The Washington herald., 1919-01-08
Wall Street, Curb Local and Produce Markets. Fnancio
HEAD OF POLAND
MAYBE MUSICIAN
Ignace Jan Paderewski
Likely to Be President,
Says Holland.

Should a republic be proclaimed in
Poland and Ignace Jan Paderewski De
chosen as President. for dispatches
from London report that this is prob
able then a man who is almost an
American may become President OF
the new republic in Poland. Pade-
rewski has sojourned for so long a
time in the United states and has. SO
many times crossed the continent ana
been in touch with American sentl-
ment and American political and busi-
ness life, and has so thoroughly ao-
sOrbed all that he has seen ana
learned in the United States, as TO
Justify speaking Of him as almost an
American. Here he gained his sub
stantial fortune; here he parted with
a considerable portion of his earnings
in order to carry on war activities in
support of the allies, and here he be-
came the central figure in all the
organizations in the United States
which represented the honorable am
bltions Of Poland.
Seldom did Paderewski play profess
sionally in the United States after the
war began. He seemed to have begun
a new career and to have revealed at
the beginning OF it unusual capacity
for the higher kind of political lead
ershlp and all his work in this cOun-
try seemed to be inspired or illuminat-
ed by his admiration for American in
stitutions. The discovery was made
that Paderewski possessed unusual
executive and administrative capaci-
ties. He understands Poland as well
as he does the United States and as
he is CoUrageously conservative and
has not in the past been Identified
with any political or class interest in
Poland or in Europe, he will be able
to accept the presidency, If it be Of
fered to him. with a clear conscience
and a free hand.
There is, however, another reVela-
ton which has been made by him in
the past four years. It is associated
with his higher triumphs as player
Of the pianO. Men who are competent
to Judge and explain. and many others
who could not explain, but neverthe-
less were impressed. recognized a pc
Culiar quality in PadeTewskfs playing
not possessed by any other even of
the greatest masters OF the instru-
ment in Paderewski's generation. He
would begin by playing with exquisite
delicacy. with wonderful mastery Of
the piano, drawing forth from 1t beau
tiful tones and compelling the instru-
ment to yield to any demand which he
made upon II. These characteristics
however. were not exclusively Pader-
.ewski's. A few other masters Of the
piano possess them. But of a sudden
there came in his playing what is
sometimes characterized as a mar
velOus burst Of eloQuenCe such as had
never before been revealed by any
other of the masters of the instru-
ment. PadeTewski's unique capacity
for bringing something like rue elO-
Quence out of the instrument, identi-
fed his personality, for this it was
which enabled him to produce this
astonishing eject.
PnderewskTs EIoauence.
After the war began and Paderew-
ski began to speak in public. in
fusinE his personality into his ut
terances. the observation was fire.
Guently made that he at times be-
came truly eloquent speaking with
q great burst of eIOOuence similar
in some Of its aspects to the like
quality which was observed in his
playing. So it was presumed that
Paderewski possessed all the quail
tics which make a truly great
orator. For he spoke with sincerity,
playing equally well upon the emo
tioHs and the reasoning OF his hear
erS, and frequently. of a sudden
breaking out into bursts Of real
eIO0uence
Therefore the wonder il among
Faderewski's many friends and
some OF those who do not know HIM
personally, whether now. at the az.
of % he has not made il manifest
tnat he is gifted with qualities
winch are not only certain to ap-
peal to great masses of the Polish
people, for the spoken word -
greatly admired in Poland. but also
skIilfully and wisely to lead in gov
ernmentaI and public affairs.
In any event Paderewski would n
short time retire from his voCa-
ton as a player OF the piano. but
for public life he is thought to b.
still Young man. young in mental
energy. in enthusiasm and in caDac-
Itv for dealing with great political
affairs. Others have advanced from
humble service - various kinds to
pre- mincnJ positions in the nations
OF which they are citizens THIS
has been nOticeably the case in the
uited states. But it is not known
that any one who maintained a lOn-
and highly successful career as
professional musician, standing pre-
eminent in that vocation. should Of
sudden give up that career so that
hr might undertake the highest
duties committed to any citizen.
Not word of criticism has been
heard for the action of the Federal
Reserve Bank OF New York in per-
fectinE an agreement with Peru.
whereby a credit balance of $4,000
600 is provided by Peru. for the sake
Of facilitating the movement of
commerce between Peru and the
United States Instead of criticism
general approval has been ex-
pressed. This is based upon several
grounds. 1t demonstrates that Peru
Is seeking to establish a greater
trade with the United States, while
our own citizens who are manufaC-
turers or importers are willing to
take advantage of any favorable
conditions which will enable them to
buy raw material such as Peru can
furnish.
Our importers by reason OF this
arrangement are able to buy Peru
Wan commodities and to pay for
them by drafts drawn against the
credit balance This inevitably
means dollar exchange. 1t was in
Chill that Leopold Frederick was
able to establish the first dollar ex-
change market in the world. The
example then set has now been fol-
lowed by Peru and undoubtedly will
be hereOfter initiated by other South
American nations. Another reason
for cOngratulation is the evidence