The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-02
Huntington Wilson Believed to
Be Author of Satire on
Defence Policy.

Government. members OF the Diplomatic
Corps and of the army and navy services
an anonymous play entitled "stultitia"
(Folly). which is an endeavor to demon
strate that internationally the United
states Is living in fools paradise with.
as the author describes It. "a chip on each
shoulder and both arms in sling"
The play discloses an intimate knowl-
edge OF the views on foreign relations and
national defence which were generally held
by members OF the preceding adminstra-
ton
Though he play was written, 1t is said,
In February 1918, before the European
war or the agitation In this country re-
garding national defence. some OF the &C
ton Is supposed TO take place after the
long heralded European struggle. The
whole work fits In perfectly with the
Views expressed by such men as Secre-
tary Garrison regarding military pre-
paredness and unpreparedness.
All the scenes are laid in Washington,
and the types depicted are readily recog-
nissblc The officials OF the Executive
Army, Navy and State departments are
drawn from life, while from Congress-
dtor Hyhcdd. more interested in obtaining
bands for political celebrations and the
maintenance OF army posts In their dis
tricts than In adequate defences Dr..
Harmony OF the famous American mill
ionaire Peace and Hobby Trust" easily
recognized AS Andrew Carnegie; Mr.. Cold
stein. banker who realizes that a dollar
has no country labor leader. a social
list and others
There was much speculation here to-
day as to the authorship OF the work.
which though written nearly two years
ago has not been offered for sale.
In some quarters the strong belief was
expressed thar Huntington Wilson, First
Assistant Secretary of State under Presi-
dent Taft and "a man OF long experience
In the diplomatic service. who resigned
from the Wilson Administration on ac-
count of differences over the Wilson Bryan
attitude toward the six power loan to
China, was the author.
The play IL divided into four discus
sions.' or acts. IN the first of which the
efforts Of the Army, Navy and State de-
partments TO impress on Congress tho
necessity for squaring national measures
and preparations with the "blusterine
policies of the United States are shown
TO have totally failed.
The chief Of star Of the army is visited
by Or. Harmony OF the millionaire Peace
anu IlOObN lTuSls WHO argues tnAt the
day OF disarmament Is at hand and that
The Hague Is 10 settle all disputes. while
Mrs. Tinker threatens him with an agita-
ton which will Dust both him and the Sec
rotary OF War II they do not oppose the
movement for restoring the canteen to the
army.
The Csnteen and the Brewers.
Mrs. Tinker Is introduced by Senator
naE lao haa L..
CHIEF Of STAFF to the same purpose. though
he wrote at the request OF the brewers and
distillers OF his State, who feared the
army canteen would hurt their business.
senator Rock wants the chief OF Std0
to appoint dissolute young man of
wealth "A Lieutenant in the army, but
declares he will defeat a bill providing for
the concentration of the army in proper
garrisons and that smaller battleships
Will have to be built as the navy yard
In his state IL too small to accommodate
the new big ones. thus causing loss OF
work to his constituents.
The author cites Henry l.. Stmson,
| Secretary OF War under the Taft Admin
tratiOn, as authority for the fact that
such an attitude actually was taken by
a member of Congress
The discussion OF the Administration s
bills for national defence and the loan
conventions 10 certain Caribbean coun-
conventions failed OF ratification in the
Senate during the Taft Administration,
while Secretary Bryan has for eighteen
months been urging similar one with
out resulD which the chief OF Stu0 had
hoped would result from the meeting in
| his Office Is sidetracked for pork barrel
| politics.
The second act in gathering OF a
! successful young irish contractor. a so
| cialist. a European agtator. citizen OF
| the world a labor leader, representatives
of the wealthy and Idle classes and OF
| official Washington.
The futllity OF the war between labor
| and capital and the menace TO the United
| States OF the various sorts OF "hyphen-
ated Americans" and the indifference OF
the people to the conduct of their gov
eminent form the basis of both the dis
| cussion and the action OF this act
A reception at tho White House is the
| setting for the third act. The President Is
shown making his final efforts for sup
| port of the defence bills and the loar
conventions, only to fail. The situation
| is thus expressed by one OF the charac-
| ters
Senator Dormditfs. well meaning
! sons still President; hasn't had a new
! idea since. Shuffler hasn't an idea above
| ward politics. Senator Hyheod's all II
the clouds and II pains him TO think any
| bodys honest-a real expressive re
| former"
| The President pleads with Goldstein, tn,
| banker, to finance a projected continental
| railway to Panama which shall provid,
the means for transporting United Slater
| troops to the defence of the Panama Cana
| in case the navy is menaced by an over
whelming force or destroyed. But Gold
stein is led to refuse by the threat OF
European diplomat to have his securities
| cut off from the Bourse list II he support.
the Presidents plans.
The diplomat urges GoidStein 20 in
duce the financial and shipping interest
| TO keep America playing on the peac
harp and to block efforts toward expan
sion and a merchant marine. offering a
a further bribe participation in the In
demnity which he says Europe will talk
| of America when "the day" comes,
Mr.. Bdrney. the department store mag
nate, whose interest is sought because o
his influence with the great newspaper
dependent on advertising, also fails tn
| President. because he says the editors
tell HIM the public Is not interested II
foreign affairs and also because Gold
stein, who controls his credit, is agalns
the proposed propaganda OF education.
| The last act occurs three and hal
years later. The United States has had e
defend the Monroe Doctrine against TN
challenge OF the victor In the European
| yar A treaty OF peace is about to b