Evening Star Newspaper, April 22, 1924, Page 10

{4 minister to 1, TEXT OF PRESIDENT’S SPEECH AT ASSOCIATED PRESS MEETING (Continued from First Page.y” st aside. Altogether too se in a position to do ke advantage of the the _situation for their own profit. Finally nearly all of those in responsible po: throughout the entire civ ed world had but one main ob- ct in view, which was the win- ng of the war, ve Scoundrels Chances. began to make almost consideration and motive subsidiary to that great effort. Totally inconceivable amounts of money raised and expended with a lavishness which a few months before would have been be- lieved impossible, and which now sesms like some wild nightmare. notwithstanding the great wave of atriotic fervor which swept over » land; notwithstanding the tre- iendous sacrifices which the peo- ry walk of life made, and were not for any DUrpose now to criticize, where the ieast scrupulous became the great- t zainers and a considerable part thrown into e of mind, ¢ intentioned ion wa; morbid financial s ich cven not whol desire for profits increasing, and the money became well- crsal. All of this mear temipt to appropriate the be- of others without render- 4 corresponding service. s condition began to subside rly S but it left ts cour al of vicious al self s which in degre ever since s to gratify an ap- grown all the sharper h indulge and a general s of large sums paid _on ivablg mo- Healthy Desire for Reform, 11 of this sordidness the government, of course, In some of it a few cers were guilty partici- at the wo; is not that o much or so many has been so littl er ent is the evidence of complete return to thods of action and a ublic opinion. The gravity f this kind is fully real- icly . reprehended. exceed healthy 1proot it altogether, shment wher- , dence of guilt produced. That I am doing opose to continue. her phase of lingering ex- nce, from which the coun- not vet fully recovered, is by a consideration of the hich are pending before the ss. calling for an expendi- money. Exceeding- eal efforts have been put h to reduce the cost of govern- t. Hundreds of thousands of have been re- ¢ department has y deflated and most competent ¥ is an tion to great vigor every from the burden of public expendi- Yet notwithstanding this, ty groups of one kind or an- and _organizations, some- most nation-wide in their tions, are making the most g iined assaults upon the pub- ic treasu Muge Sums Are Sought. am sed by the director of bureau of the budget that eful computation discloses that there are bills pending that are se- ously pressed for passage, not in- ding the bonus, which would the expenditures of the federal government for next year about $2,600,000,000. _This mean that outside of the Office Department, which is self-sustaining, the e of expenditure would ore than doubled. Each one ] ems taken by itself is ze, und its supporters argue that certainly the government can aftord 1o make this small addition- yment t taken in the aggregate they the stupendous sum I have and their assumption vernment would mean than financial disas- he nation. The law of must be applied to this sit- Our country is very rich, t were its possessions increased any-fold, it would not be war- ing out money except eceived. Value recefved he part of the government is estimated by a generad conside: tion of all the attending con tions. nt our country does ater outlay of ex- ater application of nomy »f mind is re n in the determined re hich is made to the f a sound method of Th ain argument of opposition can all be reduced the supposition that the gen- al public can be relieved of tax- ion and a greater proportion of xes Jaid on the rich. I shall not examine ¢ undness of this pro- il the economic injury which ould inflict, or its impossibil- working principle. 1 men- i 1s another example of an attempt to minister to a supposed uesire to evade the law of service. cems as though the public is imed to desire to have the ad- of a government with- paying its part of the cost of ntiining it. Besides being onvinced that such a result is stterly impossible of accomplish- nent,” 1 am more firmly of the that it misrepresents the I _attitude of the public Moreover, the success of government does not lie in wringing all the revenue it can t but in making light and fairly possible, consistent enance of functions. . in_order ssful, and all of those nected with it, must put all of r energy upon what they can 4o for the people, not upon what they can get out of them. Sees Hope for Tax Plea. There are some reasons which reveal to us why, in our domestic flairs, we must be possessed of curate information of the do- and needs of others, in order hat we may best serve ourselves v serving them through appro- te action. We are all a part \f one common country. ' To be \ a healthy and successful con- W (litlon economically, means a free Il interplay of competition in service, i based upon that mutual faith in cach other which we term public nfidence. otwithstanding the disturbing character of recent rev- elations, notwithstanding _the cnormous pressure for the passage " of legislation which would greatly ) increase the cost of maintining i the government of the United i States, notwithstanding the fail- ure of a majority of the Congress K up to the present time accurately ™ to comprehend and expeditiously to e need of taxation re- « form, 1 belfeve that the require- ments of economy and reduced i taxes will be met in a way not N nsistent with the great re- I sources of our country. ‘While 1 have thought it desir- able to point out dangerous temd- * encies, 1 know that 'with ~ few S exceptions the management of our | @evernment bas peen and im in F y - honest and competent hands, that its finances are sound and well managed, and that the business interests of the mation, including the owners, managers and em- ployees, are representative of hon- orable ‘and patriotic motives, and that the present economic condi- tion warrants a_continuation of confidence and prosperity. Fun- damentally America is sound. It has both the power and disposi- tion to maintain itself in a healthy economic and moral condition. But it can not do this by turning all its thoughts in on itself, or by making its material prosperity its supreme choice. Selfishness is only another name for suicide. A nation that is morally dead wili soon be financially dead. The progress of the world rests on courage, honor and faith. If America wish- es to maintain its prosperity, it must maintain its ideals. Praises Peade Ideal. When we turn to our foreign relations we see the working out of the same laws. If there is ome ideal of national existence to which America has adhered more consistently than to any other, it has been that of peace. What- ever other faults may be charged to our country, it has never been quarrelsome, belligerent or bent on military aggrandizement. After all, the main support of peace is understanding. It is a matter of accurate information by one gov- ernment and one people about other governmen nd other peoples. There is likewise involved the same law of scrvice. Help for Others Is Test. If the country is to stand for anything in the world, if it is to represent any forward movement in human progress, these achiev ments will be m ured in no small degree by what it is able to do for others. I'p to a little more than twent vears ago Amer- ica gave almos tion to self-dev it achieved a ability of th rge of their o monstrated th strength of self-government der free institutions, while afford ing a refuge for the oppressed ¢ other lands. The great infuence chich the mere existence of Amer- institutions exercised upon rest of th world would be ult to overestimate. At end of a long period of steady ac: complishments of this nature came the war with Spain. which left our country a world power with world respon: ilities. It is not too much to say that in meeting and bringing to a successful conclu- sion that conflict our country per- formed a world service. This was followed by a period of most remarkable industrial d velopment. There were great congolidations of properties, enor- mous investments of capital, and a stupendous increase of produc- tion, all aecompanied by a growth of population reaching many mil- lions. This was our condition at the outbreak of the world war. For a long time we sought to avoid this conflict, on the ump- tion that it did not concern On that subject we were lueking in accurate information. We found, at last, that while it was also the grave concern of others, it did concern us intimately and peril- ously. Weo took our part in the war at length, in the defense of free institutions. We believe, while acknowledging that we were only one of the contributing elements, that our participation was a decisive factor. ‘The result was a demonstration of the strengti of self-governing peoples, and a victory for free institutions. Our action at this time was distinctly a world serv- ice. America made its sacrifice for what it believed was the cause of righteousness. Some Galns From War. The sacrifices made on thess oc- casions, which resulted in a bene- fit to others, resulted likewise in a benefit to ourselves. Even the evil effects which always arise from war and its aftermath have only tempered, not obliterated, these resylts. A flow of material re- sources set in toward our country, chich is still going on. The gen- eral standards of living were Taisec In the resuiting plenty many of the old hardships of ex istence were removed. Our cou try came into a position where it had a greatly increased opportuni- tv for world leadership. In moral power it took a higher rank. There can be little doubt that our presence at the treaty table softened the terms and diminished the exactions of the victorious na- tions, where joint covenants of defensive alliance were in part substituted for the usual terri- orial transfers. Our country re- fused to adhere to the covenant of the League of Nations with a de- cisive rejection which 1 regard as final. Following this came a, con- tinuing effort to collect repara- tiong, which the economic chaos of Germany after a time caused to be suspended. This_resulted in_the French seizure of t Rhur, with allied conferences, plans and dis- cussions for renewing payment of reparations under some gettied method of permanent adjustment. ‘Although indirectly interested by reason of our commerce, and more especially because of the debts due to us, in having a European set- tiement, our government felt that the fundamental questions involed in all these discussion were the direct political concern of Burope. Our policy relative to the debts due to us from Luropeon countries was well known, and we refused sto submit them to these discus- sions. This never meant that America was not willing to_lend its assistance to the solution of the Furopean problem in any way that did not involve us in their purely political controversies, whenever opportunity presented a plan that promised to be just and effective. But we realized that all effort was useless until all parties came to & state of mind where they saw the need to make concessions and accept a friendly counsel. Hughes Proposal Histofic. In December of the year of 1922 our Secretary of State, Mr. Hughes, set out the American proposal in an address which he delivered at New Haven. That proposal has now become historie He recog- nized that settlement of the repara- tions question was probably im- possible if approached after the method of a political problem. It was not so much a question to be dealt with by public officers or dip- lomatic agencies, which must necessarily reflect to a very mark- ed degree the political state of mind of the various countries, but was represented as one which could be solved by the application of pure business talent and ex- perienced private enterprise. To such an effort of business men, un- hampered by every unnecessary political consideration, Mr. Hughes expressed the belief that competent American citizens in private life Would be ready to lend their as- sistance. This position was con- sistently maintained. Its correct- ness was _finally_ demonstrated when Mr. Dawes, Mr. Young and Mr. Robinson were invited by the reparation commission for that purpose, and consented to serve. The finding of the experts, which is known as the Dawes report, has recently been made and published. It shows a great deal of research and investigation, and a broad comprehension of the requirements & the sitnation, li-has been. fa~ y THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, vorably «received by the repara- tions commission. It is gratifying to understand that the allies are looking upon it with full sympathy and Germany has expressed & will- ingness to co-operate in the execu- tion of the plan. There appears to be every reason to hope that the report offers a basis for a practical solution of the repara- tions problem. I trust that it may commend itself to all the European governments inierested as & method by which, through mutual conces- sions, they’ can arrive at a stable adjustment of the intricate and vexatious problem of reparations, and that such an outcome will pro- vide for the restoration of Ger- many and the largest possible pay- ments to the other countries. Dificalt Situation Met. 1f this result is secured, the credit which will be due to the Secretary of State, Mr. Hughes; to President Harding for adopting it and supporting it, and to the three Americans and their assist- ants, by whose wisdom and dis- cretion it was formulated and rendered so acceptable, will be suf- ficient to warrant the lasting ap- probation of two continents. A ituation at once both Intricate and difficult hss been met in a most masterful way. Our country- men are justified in looking at the result with great pride. Nothing of more importance to Europe has occurred since the armistice. Part of the plan contempiates that a considerable loan should at once be mado to Germany for im- mediate pressing needs, Including the financing of a bank. 1 trust that private American capital will be willing to participate in ad- vancing this loan. Sound business reasons exist why we should participate in the flnancing of works of peace in Europe, though we havo repeatedly asserted that we were not in favor of advanc- ing funds for any military purpose. It would benefit our trade and commerce, and we especially hope that it will provide a larger mar- ket for our agricultural produc- is notorious that foreign gold has been flowing into our country in great abundance. It is alto- other probable that some of it can be used more to our financial ntage in Europe than it can in the United States. Besides s, there is the humanitarian r uirement, which carries such a strong appeal. and the knowledge that out of our abundance it is our duty to help where help will be used for meeting just requirements and the promotion of a peaceful purpose. We have determined to maintain, and can maintain, our own political independence, but our economic independence will be strengthened and increased when the economic stability of Europe is restored. Beginning of Peace. ‘We hope further that such a con- dition will be the beginning of a secure and enduring peace. Cer- tainly it would remove many of the present sources of disagree- ment and misunderstanding among the European nations. When this adjustment is finally made, and has had sufficient time of opera- tion to become a settled European poliey, it would lay the foundation for a further effort at disarma- ment in accordance with the theory of the Washington conference. Although that gathering was able to limit capital battleships, it had to leave the question of sub- marines. air craft and land forces unsolved. The main reason for this was the unsettled and almost threatening_ condition that still existed in Europe. A final adjust- ment for the liquidation of repara- tions ought to be the beginning of a new era of peace and good will. In the event that such a condi- tion develops, it hecomes perti- nent to examine what can be done by our own country, in co-opera- tion with others, further to rid ourselves and the rest of the world of the menace and burden of com- petitive armaments and more ef- fectively insure the settlement of differences between nations. not by a recourse to arms, but by a re- course to reason; mot by action leading to war, but by action lead- ing to justice. Our past experience should warn us not to be over- confident in the face of so many failures, but it also justifies the hope that something may be done where already there has been somo success, and at least we can dem- onstrate that we have done all that we can. As a result of American initia- tive there is already in existence The Hague tribunal, equipped to function wherever arbitration seems desirable, and based in part_on that, and in part on the league, there is the Inter- national Court of Justice, which is %lready functioning. A proposal was sent to the last Senate by President Harding for our adher- ence to the ‘eovenant establish- ing this court, which I submitted to the favorable consideration of the present Senate in my annual message. Other plans for a world court have been broached, but up to the present time this has seem- ed to me the most practical one. But these proposals for arbitra- tion and courts are not put for- ward by those who are well in- formed with the idea that they could be relied upon as an ade- quate means for entirely prevent- ing war. They are rather a meth- od of securing adjustment of claims and differences and for the enforcement of treaties when the usual channels of diplomatic ne- gotiation fail to resoive the difii- culty. Codifieation of Law. Proposals have also been made for the codification of interna- tional law. Undoubtedly some- thing might be accomplished in this direction, although a very large body of such law consists in undertaking to establish rules of warfare and determining the rights of neutrals. One of the difficulties to be encountered would be the necessity of se- curing_the consent of all the na- tions, but no doubt the agreement of the major powers would g0 very far in producing that result. 1 do not claim to be able to an- nounce any formula that will guarantee the peace of the world. There are certain definite things, however, that I believe can be done, which certainly ought to be tried, that might relieve the peo- ple of the earth of much of the burden of _military _armaments and diminish the probability of military operations: 1 Dbelieve that among these are frequent international conferences suited to particular needs, The Wash- ington conference did a _great deal to restore harmony and good wjll among the nations. Another prposo of a conference is the further limitation of competitive armaments. Much remains to be accomplished in that direction. It would appear to be impractical to attempt action under present con- ditions, but with a certain and definite settlement ‘of German reparations firmly _established, I should favor the calling of a simi lar conference to achieve sucl limitations of armaments and ini- tiate plans for a codification of international law, should prelimi- nary inquiries djsclose that such a proposal would meet. with a sympathetic response. But the main hope of success lies in first securing a composed state of the public mind in Europe. America Can Take Lead. it is my firm belief that Amer- ica is in a ‘position to take the lead in this direction. It is un- doubtedly too much to suppose that we hold very much of the affectonate regard of other na~ tions. ‘At the same time we do hold their respect. Our position is such that we are trusted and our business institutions and govern- ment_considered to be worthy of confidence. if there is disappoint- ment i some Qirections ihat we which is® D. C., TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 1924. criminal laws. One schoolmaster 1s better than a legion of bailiffs. One clergyman is better than an army with banners. These are our guarantees of internal peace and progress. On what nations are at home de- pends what they will be abroad. If the spirit of freedom rules in their domestic affairs it will rule in their foreign affairs. The world knows that we do not seek to rule by force of arms;' our strength is in our moral power. We increase the desire for peace everywhers by being peaceful. ‘We maintain a military force for our defense, but our offensive lies in the justice of our cause. We are against war because it is de- structive. We are for peace be- cause it is constructive. We seex be preserved. The freedom of the people politically, ‘economically, intellectually, morally and spiritu- ally must continue to be advanced. This is not a matter of a day or a year. It may be of generations, it may be of an era. It is for us here and now to keep in the right direction, to remain constant to the right ideala We need a faith that is broad enough to iet the people make their own mistakes. Let them come unto knowledge and understanding by their own experience. N Muxt Develop Best in U. S. Little progress can be made by merely attempting to repress what is evil; our great hope lies in developing what is good. One newspaper {s better than many do mot enter alliances with them it is more than overbalanced by the knowledge that there is no danger that we shall enter alli- ances against them. It must be known to every peo- ple that we are seeking no acqui- sition of territory and maintain- ing no military establishment with unfriendly and hostile intent. Like our political institutions, all of this is a powerful example throughout the world. Very many of the nations have been the re- ciplents of our favor and have had the advantage of our help in some time of extremity. We have no traditional enemies. We have ooms to a position of great power and great responsibility. Our first duty is to ourselves. American standards must be main- tained, American institutions must Alter Hall a Century t/ Waiting WASHINGTON 15 About to Vave AUDITORIUM Suitable lor Il | o Occasions concord with all nations through mutual understanding. We b, lieve in treatics and ocovenan and international law as a p toward men, will be manent record for a reliable - in the termination of action. of the All these are evidences of a chen right intention. But something seqse. more than these is reaquired to maintain the peace of the world, In its final determination it must come from the heart of the p ple. Unless it abide there we c not build for it any artificial lodging place. If the will of tho world be evil there is no artifice by which we can protect the na- tions from evil results. Govern- ments can do much for the better- ment of the world. They are the instruments through which hu- manity acts in international rela- tions. Because thev cannot do everything, they must not neglect to do what they can. establishment of pea plete maintenance o But the fina! will that ce will re; will that it shal' reig: they when they Blind Man Passed Bar Test. CHICAGO, April 22—George Henry Weinmann, twenty-four, Chicago blind since y d, has passed the bar e ation and will be K_I'd«lll ted witl onors fron Northwestern University law sehool in June, according to Dean John Wig | more. His mot ind sister, accord- |ing to the d . read aloud to him | every word i 11 the law books he | us, oo St e wey AT S s . The Washington Auditorium as It Will Appear When Completed OR more than fifty years it has been the ambition of the American people to make their Capital City a forum where all great questions might be di cussed in conventions assembled. Hitherto, the absence of proper assembly facilities ha ment of this ambition. Within a few short months, how- prevented the fulfill- ever, Washington will have its long-desired Auditorium for Conventions, Theatricals, Operas, Concerts, Exhibi- tions of all kinds, Balls, Moving Pictures of the higher order, &c. With this Auditorium, Washington will be prepared to meet, in a most satisfactory manner, the require- ments of any of the above attractions and many others. Its construction—now more than half completed—will represent an investment in excess of $800,000, of which (at the present moment) $680,000 has been subseribed by public-spirited men and women of this city. This money has been raised without the payment of one penny in the way of commissions or for services rendered. Every dollar subscribed has meant a 100% investment in the building fund. TO COMPLETE THIS EDIFICE AND FURD SH IT THROUGHOUT, $120,000 IS REQUIRED and at special meeting the Board of Directors decided to an- nounce this fact so that all who desired could participate -in the popular subseription thereto. In this connection, it is important to remember that— ourenotaskedto@niributeYouareinvited loINVEST .Jo become a Part OwnerinWashinglonsNew Andilorium One-half of each owner’s holdings, representing 509 of the total cost, will be in First Mort- gage 6% Bonds, and the remaining interest will be represented by common stock in the Wash- ington Auditorium Corporation. The great need of such an auditorium is sufficient assurance it is believed as to the value of this investment. However, subscriptions are solicited not solely on the basis of pecuniary profit, but on the higher and more admirable basis of COMMUNITY profit. Furthermore, your individual subscription regardless of the amount insures your name being placed upon the beautiful bronze tablet to be erected in the main lobby of Washington’s Audi- torium. THIS BRONZE TABLET WILL RECORD AS A PER- PETUAL MEMORIAL FOR ALL TIME TO COME YOUR CIVIC INTEREST IN YOUR CITY, AND WILL.STATE YOUR NAME IN FULL AND THE AMOUNT OF YOUR SUB- SCRIPTION—WHETHER FOR $10,000, $1,000 or for $100. .. The object of this tablet is not for the aggrandizement of any particular individual or indi- viduals, but as a faithful record of the individual subscriptions of the citizens of our city who have participated according to their means. In thjs regard we are particularly happy to an- nounce the great number of small subscriptions, ranging from $100 to $500 each, showing the great interest being taken by the masses of our people. 7 As stated before, $680,000 of the required $800,000 for this greatly needed building has already been subscribed. Won’t you do your part now toward the remaining $120,000 needed, so that your name, too, will appear upon this perpetual monument tablet along with the other public-spirited men and women who have already subscribed according to their individual ability ? A WISE STATEMENT FROM A WISE MAN “No matter how good a man may be, no matter how e a life he may i he is not neces- sarily a GOOD CITIZEN unless he does something worlh::’lle for the mm{mlil;f'ln 'which he lives.” A community is indebted to very few of its citizens. Many citizens, however, are often greatly in- debted to the community. This is your opportunity. It is your duty to grasp it firmly, SUBSTANTIALLY, and with promptness. It Is Desired to Raise This Amount by APRIL 30th Will You Help by Doing Your Part NOW?' All that is asked of you at this time is to fill out the Subscription Agreement —» and return it at once to C. J. GOCKELER, Treasurer of the Washington Auditorium Corpora- tion, Inc., 1406 G Stregt N.W., Washington, D. C. Do it NOW, while the thought is in your mind. The treasurer will notify you when first payment is needed, Washington Auditorium Corp'n C. J. GOCKELER, Treasurer 1106 G Street N. W. Subscription Agreement In consideration of the mutual sub- ccriptions for the benefit of the Wash- ington Auditorium Cornnrnion‘{c, 1 hereby subscribe and agree to pay(to the Treasurer of the sald company, t§s sum of §... T further promise and agree to pay 206 of this subscription when called for by the Treasurer, 20% within thirty days thereafter, and 20% each thirty days thereafter until the full amount is paid. I turther bind myself, my personal representatives and assigns to carry out this agreement in each and every par- ticular.