The Washington herald., 1915-01-25

day morning to hear Miss Janet Richards
weekly presentation of Current History
Day by Day.
These morning talks have been described
by well-known Washington attorney as
! "a civic blessing" and the increasing
number Of men who find time to at
tend them would seem to indorse this
sentiment.
Many Questions at Home.
Miss Richards began her lecture with
the statement that while the European
war continued to occupy the center Of
the worlds stage as the most compelling
and awful fact of daily history, still We
could not-as Americans-be Indifferent to
the fact that there are many grave ques-
| tions Of home interest to which We
must devote our attention.
| Some of these are: Current Congress
sional legislation; the so-called 'Presi-
dents program of unfinished legislation,
including the proposed shipping bill;' the
ratification of the treaties with Nicaragua
and Colombia, and the Philippine bill;
| the possibility OF new complications with
Mexico due to the dispute over the oil
fields, and the regretable friction be-
tween our country and Great Britain
resulting from the shipping controversy.
by a strange coincidence, the two
English-speaking nations are again en-
gagged in a sharp dispute concerning de-
tention of neutral ships and right of
search on the high seas, just as We are
congratulating ourselves upon lone hun
dred years = Of peace. dating from the
conclusion Of the War Of 1872, the causes
of which were similar to those involved
in the present controversy"
Passing to political affairs at home,
Miss Richards said: During the past
week we have been rudely reminded that
our brief year and a half of political
peace between Presidential campaigns Is
at an end, and that with the Presidents
indianapolis speech, followed by the Wig
orous replies, from the floor Of the United
States Senate by Senator Borah and
others, and the launching of the Herrick
boom at the Ohio banquet in New York
on January l6, the partisan campaign of
1916 may be regarded as fairly launched.
and from now on the rival political pots
may be expected to boil busily."
After briefly outlining the terms of the |
proposed ship purchase bill and the liter
acy test Of the immigration bill, and the |
latest phases of the Mexican question, |
Miss Richards took up, with some re-
luctance," she said. because Of its per-
CATION" now going on in New York be-
foro Senatoir-elect PhelaR of Califor-
mia, an investigation ordered by Presi-
dent Wilson to Probe the charges made
by Walter Wick, former receiver of GUS
toms in San Domingo. against our pres
ent Minister to the Dominican republic,
James Sullivan, who succeeded William
Pulliam to that place in August, 1913.
Cannot Govern Themselves.
Going back to the Roosevelt admins
tration, from 1904 to 1907, Miss Richards
reviewed the circumstances which led
the United states to take the administra-
ton OF the Dominican finances under its
control.
"As We all know" said the speaker,
"the two so-called black republics of
Haiti and Santo Domingo. which jointly
constitute an island in the Caribbean Sea
have never been able to demonstrate
fitness for selfgovernment. On the con-
trary, they are constantly embroiled in
local revolutions-the political outs ever
striving to pitch out the ins,' apparently
to get control of the treasury and 'ad-
minister the country's revenues. The
motive of these precious pa
triots seems to be office for revenue
only
During President RooseveIt's admin
stration, the chaos arising from repeated
revolutions of this kind in San Domingo
resulted in practical bankruptcy and an !
attempted repudiation of the republics
foreign debts. The principal creditors.
citizens OF Great Britain and
Germany, became so insistent that these
two governments actually sent their gum
boats to this side and they proceeded,
rather threateningly, to circle around
the Island Of San Domingo. This naval
demonstration was clearly intended as
4 hint that their patience with the sit
lation was about exhausted.
AS landing a foreign force or seizinS !
Dominican revenues would have consti-
uted a direct violation of the Monroe s
loctrine. President Roosevelt, with char
Lcteristic resourcefulness, promptly de-
Used a new plan to save the situation.
70 the foreign governments then threat !
ming Santo Domingo he offered what he ;
allied unofficial assurance that this 9
government would attempt to aid the I
dominican republic to meet its obliga- U
ions
They Accepted Roosevelt Plan. .
with the concurrence of the then
Dominican President Carlos Morales
resident Roosevelt sent United States
unboats to Santo Domingo, landed ma
ines. restored order at their capital, and
roceeded to take over and administer
he finances of the republic
THE arrangement, which was later
lade into treaty and formally ratified
\ 1907 by both governments, provided
Or United States receiver of customs.
rho should collect all the revenues of
ne republic and proceed to administer
hem. Half the revenue collected was TO
deposited in reliable New York bank
} satisfy the just demands of all foreign
realtors. OF the remaining revenue IS
er cent was to be devoted to the ex-
enses of running the Dominican govern
tent and per cent to defray the ex-
enses of administration by American
ficials.
AS this plan. which has been in opera
on since 100, was clearly designed to
eplace corrupt conditions with a Just
nd honest administration for the benefit
all concerned, it is surely humiliatfng
at charges of so serious a nature should
DIV be made against American officials
Santo Domingo as to demand an OFF,
al investigation. For the sake of our
luonal honor and prestige, which we
re told have received a severe blow
nong Lattn-Americans by these discIo-
lres, we must devoutIy hope that our
ncials can be finally cleared of all suS-
cion OF corrupt practices in the Donin-
an republic. whether of this or a pre-
ous administration.
In speaking OF the European war Miss
ichards quoted from an editorial by
expert on foreign affairs, which ap-
AIRED recently in a New York paper
which cogent and logical reasons were
esented In support of the contention
at the world Is in for a three years
ar at the least. The arguments from
e various viewpoints of the great
wers involved were, briefly, as follows:
sPaQHn n,1.- I