Evening Star Newspaper, November 12, 1921, Page 4

LAUGH MISSING AS - DELEGATES GATHER Wood Thinks Smile May Do | i Much to Prevent Future Wars. STORY OF A SECRETARY How President’s Choice Was Left Out Because Chairman For- got His Name. BY JUNIUS B. WOOD. One thing missing from the grave discussions of the Washington confer- ence is the laugh. Though universal through the world in the piping days of war as in the doldrum years of peace, the smile has not received its deserved attention in the great as- sembly. It has been there and will continue. Even grave Slatesmen can- not live without it. Journalists, cor- respondents and reporters have taxed their brains and amazed a reading world with learned discussions of ori- ental mysticism, terrifying figures on armament and inside theorles of diplomacy, but little has been heard laugh which makes all the world akin. Humor in a Sad Face. Possibly the missing feature will be supplled by a sad-faced man who wandered down the corridor’ of the State Dephrtment yesterday looking for a delegate o the conference. He did not find anybody at home, for all who could get a ticket or fight their way through the crowd were at Ar- lington. The serious man_ explained that he was organizing a league for the telling of truth and thought that an indorsement by the conference might give international approval to the idea. Many wish him success in the field he has selected. The humor of a story which had edified_the visiting delegates as an example of the nation's free and easy politics is not appreciated by several persons. A few weeks ago the Presi- dent indicated to one of his new ap- pointees as chairman of one of the most important national boards that he would be pleased to have a certain | Joung man named as secretary. Of course the new chairman, the mere directors as well, were ready to please the President. The young man was a stranger to them, but they were told that he would be waiting in the ante- room when the board met that after- noon. Reaches 1Sth Hole Late. The chairman was late. It had taken him longer to reach the eighteenth hole than, he expected and the direc- tors were waiting when his car whirl- ed up and he made a rush across the anteroom. The young man rose up and greeted him.” The chairman only paused. ‘That's all right,” he said with a fraternal pat on the shoulder. “I know the President's wishes. Just sit here a few minutes and as 500n @8 we finish a little routine business we'll elect you secretary.” The young man subsided at ease. The chairman almost reached the committee room door when another young man stopped him. He also was @a young man that he had never seen before. Both were newspapermen. The last young man introduced him- self with a business card. He wanted an interview With pleasure,” said the chairman. But the board is waiting for me. Just take a seat for a moment and when we finish I'll give you all the time you want.” “His Name Io—— The routine business was brief. The chairman’s gaze swept the mere di- rectors with the superiority of a con- fidant of state secrets. “Gentlemai he said, “I am propos- ing as secretary of this board a man who has done much for our party and whose election will give pleasure to our President? His name is—-" The chairman paused as hundreds of village chairmen had paused after similar eulogies. when they forgot the name of the visiting platform hero they were introducing. But iné chair- man could not present his hero with a graceful wave of the hand. The hero was in the anteroom. The chair- man's hand dropped into his pocket and a card nestled in his palm. “His name is—" he continued with hardly a pause. “Yes, his name is Mr. —" he concluded reading the name on the card. He Was a Wise Young Man. The chairman’s nominee was unani- mously elected. He was invited be- fore the board and astounded With the announcement from the happy chairman that he was secretary Of the august body. He was a wise young man who sald nothing, bowed By the Associated Pres NEW YORK, November 12.—Sug- gestions from the lalety as to how the Washington conference on limitation of armament should be conducted, and the sending of criticisms and petitions to the delegations by persons who know little or nothing about armament problems, will not help speed the conference to ' success, declared Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske, speaking last night at an Amer! can Legion dinner. PARLEY DELEGATION IS PICK OF U.S. .. REAR ADMIRAL FISKE TELLS LEGION AMERICAN ARMS FOR DEFENSE, * VIEW OF FOREIGN DELEGATES “The four men selected to repre- sent this country at the conference are the pick of the nation and are thoroughly capable,” he , “and ted by a large f advisors. The people have not given the profound thought to the subject of armaments that they should, he asserted, and they do not have a clear conception of the real mean: ing of armament. He declared that a municipal police force is a form of armament, which protects hon- est and peacefu] citisens from rob- bers and outlawry. BY PAUL SCOTT MOWRER. Members of foreign delggations to the Washington conference have been certain ideas which they tend to re- gard as the basis of America's present political psychology. Among' these ideas they have noted the followin, That foreign policy and national in- terests abroad are properly to be re- garded as weapons of party politics. That legislators, lawyers and busi- ness men can probably conduct for- eign affairs better than trained diplo- mats can. That the reactions of the conference delegates will be different, somehow,, in Washington, from what they would be had the conference convened in London or Paris or Tokio. That it is better to try to settle mo- mentous and complicated interna- tional questions by some kind of quick action than by some slower and more cautious procedure. That the United States is distin- guished, among the nations, by its honesty and frankness and by the purity of its motives. That economic interests abroad can be divorced from political interests. That Americans, although of Euro- pean stock, are somehow different, in heart and mind, from the rest of the white race. i | Sidelights of the Conference A short, stout gentleman, dark- skinned, clad in conventional silk hat ‘and short overcoat and wearing gold- rimmed spectacles, wandered leisure- 1y alos F street Thursday after- noon, “window shopping” and min- gling with the bustie of the crowds | that thronged the streets just after the closing of the governmental de- partments. He was Prince Iyesato Tokugawa, one of the Japanese dele- gates, who, but for the imperial revo- | lution of 1868, would be today Shogun | of Japan, clad with despotic powers, unapproachable, dressed, perhaps, in flowery daimio robes, and receiving homage second only to that given the semi-sacred Mikado himself. Appar- ently he was enjoying himself huge- 1y; his twinkling eyes did not miss a trick. Such a democratic outing would have been impossible under the old order of things: doubtless, certain ad- herents of his princely house over in Japan would have shuddered could they have seen their noble lord and master waved back by traffic cops and shouldered by “chickens” and their escorts. He was accompanicd by one of his suite and by a tall American, who, if he wasn't a detec- tive, ought to be one, for he exactly looked the part. Just this brief passing glimpse of such a man, in such surroundings indicates the enormous change in the Japanese em- pire within the memory. of millions of living men. < Statements of Lord Riddle, who LODGE CAUSES LAUGH AT ARMS PARLEY BY MOVING TO ADJOURN Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, member of the American delega- tion to the limitation of armament conference, caused the only laugh at the opening session of the ‘Washingtori conference today. When all the nations represented at the conference table had been heard from, Senator Lodge arose. His colleagues in the Senate, seated in one of the galleries im. mediately facing Mr. ‘Lodge, ap- plauded -vociferously, d the rest of the gathering joined in. ‘With a smile on his face, as soon as he could make himself heard, Senator- Lodge said, addressing the presiding officer, Secretary Hughes “I move that the conference do now adjourn until 11 o'clock on Tuesday at this place.” - The galleries, expecting a speech from the distinguished senator, and retired. The board departed sat- isfled that they had pleased every- body. Later they discovered their mistake, but to rectify it would be to laugh. The other young man got a secretaryship, but not as imposing & one. Even the solemn and majestic cere- mony of the burial of the nation’s unknown dead had an incident which brought a smile. One correspondent, - on his trusty typewriter, was soaring * to_the pinnacle of waving flags and salty tears, when in comes a telegram from a fairly large Wisconsin news- paper. It reas ‘“Telegraph at once the names of all of Wisconsin’s unknown dead.” ‘World Can Always Laugh. ‘The world can always stop to laugh. On the day the American troops cap: tured Fere-en-Tardenois, I was plod- ding through the one-time village' street. Above the rattle of wagons, . the shouts of soldiers and the occa- sional crash of a shell as the enemy dropped one more in the village they had lost, came the thump-thump- thump of a cabaret air. Inside the remains of a house, a gaping wall where once had been a window, roof and celling tottering, a doughboy was banging & piano. from the fallen plaster had dimmed its luster, rifles and tin hats were tossed against its mahogany, outside companies were marching forward and ambulances were bringing them back. The rattle of the fisht was less than a mile away, but the gang roaring out a catchy song still had time to laugh, though their time was only a few minutes away. Possibly an occasional laughsfor delegates during their stay in Wach: ington may do much to prevent fu ture wars and save expenses of arma- ment. (Copyright, 1921.) BIRTH CONTROL URGED ‘ AS ARMS PARLEY FACTOR By the Amociated Press. NEW YORK., November 12.—Birth control as a factor i bringing about world limitation of armaments and permanent peace was discussed b: delegates to the first American birih control conference. Resolutions - ad- dressed to Congress and armament conference delegates, suggesting the appointment of a commission to study birth control, were passed. Asserting that the pressure of popu- lation was one of the chief causes of war, the conference suggested birth control throughout the world as the o o Totter to th n & letter to the conference Lut Burbank, horticulturist, umtaé‘ " hat “the great fundamental principle of selection is the guide to all progress and in facing world problems of the human race, science and not igno- ance, maudlin sentimentality and big otry, must prevail” Among tR speakers at the first session of the conference were Mrs. Edith Hough- ton Hooker, Baltimore; Dr. 8. Adol- phus Knopf ef the universities of Paris and New York; Dr. Alice Butler, Cleveland; Abraham Myerson, Boston; Dr. 11 H. Johnsen, Uni- versity of reh, and T °O. P. Bland, Lo ‘o burst into laughter. - Incidentally, epublican leader of the Senate, Mr. Lodge almost dally moves the ad- journment of that body. B UNIVERSAL DISARMING ADVOCATED BY OBREGON By the Associated Press. MEXICO CITY, November 11.—Gen. Alvaro Obregon, President of Mexic this evening issued a statement con- cerning universal di I-P‘l ent, which he describes as a th! ‘mot to be postponed any longer.” The pres: dent also discusses the Washington conference on limitation of armament and far eastern questions. The state- ment, which is said to represent the Mexican officlal viewpoint on disar- ‘mament, follows, in part: “Universal disarmament, considered in the past as only an ideal, to the attainment of which many great men have devoted all their efforts, has .now become an urgent necessity and can- rot be postponed longer for the sim- ple reason that modern armies and the the cost of equipment constitute the heaviest burden under which mankind now staggers. “That part of the community ‘which is constituted by men who work and produce dally is losing strength, weakening its energies and exhaust ing its patience, there beilng an u due excess in the number of con- sumers whosé sole activities are de- voted to destruction in all its forms. . “Condltions such these have cre- ated a state of disturbance which, if it is not soon remedied, inevitably will lead to a fearful catistrophe. The only lesson which the world war has taught us is that the age of brute forée has passed forever; that man's greatest conquests in the future will be found in_the realms of ethics and science, and that it is necessary to devote to these fields all that vast expenditure of mental and physical energy now absorbed in the creation ot 'al ERROR IN STATEMENT. To the Bditor of The Star: I was much surprised to see an arti- cle on the front page of your paper of November 6, 1921, stating that the first national examination of accountants, with a view of determining -their fitress to receive the degree of certified pu accountant, would be held in Washing- ton, D. C., November 17 and 18, and feel sure that you did not investigate this matter before the article was printed. "~ Every a certified ublic accountant law, and the board of accountancy established by these laws hold examinations each year. The applicants who are successful in these examinations recel: a certified public accountants degree. The District of Columbia has not a law of this kind, but one has been in- trodu in Congress and is known as 8. 2531 {n the Senate and H. R. 8522 In the House. This bill is supported by the American Institute of Accountants and the public accountants in the Dis- trict of Columbia. e examination to which your article ‘Th alludes will be given by a corporation |y known as the National Association of Certified Public Accountants. This firm :nllmtad in the District of Co- bix and not b{‘-n act of Congress. 2 PAUL D. HUTCHINSON. studying with the greatest interest|sive. That whereas forelgn armies and navies are possibly weapons of ag- gression, as well as of defense, the American armament is solely defen- That navies reduced proportionately to a smaller size will thereby become less belligerent than the same navies proportionately larger. ‘That lobbying and private dealing, THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1921—PART T. GREAT CONGESTION AROUND ENTRANCE TO CONTINENTAL ARRIVED FOR ARMS CONFERENCE R 8 States,” sald Mr. Balfour, “in a most noble address has given the confer- ence a lead. He lias provided it with a motto—simplicity, honesty, hgnef. We cannot carry out the plans out- lined by the President unless we have, a chairman. { “The nation which invites the con- ference and offers hospitality shall® '~ provide its chairman and presiding geonius. I think the Secretary of State has not only these technical rights, but personal qualifications which en- able him to carry out these dutie: The staccato of the interpreter's French concluded, Briand and those ' who had not understood the English applauded. It was an unusual pro- cedure, the chairmanship being con- ferred’ at Mr. Balfour's suggestion without the formality of an election. Appreciates the Honmor. “It is with a profound sense of privilege and responsibility,” sald Mr. Hughes in his speech of acceptance, “that I accept the honor you confer. Permit me to express my most cordial PRESIDENT IS CHEERED AS HE PASSES ON WAY TO OPEN ARMS PARLEY President Harding was cheered today almost the entire way as he motored from the White House to the Memorial Continental Hall to dellver his speech to open the armaments conference. The strects in that section were well crowded at the time, and the sight of the President called for one ovation after another. He bowed several times in acknowledgment of these manifestations. The President was accompanied by Mrs. Harding, his secretary and Col. Sherrill, his chief aide. When "MY alighted at the steps of the building the President paused long enough to let the dozen or more photographers and motion picture men “shoot him.” At the doorway the party was greeted by Basil Miles, secretary to the con- ference, who escorted the President to an anteroom, where he removed his hat and overcoat, and then went to the asgembly room. The President left the building immediately at the conclusion of his speech. Mra. Harding remain- ed to watch the proceedings. and the entire American delegation took their seats at 10:25 o'clock. appreciation of triendly given by all the united governments.” should watching world was the bes the succes applause when Mr. Hughe with great emphasis, the assurances of co-operation 50 generously Mr. Hughes said the feeling “that we meet the expectations of gur of of the confer: There was a sharp, qu speaking declared the although general in business and in domestic politics, become “intrigue"” and are reprehensible in world poli- A momentary hush fell upon the as- semblage after the applause greeting the entrance of the American delega- tion, and then the storm of conversa- present was no time for mutual res lution or advice, but a time for a tion. Delegates on the floor and sen- ‘'open sessions” necessarily mean “open diplomacy. That if sessions are closed not even trained newspaper men will be able to keep the public accurately in- formed. ‘That If the conference fails, it will probably be the other fellow's fault That there {s a magic In agreement on abstract principles which facili- tates agreement on concrete cases. That a policy of *“cards on the table” will far toward solving certain existing conflicts of interest. That agreements as to means, In the case of China, for example, will naturally entail agreements as to ends. The next few months should show whether, as most of our American people believe, these ideas are sound and true, or whether, as our foreign visitors fear, some of them, at least, partake of the nature of illusions. (Copyright, 1921.) was head of the British publicity bureau at the Paris peace confer- ence, that he was to act in the same capacity at the parley here, were denied by British officials here. Sir Arthur Willert is to handle all publicity for the British delegation, and all news will come through him. Lord Riddle, it is understood, is to act as a representa- tiye of the London newspapers and will act in the capacity of liaison officer between them and the British publicity bureau. Members of the advisory committee serving with the American delegation to the armament conference paid a call of courtesy Thursday on Presi- dent Harding. The President person- ally greeted each, but it was said that policies invoived in the arma- ment negotiations were not discussed during the interview. - Tribute to Washington as the close friend of France's great soldier, Gen. La Fayette, was paid by Premier Briand and members of the French delegation to-the armament conference, who went to Mount Vernon and laid a wreath on the Washington tomb. Before going to Mount Vernon M. Briand and members of his party vis- ited the pitol and laid a wreath on behalf of France on the bier of Amer- ica's unknown soldier. M. Briand aecepted an invitation to be the guest at dinner tonight of Henry White, one of the American delegates to the Versailles peace con- ference. GERMANY WORRIES OVER HER PLIGHT Wonders Whether Arms Con- ferees Will Consider Pres- ent Situation. BY GEORGE WITTE. By Ca Ne 7 Cable to The | :;;:1::? Chicago Daily News. BERLIN, Germany, November 12. Will the Washington conference con- sider Germany's plight? That is the supreme question being asked by the country’s financlers, industrialists and other leading men on the eve of the world congress called by Presi- dent Harding. Although a better country than Austria, Poland or Rus- sia, Germany sees herself on the verge of the abyss into which these state in the United States has | & three countries have falien as the re- sult of the war. Germany hopes that common sense will dictate the resolutions of the conference in Washington and that this same common sense will make it clear to former foes and neutrals that the complete ruin of such a country as Germany cannot come about with- out having a telling effect upon the economic life and political alllances oré”::}f‘l’:“‘ world powers. er rallroads better o ized than those of any other e:m:l! in Europe and with fewer unem- ployed than any other country in the world, Germany cannot conceive it possible that her money uld drop cn a par with the Austrian crown and Polish marks, which have be. hind them nothing like Germany’s de- sire to work_hard and pay the war lngemnlzyA Yet this has erman_ newspapers 've great credit to President HAN!::- for have ing forced Britain, France and Japan to show their hands at the Washing- ton conference. Theodor Wolff, the famous publicist, in the Berlin Tage- blatt, congratulates the President on raving chosen this time so soon after the war for a conference and com- relling the allied countries to send their chiefs to Washington. There are some Germans who are optimistic as to the outcome of the conference and who believe that the Pacific problem will be solved. They think that ways will be found to solve the othéP problems which are now troubling e world, including that of Germany's future. .These persons, however, are in the minority. . SINGER DEEPLY MOVED. Operatic Star Touched by Tribute Paid Unknown Soldier. Of all who participated in the im- pressive -honors rendered to Amer- ica’s “unknown soldier” at Arlington yesterday none, perhaps, was more deeply touched by the sentiment of the day than Miss Rosa Ponselle, the lendlngclopnno ofhzhn Metropolitan pera Company, who sang ‘I Know That My Redeemer Liveth.’ “It was not the great honor con- ferred upon me in permitting me to mingle my simple* tribute with that of this great nation,” sald Miss Pon- selle at the close of the ceremonfes, “but I was thrilled a2s never before in my life. My very soul seemed to g0 out in song.” At the close of the ceremonies Gen. Dias asked to be presented to the singer and complimented he: voice. She was then presented to the other members of the Itallan delega- tion, v'v-ho also pald high tribute to er ar —_— At the general election held in England,” nine women will make a fight for election to parliament. NAVAL DISARMING PLAN OFFERED BY MR. HUGHES RECEIVES HIGH PRAISE Members of the Senate, Who, with the President, are charged with looking to the foreign rela- tions of the United States, today expressed the highest admiration for the American plan for naval disarmament as presented to the limitation of armament conference by Secretary of State Hughes. The frankness of the statement by Mr. Hughes, its purpose, were ap- plauded vigorouly by the senators as the Secretary spoke, and later they were enthusiastic in their comments. Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska, democrat, chairman of the Senate forelgn relations committee dur- ing democratic control of the Sen- ate, sald: “It (Mr. Hughes' address) was splendid. It was concrete and to the point.” Senator Kenyon of Iowa, repub- lican, declared that the American Secretary of State had pointed the way to a real limitation of arma- ments. LABOR DEMONSTRATION FAVORS ARMS PARLEY Central Labor Union Addressed by Prominent Speakers Urging Support of Limitation. Insecurity of position of the “com- mercial axpansionists and defenders of militarism” was pointed out as an additional reason why future warfare would not be as popular as were con- flicts preceding the world war by Frank Morrison during an address at Central Labor Union’s public demon stration in favor of limitation of armament at the Central High School auditorium last night. 'The world Is beginning to realize that .victory in modern warfare is as costly to the people of the victoriou. nation as defeat would have been, Mr. Morrison sald. “I would remind our commercial expansionists and de- fenders of militarism that when the next war comes, moreover, they can- not say ‘I will be exempt from dan- ger. In future wars they cannot as sume their usual role of dollar pa- triots with the knowledge that they will be safe from harm while men die on the battlefleld. Senator Kenyon of Iowa delivered an address in which he advocated fullest publicity at the sessions of the conference for limitation of arma- ment. “I hope that the proceedings of the conference,” he said, “will be abso- lutely public, that all the cards will be laid on the table. We have had enough to do with secret intrigues of diplomats in the past. And hope that for once in_its existence the Congress of the United States will keep still and give the delegates to the conference a chance to show what they are going to do, and also that the newspapers of the country will do the same.” Other speakers were Frank Dufty, president of the International Broth- erhood of Carpenters and Joiners Mrs. Edward P. Costigan end Joh B. Colpoys, who presided and deliv- ered the opening address. NEW ZEALAND FIRM FOR UNITED EMPIRE (Continued from Firat Page.) - tion, such as the free emigration question, should cause a deadlock be- tween Great Britain and New Zealand, 8ir John Salmond insists that he would be perfectly justified in fight- ing for his beliefs and the polices of his country, even though opposed to those of Great Britain, when the mat- ter is first brought up for considera- tion in the proper committee of the conference. ~When the matter is brought up before the conference as & whole, however, Sir John believes that the leader of the Britigh dele- .lllonnwlll speak for the dominions as well. . Claims Neo Internatfonal Status. “I desire to make it clear,” Sir John Salmond sald today, “that New Zea- land neither possesses nor claims any separate international status. The power which has been Invited to this unity. The autonomous dependencies of thaet empire have no individual recognition. Both in connection with this conference and in relation to other matters there has been some public discussion as to a claim by the British self-governing dominions to an independent international status. Such & claim, however, has, I think, or logical foundation. In- the British empire is a single ible body politic, il oy however, in no way deprives the self-governing dominfons of such voloe and influence in international aftairs as they may be justly entitied to in view of their importance or of their distinct interests. Have Rights of Units. *The voice by which the British em- pire speaks in such matters need not be exclusively the voice of the im- perial government at Westminster. ‘Whether in such & conference as this at Washington, the league of nations or in some futur§ more comprehen- sive association of the powers, the self-governing dominjons of the Brit- ish crown may properly possess and exercise & share in the joint repre- sentation of a single undivided em- pire, but this is a very different thin, from an illogical and disruptive cl to separate international existence and recognition. —_— Mme. Makino is a manufacturer of brass in Yokohama and makes $10,000 & month out of it. conference is the British empire In its ' NAT. ProTo ARRIVAL OF SECRETARY OF STATE HUGHES. CROWDS AT MEMORIAL HALL AS PARLEY DELEGATES MEET Ambassadors, Justices of Supreme Court, Cabinet Members and Men in Bril- liant Uniform Gather. No other entrance in the United States ever had so many notables pass its portals as the 17tk street doors of Memorial Continental Hall this morning for the few minutes just prior to the opening of the arma- ment conference. Crowded on the steps and slowly making their way upward toward the rather narrow door were dele- gates, ambassadors, justices of the Supreme Court, cabinet members, Army and Navy officers of high rank and attaches of varying:degrees of eminence. . Arthur Balfour and Ambassador Geddes came together in the latter’s ca miral Kato arrived in another motor. The procession of vehicles, ranging from limousines of the diminsions of a freight car down to friendly fliv- vers brought notables of great va- riety in ones and twos, threes and fours. Brilllant Uniforms Seen. An occasional brilliant uniform lent a spectacular touch tc the event. The sartorial perfection of the Italian rty was unexcelled, perhaps, by any. leut. Gen. Vaocarl, chief of staff of the Italian army, and his aides were in full uniform covered by flowing cloaks of a light blue. Admiral Acton and his aides wore the dark blue of the navy. Both of these chief advisers to the delegation were distinguished by an intricate pattern of lace around their caps often called “Walls of Troy.” The streets and opposite parking were lined with & curious crowd. The steps of D. A. R. Hall are steep apd none too wide; the doorway is a nar- row one. The presence in the portico, and especially on the very stairs right up to the door, of a considerable num- ber of people who by no stretch of the imagination could have been repre- sentatives of the press or otherwise entitled to be there wae a feature that detracted from the impressiveness of the scene and inconvenienced the dis- tinguished arrivals. »F-‘:o Boy Scouts, two soldiers, one non-commissioned and one ¢ommis- sloned officer and one or two park po- licemen handled the situation as well they could. Conversations over- heard indicated that the congestion wi the result of divided authority and divided responsibility. So fast did notables arrive that those on-duty had all they could do to handle them. ‘Wanted to See President. The arrival of President Harding was, of course, the big event eagerly awaited by those who had with the persistence of herring going up- stream, eluded the barriers. ~They fatuously supposed that the chief ex- ecutive would come to the main porte-cochere. Of course, he didn’t. When the presidential cars slipped down 17th street and around the cor- ner everybody registered acute dis- sppointment, while the flying leups of photographers, cameras in hand, from their precarious places on the pediments of the pillars provided a real thrill. Most, of not all, did not reach the corner until the President had slipped inside. The sense of values «£ some Amer- Prince Tokugawa and Vice Ad-l icans is pecullar. “How dare you try to stop me? I am the wife of a colo- nel in the Army,” one woman called from her sedan to a police officer. She seemed to think that entirely suffi- cient reason for permitting her car to enter a street closed to all traffic. CALL OF WORLD RESOUNDS, SAYS MR. HARDING (Continued from First Page.) smaller ones were the Portuguese, Helgians, Dutch and Chinese. Ad- visers had chairs of gold and velour directly back of their delegations. Be- hind the American sections were draped the flags of the nine nations. _Senator Lodge was the first of the American delegation to arrive. He walked about the room meeting mem= bers of the American advisory com mittee, much as he talked with col- leaguesdn the Senate chamber. There was a scattering of gold lace in the galleries. ‘As the French delegates reached the main er.rance there was something of @ jam. Premier Briand, edging his way through, dropped 'his silk hat.Attendants quickly made a way for him to get in. Attaches in Full Dress. Military and naval attaches ap- peared in full dress uniforms, making a show of plumes and spangles such s Washington has not seen since the war. Almost all the others were in conventional dress of the diplo- ‘matic service. Vice President Coolldge and Mrs. Coolidge and Speaker Gillett of the House and Mrs. Gillett occu- pied a box to the right rear of the American delegation. Mrs. Maynard Minor of Connecticut, presi- dent general of the Daughters of the Amerfcan Revolution, had a seat of honor in & box with a party. Earl Beatty, putting his glasses to his_eyes, searched for his own seat, and found it on the first row of the British_advisors. The delegate from India, Srinivasa Sastri, wearing a white silk turban, added a touch of color to the picture. Gen. Pershing took his place with the advisory committee and was quickly surrounded by representativ of some of the Army with whom he was associated. Applause for Mr. Hughes. Premier Briand and M. Viviani stood together chatting behind their chairs as Prince Tokugawa of the Japanese delegation came in and engaged in conversation with Sir Auckland Geddes, the British ambassador. Mr. Balfour entered with former Premier Borden of Canada. > The first applause, hearty and gen- erous, broke when Secretary Hughes tion broke loose again. Secretary Hughes sat in the cente of the table, and with a white slab of { marble and a small gavel in front of him. At his right, in order, were Sen- ator Lodge, Elihu Root and Senator Underwood. On the Secretary's left was Lord Balfour, head of the British delegation. Ten-thirty, the officlal hour of opening the conference, passed with some of the delegations still absent. Mr. Hughes watched the clock and the confusion around the doorway. Cheered by Audience. The audience rose and cheered as Mra. Harding took her place at the front of the box where the Vice Pres- ident sat. The President came in at 10:33 o'clock, and immediately Secre- tary Hughes called the conference to order. Prayer was offered by the Presi- dent's pastor, Rev. W. S. Abernethy of Calvary Baptist Church. He pray- ed as follows: “Almighty God, we thank Thee for the coming of this eventful day. We have seen it from afar, and now we rejoice that it has at last dawned. May it bring untold blessing to a troubled world. O Thou Omnipotent One, today, a8 in other days, we be- lieve that Thou dost guide in human affaira Thou hast made of one blood all nations that dwell upon the earth, and, though we are of many races and many tongues, yet the interests of the léjw are the interests of the larger umber. May we feel assured that the {“welfare and happiness and prosperity jof the human family are inexpressibly ‘dear to Thy heart. “We pray for clear vision, or We shall grope blindly for the light and lose our way. We pray for hearts lovingly sympathetic to human distress wherever it may ex- ist, or we shall sink into the depths | of'a miserable selfishness. We pray for minds willing to belleve that the strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, or we shall miss the great joy of service. We pray for the forward look or we shall be over- whelmed in hopeless pessimism. Give us the ability to think clearly, to judge fairly, to act wisely. Help us | to think less often of our rights and more often of our duties and respon- sibiljties. “We pray at this hour on behalf of a world in sore need. Thou art not unmindful of the sufferings of Thy people. The cries of muititudes of widows and orphans have come up before Thee, O God. We have had our terrible baptism of blood. There is hunger and pestilence and unutter- able anguish. God forbid that the woes of these years should ever again be visited upon the earth. Can it be that Thou hast permitted us thus to suffer in order that we might turn from our own devices to Thee and acknowledge Thee as King of our lives and our destinies? Qut of the depths we cry unto Thee—save us or we perish. “May we walk softly and humbly before Thee, this day, and throughout the fatéful days of this great con- ference. May we be intent on kno ing Thy_will; and knowing it, may we have the courage to do it. And may it not be that the findings of this conference shall be so wise, 80 far reaching and so beneficial, that all| mankind may take new hope and fresh courage. And to Thee shall be the praise and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. President Speaks. ators in the galleries applauded again when he declared there should be a naval holiday and no naval construc- tion for ten years. Spectators Rise and Applaud. At the end of Mr. Hughes' speech the conference and spectators again arose and applauded and then a pro- gram or organization was quickly adopted. John W_Garrett of Baltimore, Md.. was unarni y elected secret general at suggestion of Mr Hughes. Al gestion it was clegations on prog compose & comi- for the confer- ce. t'11:40, after the conference had been in scssion a little over an hour. Chairman Hughes suggested that motion to adjourn until Tuesday would be in order. The galleries did not-agree with h shouting the name of the French pre- mier. “Briand,” “Briand,” the distinguished & rang out until of the French delegation arose thunder of applause to expres gratitude at the friendly spirit of Washington. Marked With Eloquence. M. Briand made his speech from the end of the long, green table, and touched many of those unable to un- derstand him and his eloquence. He thanked President Harding and paid tribute to him and to Secretary Hughes for having called the confer- ence. “France is with you in every way he said, with a great lled the ravages of the wi s native land, and asked the members of the conference to remem- ber the peculiar position occupied b re. France had . he said, to dis- hing sincerity the which it was hoped to lift from the world. Ask Speech From Japan. Before Mr. Briand's speech could be translated into Enzlish, members o the Senate and Hou ent up a de- mand for a speech from Japan. The premier sat down and was reading while the translation was read to the conference. Answering the applause, Prince Tokugawa spoke briefly in English, saying Japan was deeply concerned in the great purpose for which the con- ference was called. “The world needs peace,” he de- clared. Then followed a cry for Italy President Schanzer of the Italiar delegation was not caught off his feet, as he responded briefly in Eng- lish! Italy did not provoke the he said, d i the reasons which (- caused the calling of the conference. Assurance that Italy would co-operate with the aims of the conference was again expressed by President Schan- zer, who declared that in whatever issue the world would find Italy standing for peace. Another war, if one should ever come, would be more frightful than the last, he added, and this of itself should urge support of the cause laid down by the President. Mr. Hughes Steps Into Gap. The first rap for order by Chairman Hughes w 1g the translation of the Italian’: ch. It was a bang Immediately at the conclusion of the prayer President Harding rose and began delivery cf his address. The President had stood during the prayer with bowed head between Mr. jHughes and the .pastor. At the con- clusion of the prayer Secretary Hughes stepped forward and, lifting his hands, said: “The President States.” There was an outburst of applause and then intense silence as the Presi- dent began speaking. Mr. Harding read his speech slowly and deliberately from small printed pages which he held in the hollow of his left hand. With his right he punctuated his statements with driv- ing gestures. Tne first applause came when the President declared that the conference must have a “signal in- fluence” on the fortunes of the world. of the United that quick!y stilled noise in the eon- gressional gallery, as members started {out. With scattering cries for other speakers, Chairman Hughes stepped into the breach and took charge of the program, first calling upon the Belgian delegate. He said Belgium would sup- port any program that couid be carried out with honor. Dr. Sze responded for China, speak- ing also in English. He expressed the firm bellef that the results sought by the conference would be attained. hearing the representative Netherlands?” said Chairmtan Hughes Responding, Dr. Van Karnebsek.} ) the delegate, expressed thanks for the Invitation. Holland, he said, was not a_military factor in world poli- tics, but was moved always Iby & deep, firm desire and hope for peace. French Alone Use Own Tongue. The representative of Portugal There was more applause when Mr. next to be called upon, referred, dike Harding asked how civilization ever ! other speakers, to the anguish of war could justify the destruction of the|and the hope of the world for an end George | E last great war. Still again he was answered by loud clapping when he sald war should be “outlawed” and the resources of the world turned into constructive channels. Keynote of Conference. There was the tefisest silence as the President pronounced the keynote of the conference as follows: “The United States welcomes you with unselfish hands. We harbor no fears; we have no sordid ends to serve; We suspect no enemy; we con- template or apprehend no conquest. Content with what we have, we seek nothing that !5 another's. We only wish to ‘do with you that finer, nobler thing which no nation can do alone. We wish to sit with you at the table of international understanding and good will. In good conscience we are eager to meet you frankly, and invite and offer co-operation. The world demands a sober contemplation of the existing order and the realiza- tion that there can be no cure with- out sacrifice, not by one of us, but all of us. I do not mean surrendered rights, or narrowed freedom or de- nied aspirations, or ignored national necessities. Our republic would no more ask for these than it wuumI ive. No pride need be humbled, no nationality submerged, but I would have a mergence of minds commit- ting all of us to less preparation for war and more enjoyment of fortu- nate peace.” The delegates at the main table fol- lowed the reading line by line, from coples they had. The audience and some of the delegations came to their feot applauding when Mr. Harding declared America wanted “less of armament and none of war” and wanted to work to that end. The President concluded at 10:53 o'clock. There was & minute of applause when the President concluded. The demonstration was ended only by Mr. Harding's departure from the hall. As the President went Secretary Hughes announced that French and would be the h ges used. gggu.mlldlnfl speech, had been printed in both languages. Mr. Hughes' statement was repeated by an interpreter. Premier Briand re- D{lefl in French, lhlflklnf him. The assemblage came to its feet as Mr. Balfour amid a salvo of applause nominated Mr. Hughes for chairman the conferénce. o"flu President the United of of it. Italian, Relgian, Chinese, Dutch and Portuguede representatives spoke in English, the French alone employing their own language. There was more applause as Sen- ator Lodge was introduced, the crowd looking for a speech. But the sen- ator, smiling, turned the applause into laughter by briefly announcing: “I move we adjourn.” % That ended the first open session— at 12:22 o'clock, until 11 o'clock Tues- day. Chairman Hughes requested the audience to remain in its seats until the delcgates had left the hall, and there was general compliance, but still much congestion around the doors as eyerybody was moving out. FIRE CHIEF SAYS MEN TOLD TO OBEY RULES Replies to Complaints Made by Crowds at Last Night's Blaze. Fire Chief George Watson, when asked today about complaints that fire apparatus went through the crowds on 17th street last night, said that his men were instructed to ob- serve the temporary traffic rules pro- mulgated for the occasion, except where it was necessary in reaching a fire. The chief said the temporary regu- lations were sent to all fire companies. The order sent to the firemen closed with the following paragraph: “These temporary regulations should not be violated by officers and mem- bers of the department unless such action be absolutely necessary in or- der to avoid delay in responding to alarms of fire, and then only when such violation of the regu'ations can apparently be accomplished with safety to the fire department and the public.” The fire alarm last night, he sald, came from a box at 18th street and New York avenue, surrounded by gov- ernment buildings and the Emergency Hospital. This box, he said, is looked upon by firemen as a dangerous one, because of the nature of the bulldings mear it - “May we now have the pleasure ol of the ., \