The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-21
WOULD SEND CANAL
 DISPUTE TO HAGUE
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 -~~~~~~~~~~~~~> ~>>~~~~~-~~~~~~~~-~~~ declaring he did not dare hope in the near future for such a thing as the perpetual guaranty of the territorial integrity of any country by other countries, he felt confident no guar anty designed to be of such nature would long survive unless 1t be forti- fled by some sanction of an imposing character.
 War has such character" the gov ernor continued, tits instruments are planned in part for scenic effect, and any subs titute for il must, If possible. be something not less psychologica1ly impressive. What can be more imposing than justice, administered in a stately building such as that to be opened next September at The Hague, and in state- ly form by a permanent and impartial court according 10 previously estab- lished rules.'
 Wheeler Speaks
 "It is ineonceivable, said Mr. Wheel er In his set speech, that after the | United States has settled by arbitra- ton far more important controversies between itself and Great Britain than any that can possibly arise with ref l erence to the Panama canal. it should
  formed in pursuance of a treaty which the United States Itself proposed this pure question of law as to what the Hay Pauncefote treaty means.'
 The speaker secuted the idea that 1t would be impossible to procure unbiased and impartial arbitrators. He said this was doing moral injustice to the judges who form the panel of the high court at The Hague, who are not arbitrators put forward by each nation to maintain it's own interests, but judges of high char l acter, learning and ability.
 Judges Not Biased
 'In so far as The Hague tribunal is concerned" MT. Wheeler continued, most of the judges are citizens of nations that have but trihing interest in the con troversy or perhaps none at all. But if it were otherwise 1t would be better thousand times that the United States should submit its cases to this tribunal than that it should be false to it's plighted faith and the honorable traditions of 125 years.'
 More than usual interest attaches to this years questions at stake, both at home and abroad, among them the Balkan, Panama and Mexican situations.
 World wide public opinion would support the judgment of a wise and ca- pablo international court in the ma iority of cases which might be brought to it for settlement, declared Joseph E. Davies of Madison. Wis. There is nothing formidable or inn possible to the American mind," he added, 'in the conception of a world wide rule of law. We have enthroned law in our national affairs. It is one of the canons of our faith, as well as one of the guaranties # our future, that we seek conscientiously to work out our social, political and economic developments through legal means and with respect for law Our experience has shown that where there is a will to let law govern there will be found | a way to develop and maintain rules and procedure by which the gravest differences may be settled satisfactor- fly.
 States Outrank Municipalities "The commonwealths that compose our union are organs far superior in extent, in real power and in influence to many of the states that are formal ly in possession of complete sovereign "; and yet our states have been ac- customed to submit to the Jurisdiction and judgment of the supreme court Of the United States without question: Thomas Willing Balch of Philadei- phia expressed the opinion that many improvements might be made in the eN- istng code of international law and that much could be accomplished through constructive legislation by future peace congresses. "The gradual development of international arbitra- tion," he said, has educated a large part of humanity to realize that war is a costly, as well as a brutal way l of settling differences between nations. The maintenance of the peace of the world owes much today to the practice during the past half century of settling