New-York tribune., 1912-03-01
WATSON SNUBS SHUSTER
Poet Won't sit on Platform with
Ex-PerSian Official.
D0DGES ECONOMIC DINNER
Englishman Writes Club He
Doesn't Think Britain Has
Designs in Asia.

Designs in Asia.
William Watson, the English poet, de-
cided that he and that critic Of his home
government w. Morgan Shuster. could not
in dignity occupy the same platform to-
gether. so he absented himself last night
from the dinner of the Economic Club.
Both he aHd the former Treasurer General
Of Persia had been invited to speak TO the
fifteen hundred diners gathered In the
grand ballroom of the Hotel Astor and
both apparently had accepted, but when
the poet heard that Mr.. Shuster was to tell
about the international forces that drove
him from Persia he wrote instead a very
carefully worded letter OF declnation.
Robert Erskfne Ely, secretary of fhe
Economic Club Of New York. read this let
ter from the rostrum while the diners
laughed, but not until after Mr Shuster
had completed his brief address The poet
wrote>
Hotel Gotham. New York. Feb. %, 1912.
Dear Mr. Ely: had looked forward with
equal pleasure and pride TO the privilege Of
taking my place as one of the trinity of
nomic Club this evening. The club repre-
sents, | believe. in special and pre-emi
nent degree the business intellect Of New
lork-a Kind and order Of intellect which
l regard with all tho greater respect and
admiration because of my own lamentable
deficiency in 1t. In one of his prose writ
lngs walt Whitman, with a certain oddly
Of phrase which does not obscure the es-
sential truth of mis- observations. speaks of
the genius for business as mot the least
among the geniUses."
had anticipated with great satisfaction
the opportunity Of being present at a gath
ering in which that species of genius would
be 50 conspicuously and SO numerouslX
represented as IT Is sure TO be at the din
ner Of the Economic Club tonight. But /
learn that there are circumstances which
make it rather unlikely that the discussion
OF matters relating to economies can be
altogether dissociated this evening from
although l do not commit myself to any
Proval> Of the policy Of Great Britain in re
ldtion 10 Persian affairs, ] feel that my
presence as guest OF the Economic Club
tonight might be interpreted by my own
countrEmen as tacit acquiesence In
very unfavorable opinion OF that policy.
No one. ] think, who knows anything or
my record will accuse me of any propensity
toward political hedging or trimming, and
I'm 80 far as one of your other guests OF
oiple OF Persia for the Persians," l am
entirely with him. But-speaking as one OF
those Englishmen who have been often re.
viled as the friends of every country but
that Great Britain has any predatory de-
signs in Asia. nor do l think that Great
Britain has any disposition to play the
part Cf a docile accomplice IN the predatory
designs of any ether Europeap power, II
such design exists.
Rather, therefore, than find myself in tho
position Of appearing to acquesce in opin- |
ions which [ cannot share--however much |
may respect the sincerity and courage
with which they are uttered-T feel Ii to be |
desirable. in the interests of general har-
privilege of which am nevertheless very
keenly sensible. and which, I am duly
aware. carries with IL a distinction Of which
any man. might be proud. For these rea-
sons, and for these reasons alone. | deny
myself That privilege this evening-the
privilege NJ being one Of the guests OF
honor at a gathering which will represent
the practical brain power OF America as. |
believe. no other gathering could do, the
kind Of brain power which Is at the base
Of Americas prosperity, Americas eff
cheney. and Americas unique position
among the forces that move the world. |
WILLIAM WATSON.
To Robert Erskino Fly. Esq, New York
As a matter OF fact, Mr. Shuster made
rery little direct reference to England or
The English government He did draw,
though pathetic picture Of the death OF
the Persian people" which elected tremen-
1ous applause.
The death OF the Persian people said
he, the sitting OF their aspiration toward
> modern. liberal form Of government, was
written down in the books Of diplomacy far
beyond the confines Of Persia, and beyond
their power. or any ono else's power In
Persia 70 help or abate. That is what
akes the crime II is bad enough for a
nation to suffer from conditions within
rs own borders or traits Inherent in it.
self But It is doubly bad, 1t seems 10 me,
'or people TO die after eighteen centuries
IF disappointment. of which We have the
most accurate record, at the very moment
" hen. 70 the surprise OF the world, they
had decided 70 adopt Western ethical
standards, 10 look TO the West for their
business methods and their commercial and
development; TO look to the West,
IN other words, for everything except re-
liglon ITSELF say It is doubly hard that
they should he stned for reasons Of a pure
Is temporary ana even sordd character.
made I'm the chancellcries of Europe"
He spoke Of "land-jackal nations" but
he also emphasized the existence of SYM
pathy with the Pcrsans among the people
Of the two great English speaking IA
Of the great mass Of people, OF all political
faiths. as l have recently had the oppor
tunity to judge, at least is directly con-
trary to the part which their government
played in this recent affair."
Since Edward +. Croker. the former fire
chief. FOR the first tim, In many years had
an opportunity to have tOnsllitis and to
stay at home and enjoy it, the discussion
of the question OF the evening--"'rhe In
itiative, Referendum and Recall In Rela-
ton to Representative Government fol-
lowed Immediately after .he reading of
Mr. Watson's lCtt"r. William Alien White
tho Kansas editor; Frederick u. r'ish
Horton lawyer and former president of the
American Pel Telephone Company; Pro-
fcssOr Lewis j. Johnson, of Harvard. ana
Senator Theodore l.. Burton, IF Ohio. at
tackled. this subject In the order given-Mr
White for. Mr.. Fish against. Professor
johnson FOR and Senator Burton against
And then there was tho audience. which
was overwhelmingly against
Professor Joseph French Johnson. OF New
York University, presided
THE KERENSEs HOSTS AT DINNER