The Washington times., 1915-01-02
Former Assistant Secretary Of
State Suspected as Writer
Of Play Arraigning Neglect
Of Defense.

"Who Is he? .-g
That question is being asked through
out official and diplomatic Washington
today. No one who hears 1t makes. any
mistake as to the subject of the in
quiry, for all of them are seeking the
identity OF the author OF ''Stultitia," q
four-act anonymous play. which has
been distributed broadcast through
Washington during, the past twenty
four hours.
Never has more causuc, biting
treatment been given to Washington
officials and their official lives. Under
the general allegation that the United
states today Is living its international
With chip ,,us On eesh ms shoni s,ay
Is pitilcss IN Having the men upon
whom rest the national responsibilities
for preparedness and defense.
And 4 good many OF the OMicfnls here
are making pretty shrewd gueases as
to the authorship of the drama. For
the moment interest in the biting
charges he makes against public men
search for the identity OF the writer
himself.
Point TO Former Official.
Many OF the shrewdest OF those VINO
have hazarded opinions as to his iden-
| Secretary OF State. They declare that
the views expressed in a play by Gov
ernment OFFICIALS coincide too delicateiy
| with the foreign policy OF the past Adj
| ministration to have come from the
pen OF anyone other than q man VINO
been bee Closely related TO public life in
| the National Capital
The play. which is given the subtitle
OF Folly tbiniy disguises the Presi-
dent. prominent members Of the Diplo,
army. well-known Senators and Con-
gressmen. business men. labor aEita-
tors, philanthropists, and Socialists.
and from their dialogue seeks to prove
! that tine United states has bartered Us
| birthright Of liberty and international
| integrity for the doubtful honor of be-
| ing known AZ a breeder OF the most
| wonderful hogs. and a nation composed
| OF millionaires. rather than breeder
! OF men,"
Tho play, It is said, was written long
before the present European war. u
that be true. It shows rem",ES E:s,cS
might have JUSTIFIED the prediction OF
such u world conflict.
All OF the scenes Of the drama are
laid in the National Capital.
In the first act. the efforts Of the o. o.
ficials OF the state Department. tho
| army and the navy to impress upon
Congress the necessity. for national de-
tense measures are depicted az IaH-
ures. at which juncture Or. Harmony.
in whom It is claimed, the character Of
Andrew. Carnegie is but thinly over; over,
laid-calls upon the chief Of star and
declares that war Is obsolete, and that
all disputes may be settled at The
Hague.
Selfish Interests Portrayed.
In the midst of this discussion Mrs
Tinker. an advoe ate for the abolition o:
the army canteen, enters, sponnorcd by
senator Rock. The Senator's intcrcs,
In the abolition of the cantc"n, 1t de.
velops. is a little different from the
Temperance motives which act tuate Mrs
Tinker, tho Senator fearing that theiI
continuance will hurt the brewery and
d.stillery interests with which he is Al
lied.
From the office OF the Chief OF Staff
where Rock and Mrs. Tinker haro beer
threatening the defeat OF measures de-
Aligned for the betterment OF the army
unless the canteen should 60, the pla,