
his assassination.
Mr.. Bryce came down from his sum-
naer home in New England and for
the occasion, and was accompanied
by MIR. Ovey. second secretary OF the
British embassy. Representing France
was the Viconte De Saint Phalle. Sec
retire archiviste. The President and
Secretary OF State Knox stood shoulder
to shoulder and hanking them wara
Third Assistant Secretary Of state,
Chandler Hale. and Sydney Smith.
chief of the diplomatic bureau whose
function it was to handle the seals and
apply the decorative fixtures to the
weighty documents after the binding
force of signatures had been given to
them. These with the secretary OF
commerce and labor, Mr.. Nagel. the
secretary of agriculture. Mr.. Wilson,
Secretary Hills. Assistant Secretary
Foster and a small group OF news
paper correspondents, comprised the
party which assembled in the study at
3 o'clock.
.s.g peelsaaiaaries Arranged.
All of the preliminaries had been
arranged In advance. The treaties
were spread out on the presidents
desk, close to the window. At the
opposite side OF the room battery
of photographers was entrencned. The
~ictorial scene being embaimed for all
time. the remainder OF the ceremony
was quickly over.
Dipping the gold pen into the bronze
ink pot. with firm hand Knox hastily
scribbled his name "Philander C.
Knox" across the bottom OF the treaty.
"Jari1es Bryce was Mt the, same M
slant written by the Ambassadors
across the treaty which he had be-
fore him. Carefully the two copies
were thereupon exchanged and the
same signatures Were once more ap-
pended. A blotting pad ala the rest.
Looking over Knoxs shoulder the
President made his genial remark. re
was $40 o'clock exactly.
French Treaty Signed.
Rising. Mr.. Bryce stood while tho
Secretary OF State signed the French
treaty. which at the same hour had
& e.
And that ended 1t. y,esuYtary talk
followed during which rne President
and Knox got into a dispute about
the gold pen.
IT desire. after having THIS pen suie~
ably inscribed. to present I. 70 You
one who was INSTRUMENTAL
mo. no." quickly interrupted tbs
4 President. 1T was YOUR work. I could
not think Of accepting IT.
WELL" said Knox finally. 'Tn have
1t inscribed and wen discuss X later
1t was agreed that the matter was
one that might be wen left to peace
ftl method of arbitration. ana the
President and his premier went to the
golf game.
Theatrical Man Dies.
BALTIMORE. MD. August s.--yef.
ferson Bernstein. manager at the Au~
ditorium for the Shuberts died sud-
danlv hare fn.daw - nnnx.lcx.r ELL