Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-10

THE WEEK in
WASHINGTON
Happenings in the National Capt.
tai of Importance and Interest,
Legislative and Political.


In the realm of foreign affairs, the
most important development Of the week
In washington has been the assurance
received from the Japanese Government
that the occupation of the Marshall
islands is only a temporary war meas
ure Japan sent word to the state De-
nartnent Wednesday that the seizure of
the archipelago was not now. and would
not be, regarded as anything more than
a temporary strategic move.
The postponement Of the Pan-Amerlcan
neace conference, which was to have
been held at Buenos Aires next month,
was announced after a meeting of the
directors of the Pan-American Union
Wednesday. which Secretary of State
BRYAN attended. The European war is
ostensibly the cause of the postponement.
There were no important developments
IN the Mexican situation, although the
brief visit Of John r. Slllman. the Pres
idents confidential agent with General
Carranza, to the capital occasioned much
speculation. Mr.. Silliman left Washing
ton for Mexico City Thursday night. The
real nature OF MS mission TO NdSn-
ington or the character of the informa-
tion he gave the President has not yet
been divulged.
Great Britan's alleged seizure of neu-
trail vessels bearing copper and other
Conditional contraband' to Dutch ports
was the subject of a lively controversy
In Washington The British Ambassa-
dor Sir Cecil Spring-Rice. gave assur-
ances to the State Department that Great
Britain's only plan was to prevent car
goes shipped to Dutch ports from being
trans-shipped to Germany A settlement
Of the problem probably will be worked
out on this basis.
Ecuador signified to Secretary of State
Bryan her desire to enter into a pact
with the United States in the familiar
"sober-second- thought tIbefore-war" trea-
ties negotiated between this country and
many other nations.
Various plans for the relief of the cot
ton growers of the South, who have lost |
almost their entire foreign market since |
the advent of the European war, were |
advanced this week. The effort to have
any one of the plans culminate in legis- |
lation by Congress, to be passed before |
the close of the present session. has SO |
far proved abortive, although Southern |
members of the House have repeatedly |
threatened that they will permit no ad- |
journment of Congress until some re-
lief measures have been passed for the |
cotton planters.
Perhaps the most practicable plan yet
developed has come through the initia-
tive Of Festus j. Wade, a st. Louis bank
er. who proposes the establishment of
$50 OOOOOO cotton pool to be composed
of all the leading banks of the West and
South. Mr. Wade brought n delegation
of bankers to Washington Friday to meet
the members of the Federal Reserve
Board and President Wilson.
The war tax bill was modified in some
vital details by the caucus of Demo-
cratic Senators Wednesday night and
was presented to the Senate the next
dav. The rates of beers wines, rectified
spirits and tobaCcoS were raised and re-
ductons were made on the House levies
on bankers and brokers. The tax on
gasoline was stricken out.
The Administration plans for the COM
Ing campaign We're matured this week by
various conferences at the White House
Secretary of State Bryan was assigned |
10 speak in the Middle Western States, in
Guiding Ohio, Indiana Wisconsin, North
and South Dakota Kansas and Nebraska. |
His only appearance on the stump in the
Eastern states will be at the Academy of
Music in Brooklyn next Tuesday evening.
Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo and |
of Commerce Redfield will make
'evcral addresses in New York State. and
lI IppaDlN NUMBER IN pennsylvania. Sec | /
'etary of Labor Wilson probably will |
make an extensive stumping tour of the
keystone State Postmaster General Bur-
eson will spend about ten days in the
Middle West speaking in Cincinnati In
liauapolis and other cities.
campaign conference" was held at
he White House Friday night, at which
ol1ns were discussed by the President.
Postmaster General Burleson, Represen-
nttve poremus. chairman of the Demo-
ratio Congressional Committee; Thomas |
Pence. of the Democratic National |
Committee, and Secretary j. F. Tumulty.
Another important political development
# the week was the visit of Colonel
George Harvey to the White House last {
sunday. The truce between the President {
md Colonel Harvey has brought forth
he suggestion that the Colonel may be {
Iamed as Ambassador TO Berlin II Mr. {
ierard is elected Senator from New York {
The House of Representatives Thursday 8
" vote Of 2l4 TO a, adopted the confer I
nee committee agreement on the Clay ]
on antitrust bill which materially sup !
dement's the Sherman antitrust act. The l
'onate has already adopted the agree
nent, and the measure will now be pre- /
sntod to President Wilson for his ap- 7
roval which will place the bill on the c
tatutc books. L