The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-08-22

has never wished us well and would
like to see US in difficulties with the
/ United states, but the United States
and Japan are loo far away from
each other to have the same jeal-
ousies that exist among the nations
Of Europe, with neIghboring front
iers.
ION the other hand, there has
sprung up a large commerce between
| the United States and Japan, and it
! has steadily grown since the present
war, since we have been unable to
buy in European markets many sup
plies formerly obtained there. With
both countries prosperous, our buy
| ing has led to return buying in silks
and many other articles on the part
OF the United States, Our own for
eign commerce, export and import
reached an average Of seevn hundred
million dollars yearly before the war
and expect it is better now.
1T has been stated we want the
Philippine islands. 1t is far better
for Japan TO have the United States
/ develop those islands 1t Is able "
spend the money needed TO do 1t and
I we are not, and it is fine thing for
US and for our trade 10 have peaceful.
and prosperous neighbOrs, no matter
who they are. 1t is one OF the eco
homie errors of the present, for in
stance, to suppose that the losses OF
Europe are the gains OF the United
States and Japan because they nap
pen to be selling supplies. We are
sure to feel those losses in Europe in
the end,
Now for the Russian treaty and
Japan's attitude towards China, 1t
has been freely stated that the Jap
| anese are unfair and dishonest in
business. will admit that there Is
good deal of truth in this, so far
as concerns US in the past. 1t must
be remembered that when the United
States and European merchants be-
gan to trade with us, silver was
worth about one-hrteenth as much as
gold among them, whereas, with us,
IL " dS WUIl VI OlIS-lOuItu CtS lHNSIlI W
our coinage act. These merchants
took advantage of this situation and
exchanged their silver for gold Our
people here got the idea that foreign
ers were tricky and 1t may be said
they retaliated in kind, as matter
of self-protectlon. Latterly, howey-
er. we have started our young men to
commercial school and they have
learned international ways of doing
business, and | feel sure in the fu-
ture we will no longer suffer for
condition which grew out of mis-
conception as to what business meant
The Russians and the japanese
have learned and well understood
since the unfortunate war Of 1904-O5
the national characteristics of each
other, and gradually 20 have become
quite friendly. The new treaty mere
ly puts this spirit on paper, and is
not inimical either to English or
American interests in China.
Let me right here explode the
old alarmist report that the Japan
ese want a yellow-raCe domination OF
the East I'm sorry to do 1t, but the
facts are that the Chinese are too
proud to ally themselves to little
people like ours, aaG we have too
much sense to seek to ally that
could not help us. An alliance be-
tween the United States and Mexico
would profit the latter, but not the
former.
All the japanese want. or ever
have wanted. is fair chance to do
business in China, on an equal foot
ing with Engfland, Russia, France,
the United States, or any other Coun-
try. Economically, We couldn't han
die the Job ourselves Japan insists
that there shall be no outside, armed
interyentions. like that of the Ger
mans who fortified themselves at the
port of Kiao-Chow, a port OF which |
we have taken from them. Such fort
flied positions contribute a menace to
China and to the interests of every
nation wishing to do business there
and eventually brings about the trou-
bled situation, on a smaller scale, !
that has so long existed in the Balk-
ans Of Europe.
I'VE cannot read the future. but
for the present these are the facts
regarding Japans attitude, and I am
glad to state that The Associated
press has in the past permitted ia
nan to place the truth before the peo-
nle of the United States In so do
ing. IL renders a service to the mu-
tuaI interests of these two peoples"