The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1911-02-03

of what We call the popular move
ment. The popular movement in our
country is to change the machinery
OF our Government from privacy to
publicity; it is to chase it out of com
mittee room; it is to get at the nomi
mating process by a widespread meth
cd which is called the primary. You
can not conduct statewide primary
privately. You can conduct a caucus
privately, but not primary; not the
present kind of primary. With the
old kind you could"
DR.. WEIGH Talks.
DR.. WEIGH, of Johns Hopkins, talked
on vivisection and animal experiment,
characterizing the efforts of the anti
vivisectionists as misdirected senti-
mentality"
He said live animals under the in
fiuence of anaesthetics did not suffer
any more pain when handled by the
surgeons than after death. He added
that animal experimentation was of in
creasing benefit to medicine and the
welfare of man.
Ambassador Bryce devoted his time
to a plea for the establishment of
facts before views In the moulding of
public opinion. He lauded the work
of setting facts before the public as a
task of great opportunity to the writ
ers of today.
Secretary MacVeagh talked about
the personality of President Taft,
characterizing him as statesman"
rather than a politician.
Maj. Gen. Wood said the develop
ment of the army was the subject
which occupied his mind most. He
told of the methods by which large
reserve military establishment could
be built up in the United States in
preparation for war.
Haskins Tells Purpose.
Frederic ]. Haskins, vice president
Of the club, in introducing Thomas
Nelson Page as master of ceremonies,
outlined the character and purpose
of the National Press club and des-
cribed Hobby Night" an annual
event in the clubs entertainment pro-
gram.
Some idea of the magnitude of the
newspaper business in the United
States" said Mr.. Haskin, may be had
from the statement that the total
daily circulation of all the dailies in
this country is now 22,00O,OO0 copies
one for every four persons in our pop
ulation. Making allowances for dupli-
cation and for infants and illiterates,
it is estimated that three out of every
four persons in Our population read
some newspaper every day. News
papers are now printed in thirty-five
languages in the United States. In the
amount of capital invested, the pub
fishing business for some time has
stood seventh among all American in
dustries, and it is probable that the
new census will show a gain to fifth
or even fourth place. From these
facts, it will be seen that the power of
the press is no misnomer."
Taft's Principles.
When President Tafts mind is made
up he takes his position without re-
gard to whether the people or the pub
lie men will vote him up or down
this was Secretary MacVeagh's charac
terization of President Taft before the
National Press Club of Washington.
Secretary MacVeagh's hobby is
President Taft and his exposition of
the personality of the chief executive
was the result of personal association
with the president. He illustrated
President Taft's courage in promot-
ing legislation regardless of the atti-
tude of public men by citing the Cana
dian reciprocity agreement pending in
congress.
President Taft believed he was
right and went ahead" said the secre-
tary. who in our political history
ever did an act of simpler courage
and candor? And who could have
done it who was accustomed to dwell
on his own political fortunes of the i'm
convenience of his party, or
thought more of how the people |
would vote than of what it was right |
and fair to do for them?"