Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-13
DELIBERATTON URGED
AS NATIONAL POLICY IN
] QUESTIONS OF STATE
Philadelphians Advocate
Calm Judgment in Hand
ling of Every Interna-
/ tional Situation Con-
fronting United States.


~ -4-
An ex-Ambassador the head of great
bank, former member Of the National
state Department, and a Congressman
elect are four of many representative
Pbliadelphians who today expressed ad-
vocacy of calm and patient deliberation
na a national policy at critical times In
relations between the United states ana
other countries.
Not only at the present time, these men
urged, but in all delicate diplomatic sit
uations in the future, It should be under
stood that the United States Government
stands for a look-before-you-leap policy
The interviews, which showed that
prominent men believe in mature con-
sideration of epoch making questions,
were based In part on the speech deliv-
cred by ex-Presldent Taft in the Union
League on Tuesday night. He pointed out
the danger Of yielding to popular and
temporary excitement.
CharlemaRne Tower, formerly Ambassa-
dor to Germany and to Russia; Francis
b. Reeves, chairman of the board Of di-
rectors of the Girard National Bank;
Henry LaBarre Jayne, president of the
American Society for Extension of Uni
versIty Teaching John r. X. Scott, who
will take a Congressional seat in Decem-
Der; Russell Duane, connected with the
Department of State during President
Harrison's administration. and Clement
=. Newbold, of the banking firm OF w. II.
Newbold's Sons G. Co.. favored formula
tion of policy by which 1t shall be
tacitly understood that this country Will
consider long and earnestly before taking
irretrievable action in important inter
national situations.
NATIONS ARE LIKE INDIVIDUALS.
1--WE amire men who do not act too
hastily" said MIR. Jayne, land we know
their calm, sane judgment gets effective
results. The situation of a national gov
ernment Is much like that OF an individ-
uai. The Government of the United
States should wait just as long as the
exigencies of a case permit before tax
ing action in it. 1t is just another form
OF the theory we learned as children, that
much harm may be avoided by counting
10 before taking action"
Mr. Duane, well known as n student OF
International law and diplomacy said:
''I agree with the sentiment of Mr.
Taft, that a demand for war which will
not endure the test of delay and delibcra-
tion by all the people, Is not one that
should be yielded to. In the present
emergency do not think that the crime
committed will change its character for
the better with the passage of time. On
the contrary as the days go by, 1t seems
to grow worse rather than better.
"But in dealing with ii we should apply
the wisdom which deliberation brings. The
vengeance which we executed on Spain
by destroying two armadas and depriving
her of her colonies was all the more i'm
pressive by reason of the fact that this
action was preceded by 10 weeks of deep
deliberation."
Mr.. Scott said that as a nation II Is de-
sirable to wait long enough when a griev-
ance arises to find out If 1t is really
grievance. That delay before action is
taken should be as long as possible, he
declared. He expressed belief that the
individual case must regulate the time OF
waiting. In conclusion he said that he
agreed with the views OF Mr.. Taft, In his
Philadelphia address
AMERICAN DIGNITY PRAISED.
The calmness and dignity of the Amer
ican people at the present time were
roundly praised by Mr. Tower
Prudent action results not from i'm
pulsive decision. but from careful thought
and mature Judgment" he said.
He added that he strongly recon-
mended to his countrymen that "all
should stand behind the President in his
efforts to uphold our rights and to do
what is best for the country"
Mr.. Newbold said:
ANY exhibition of hysteria in a grave
crisis, in either an individual or ma
tion. Is folly pure and unadulterated.
any great crisis to so slowly and never
to act until a sufficient interval has
elapsed to give food for second thought"
A "thoughtful. prayerful. just and true"
attitude should rule in consideration OF
public questions of delicate nature, in
the opinion of Mr.. Reeves.
He said they ought TO govern the sit
uation arising from the sinking of the
Gulfight and the Lustania as we'll as
in other great national matters which
may arise. In maintaining this view he
referred to President Wilson'S declara-
tion made in this city that statesmen
and Government leaders must not be
swayed by the emotions of the moment
nor by the wishes of any group of men,
Good people-many of them the best
people-demanded war on the spur of tine
moment last week." said Mr.. Reeves,
This is not the way to approach public
questions. Calm rather than haste is the
desideratum. This should be a part of
our national poicy-an understanding in
the nation"