Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-03
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every civilized ma ma
,ion in tho world met At The Hague July
There they considered the ratlhcanon
OF a treaty which will put an eno 70 an
traffic in the drug as il i: prepared Tor
smoking Medicinal opium will not fan
under the ban
That this treaty. il ratified. viii wipe
from the annals of commerce trade
which made billions for the great East
India Company In the days before the
famous 'opium war of 1Si2, which CLOS
cd the port Of Canton to the world, or
that il will abolish an industry which al
vides today fifty millions Of dollars an
nually between the nations does not deter
the men who are seeking the adoption OF
the treaty.
DIR. Hamilton Wright. who bears the
unofficial title of opium expert or the
State Department and who was one OF
the three delegates from the United
States. in discussing the possibility of
final ratification said before he sailed
for The Hague:
AT the first opium conference, held at
The Hague in December, 1911. twelve ma
tons signed the convention. More than
thirty have yet to SIGN. but there seems
little doubt but what the coming year
will sound the death knell Of the poppy
The two other delegates are LLOYD
Bryce. minister Ia The Hague from the
United States, and G. ]. kollen. presi-
dent emeritus Of Hope College. Michigan.
Butlt Wright. secretary of the legation
at Brussels. will act in similar capacity
10 the American delegation. and Gerald
B. Seldomridge. son of the representative
from Colorado, will be Mr.. WriShts as
sistant
This the last opium conference" as 1t
IS called, is expected to be the final step
IN an international endeavor to stop All
traffic in opium. Furthermore. IT marks
the termination of ten-year fight on the
part OF this country to bring about such
a condition.
Ii was i'm 1905 that the United States
first undertook TO arouse the nations OF
the world against the evils of the opium
traffic and initiated the international
campaign which has resulted in three
conferences. This move on the part or
the United States was not the result OF
n sudden interest in the subject. as this
country has always shown desire TO
help in any movement which tended to-
ward the eradication of opium, but came
as consequence of having the full sig
Iiicance brought home through actual
contact with the vice.
When this country assumed control or
the Philippines il was found that not only
the Chinese population of the islands
were using large quantities of opium. but
:hat the habit had spread among the
natives. In this way the United States
was made to feel much more clearly
than ever before the true enormity of
such vice and was aroused to action.
on her own behalf and against the traffic
whole
The history OF opium. from the first
mention that can be found regarding it.
among the writings of Homer. Virgil and
others, down on through the ages during
which time its growth crept all around
the world, marks one of the most In
teresting and tragic chapters in the his
tory of the world. More deadly than
war, more powerful than an invading
army. opium crept into every country
in the world and secured a foothold, OF
greater or less strength. But of all the
phases in the acendency of opium none
j. more interesting than that which deals