New-York tribune., 1912-08-11
AMERICA A PlUTOCRACY.

America Is really the greatest disap-
pointment to a democrat" he assured me-
1T had the finest opportunities OF any
country in the world. 1t could have
profted by the experiences Of other coun-
tries, but instead, it made all their mis-
takes 1t did away with an aristocracy
but it raised a plutocracy. 1t is the land
of the free, and there isn't any freedom
The people are the most submissive and
patient In the world"
do you think we are as vulgar and un-
read as Bernard Shaw pronounces us?" 1
asked, with an extremely cultured air.
Mr.. Jerome beamed and puffed.
IT'S perfectly impossible to generalize
like that. Americans are a strange MKT
urc. I've noticed that in regard to plays
particularly. Sometimes audiences there
will sit through and apparently enjoy
pieces which are such twaddle they could
not be produced in England, and again
profound and brilliant plays that England
would not accept or appreciate will meet
with great success there. I think there
is an intense desire for self-improvement.
The general attitude, of course. is that of
a wish to get rich. You all appear to be
in the stage I passed through as a boy,
trying all sorts of ventures to make
motley. dreaming OF the power and gifts
il would bring. It's a useful attitude,
perhaps, but not important to the artist"
What do you think Of the political
situation there?"
It's very interesting. Personally I am
anxious to have that man get the Presi-
dency who will do all he can to reduce
the tariffs. | am a strong free trader
myself. | think tariff a great barrier be
tween countries Free trade would do
more to throw the countries I'm each
others arms than anything else in the
world
oh" said I. disapprovingly. What
about universal peace%
We'll, that's so far off. And anyway
I'm not so sure that war isn't healthy
thing, when it is a war about some
trfiing point Of honor or a diplomatic
insult When it's a war for greed or
gain, then 1t is degrading and demoraliz-
ing"
"All wars are alike to me-" I said
nippantly but do tell me what you think
OF our American press"
Roughly speaking, 1t shocked me. 1t
appears vulgar and commonplace with Its
absurd headlines and exaggerated state
ments. 1t doesn't cater to two people out
of ten who may want helpful things. 1t
fosters the desires of the other eight. 1t
seems to me to give far too much space
TO local events. and not enough to inter
national affairs. l really believe we in
England are far more interested In you
than you are in us. For instance, when
was in America there was great polit-
cal strife going on here In Great Britain,
but | could find out little about 1t from
YOUR press. 1t was dismissed with few
lines. while the murder of a servant girl
inst outside Boston filled columns. 1 had
10 wait till the English newspapers came
over to read what | wanted TO know.
Now we've had a good deal OF space de-
voted to your political struggles, haven't
We? AS far as the headlines and sensa-
tionalism are concerned, no doubt they
will wear themselves out In time. You
can only have the headlines certain size.
and when the maximum Is reached they'll
return to normal proportions"
1t was then time for another cigarette,
and Mr.. Jerome didn't lose a moment
getting one. He's certainly what they
call here a "chain smoker"
AS soon as the blue haze was In work
ing order again, ! asked what he thought
of American writer's. He didn't get very
eloouent on this subject, but he admitted
= weakness for Edith Wharton. Mary
wilkins and Margaret Deland
You haven't many imaginative
writer's" he informed me. Perhaps
conditions don't foster them"
do YOU read much?' | asked.
"U,m-m-m-a fair amount. / find as
cet older I'm not as fond OF II as vas,
and where / used to enjoy novels my
taste now inclines toward history and
biography
what about new plays from you. Mr.
Jerome? Isn't one about due?'
"WelI. I've finished two recently. They
will both be produced in the autumn-one
i'm America, one here"
How do you feel about this dramatic
censorship you have here?"
Mr.. Jerome's cigarette waggled vigor-
ousIv as he replied with emphasis:
81 think 1t hampers the drama In Eng
land very much. 1t doesn't worry the
dro opatist who is earning his living. but 1t
,.mners Intellectual men. They refuse TO
nave ANYTHING to do with playwriting.'
shall you write suffrage play. Mr.