Norwich Bulletin Newspaper, April 21, 1915, Page 1

VOL. LVI.—NO. 94 o The Bulletin’s Circulation in Norwich is Double """ 3 5 o8 ~ NORWICH, CONN., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1915 ot Any Other Ifi; and Its Total Circulation is the Largest in Co 'FOURTEEN PAGES Bulletin nnecticut in Proboftioinflto the City’s Population PRICE TWO CENTS 5 RUSSIAN HUNGARY AMPAIGN HALTED German Newspaper Correspondents With the Teutonic Allies Assert Russian Offensive Has Ceased BATTLING AT ISOLATED POINTS IN FRANCE French War Office Reports That Fifty Incendiary Shells Have Been Dropped by the Gernians on Rheims—Two French Aerial Squadrons Have Attacked Points Along the Rhine, v and Have Set Fire to Great Forage Stores at Mannheim ! —Austria-Hungary Concentrating Troops on the Italian Frontier in View of a Troops Since the brief review issued a few days ago by the Russian war office ©f the operations in the Carpathians, in which it was stated that the Rus- sians held the proncipal chain, of mountains for an extent of about 75 miles and were strengthening their positions, a preliminary measure to further attempts to win the passes leading into Hungary, little news has come through respecting the opera- tions in that territory. Indeed, Ger- man newspaper correspondents, who are with the Teutonic allies, assert that the Russian offensive in that re- glon has come to an end. Bienna also declares that there has been no change during recent days in the general sit- uation in the Carpathians. In the west British and French troops are battling at isolated points sgainst their German adversaries and the French war office reports that 50 incendiary shells have been dropped by the Germans on Rheims, a city that has withstood bombardments from the beginning of the war. Two French aerial squadrons have ked points along the Rhine, have barded several stations and have ‘fire to great forage stores at Mann- Beim, tne bulldings and contents being destroyed, according to a despatch from Zurich. Information comes from Austria by way of Rome that Austria-Hungary is concentrating troops on the Italian frontier in view of a_possible invasion by Itallan forces, But no definite statement has yet been made regard-- ing any change in the policy of “armed neutrality” which Italy has maintained throughout. PREMIER ASQUITH HAS APPEALED TO WORI’MEN. To Spead Up the Output of Munitions ~—No Reference to Drink Question. Newecastle, England April 20, 9.40 p. The British prime minister, Her- ert H._ Asquith, who o often during his premiership has had to gloss over statements of his cabinet collegues, in en appeal tonight to the workmen of the northeast coast to speed up _the output of munitions of war, refrained from all reference to the drink ques- tion and declared that there had been no slackness on the part of either the employes or the employers. The necessity for greater effort, he said, arose from the fact that an en- ormous quantity of ammunition was being expended to the success of re- cruiting among the workers and the consequent shortness of skilled labor. This was being remedied and the premier foreshadowed the eplarge- ment of the present plents and the utilization of factories otherwise en- gaged to do government work, with proper compensation. The appeal was addressed almost as much to the employers as to the men, although the meeting was entirely for the workers, and the manufacturers were told in plain terms that they Probable Invasion by Italian must not expect to make undue profits from government contracts. The prime minister was accorded a great reception and his speech was re- peatedly cheered. He will visit some of the armament works on the Tyne- side tomorrow, FIFTY INCENDIARY SHELLS DROPPED ON RHEIMS. Artillery Fighting in Champagne and the Argonne. Paris, via London, April 20, 11.30 p. m—The following _official communi- cation was issued tonight: “Firty incendiary shells have been dropped on Rheims. “In Champagne and the Argonne there has been artillery fighting with- out_intervention by the infantry. “Between the Meuse nd the Moselle in ‘the forest of Montmar, near the Flireyard Essey road our _attacks achieved some success and we made some slight progress. “In the Forest of La Pretre the ene- my, after violently bombarding @ur position in the region of Croix Des Carmes, attempted an attack which was instantly stopped by our artillery. “There was a fairly lively cannon- ade and some outpost fighting at the edge of the Forest of Parroy. “Yesterday evening two German counter-attacks against Hartmanns- Weilerkop? were repulsed.” BRITISH HAD PROTESTED FACILITIES AFFORDED EITEL For Cleaning Her Bottom So As to Increase Speed Before Internment. London, April 20, 9.20 p. m—That the British government had protested against some of the facilities afforded the German auxiliary. cruiser Prinz Eitel Friedrich at Newport News was disclosed today in a reply in the house of commons made by Sir Edward Grey, the British foreign minister, to a ques- tion asked by Commander Carlyon Eel- lairs, who recently was returned to parliament by a bye election, Commander Bellairs asked whether the permission to repair the cruiser ncluded the use of the port for clean- ing her hull, thereby increasing her s peed chances of escape from the British cruisers.” Sir Edward Grey said that before her internment the Eitel Friedrich had “had her bottom cleaned and coaled with non-fouling composition while in drydock in Newport News, thus con- siderably increasing her speed.” No Fetitious Names on Boston Hotel Registers. Boston, April 20.—All hotel guests in this city would be required to res- ister under their own names under the provisions of a bill passed by the senate today. The house already has passed the bill. Provision is made for a fine of $25 upon the hotel manage- ment for each violation discovered. Cabled Paragraphs * Bulgars Invade Serbia. London, April 21, 2.20 & m.—'It is semi-officially announced,” says Reu- ter's Nish correspondent, “that two fresh inroads into Serbian territory have been made by irregular bands of Bulgarians.” FEDERAL SUPERVISION OF NEW YORK' QUARANTINE STATION Taft Endorsed Plan Before New York Academy of Medlcine. New York, April 20.—Endorsement of the plan looking to the taking over by the United States public health service of the quarantine station of the port of New. York, now in the hands of the New York state govern- ment, was given by Former President William H. Taft in an address tonight Dbefore the New York Academy of Med- icine. Mr. Taft paid a high tribute to the efficiency of the medical corps of the United States army, navy and public health service in fighting the spread of disease in the Philippines, the Panama Canal zone, Porto Rico and Cuba as indicating the ability of the federal public_health service to handle the quarantine problems of the port of. New Yorl HOWLAND HOUSE WILL NOT BE SOLD FOR DEBT. Only Dwelling Standing in America Which Has Sheltered Pilgrims. Plymouth, Mass., April 20—The old Howland house, the only dwelling standing in America which has shelt- ered passengers who arrived on_the Mayflower ir. 1620, will not be sold for debt, it was anrounced today by Mrs. Lillian V, Titus, secretary of the So- clety of the Descendants of Pilgrim John Howland of the Mayflower. Mrs. Titus said that judgment on a note against the society had been satisfied and that the ancient house would re- in the possession of the organi- MAY HAVE PERISHED IN VAST FOREST FIRE Two Unidentified Men Missing Litchfield, N. H. Litchfield, N, H., April 20.—~Two un- identied men are missing and are be- lieved to have lost their lives in a fire which burned over three thousand acres of heavy timber and brush land and destroyed several farm buildings here today. The men were members of a party of laborers brought here to fight the flam FIVE MILE FOREST FIRE AT PLAINFIELD. 200 Volunteer Fire Fighters Are Work- ing in Four Different Sections. at Plainfield, Conn., April 20.—A forest fire five miles long, which has already burned over several hundred acres of timber land in this vicinity, was still burning fonight, despite the efforts of 200 volunteer fire fighters. There are four separate fires in different sections of the town. The fire fighters. Succeed- ed in preventing the fire from spread- ing to several farmhouses. Boy Killed by Auto in Shelton. Ansonfa- Conn,, April 20.—John Mor- ris, aged 9, colored, was struck by an automobile bus driven by Herman Ja- cut of Shelton today and received in- juries which resulted in death in_the Griffiith_hospital a short time after- wards. It is said the boy, Who was on his way home from school, -dodged from behind a _trolley car directly in front of the automobile. Jacot. stop- ped his car and hurried the youth to the office of Dr. Cooper and then to the hospital. Internal injuries caused death. Coroner Eli Mix of New Ha- ven ordered Jacot held in bonds of $500 pending a hearing. Movements of Steamsh New York, April 20.—Steamer Rot- terdam, Rotferdam for New York, sig- nalled 958 miles east of Sandy Hook at noon. Dock at 8.30 a. m., Friday. Gibraltar. April 19—Passed: Steam- er_Stampalia, New York for Naples, Bordeaux, = April 20, — Arrived: Steamer Chicago, New York. Glasgow, April 20.—Arrived: Steam- er_Transylvania, New York. Lisbon, April 18—Sailed: Steamer Madonna, Providence and New York. New York, _April _20—Arrived Steamer Oscar II, Copenhagen. Sailed: Steamer Ryndam, Rotterdam, New York, April 20—Sailed, steamer Isant’” Anna,” Marsellles. MRS. WILLARD AND CHILDREN AWAIT HOMECOMING OF WORLD’S CHAMPION. Los Angeles, Cal, April 21—Al- the entire populace of this is awaiting the arrival home of ‘ess Willard, the new_champion pueilist b3 world, there is one little group his 8 more intensely Interested than 31 the others, and that is composed Roosevelt Takes Witness Stand IN EFFORT TO PROVE STATE- MENTS WERE JUSTIFIABLE OFFERED SUGGESTIONS And Entered s More Than One Point h the Jus- tice and Talked to Counsel for Both Sides—He Made Peculiar Empha- sis When He Mentioned Mr. Barnes’ into a Discu: Name. Syracuse, N. Y., April 20.—Theodore Roosevelt, former president of the United States, went on the witness stand in the supreme coure here to- day and testified in an effort to prove his contention th.t he was justified in causing the publication of the state- ment upon which William Barnes sued him to recover $50,000 for alleged libel. Under oath he said that the former chairman of the republican state com- | mittee had urged him not to antago- nize men of large business interests who_contributed to both the demo- cratic and_ republican parties so that they would be protected. Quoted Mr, Barn Mr. Barnes told him, Colonel Roose- velt swore, that it was essential to Protect big business interests, because unless they were protected they would not make contributions to the party failing to protect them and that with- out such Contributions it was impos- sible to carry on the organization. Without organization leaders and boss es, the former president quoted Mr. Barnes as saying, party government would be impossible. 5 Colonel Roosevelt also quoted Mr. Barnes as telling®him that “the people are not fit to govern themselves, They have got to be governed by the party organization and you cannot run an organization, you cannot have leaders, unless you have money.” Colonel Roosevelt was called to the stand as a witness for the plaintiff after a technical question of proper identification of the plaintiff and de- fendant had been brought up by the lawyers. He was asked just one ques- tion. That was whether he was the defendant in the action. He replied in the affirmative and then was made a witness in his own behalf. Sketched His Political Career. He sketched his political career and with considerable pride discussed the regiment of rough riders he organized for service in the Spanish war. He told where the recruits came from, where they gathered, where they went and just what they did. He even de- ribegd -the first brush with the Span- ish fores and would have related or; ders he had given the men. under him had not counsel for the plaintiff ob- jected. Then he gave detdiled testi- mony about his relations with the late Senator Thomas C. Platt, with Mr. Barnes, and conversations he had with both these men on various occasions. He will continue his testimony tomor- row. Made Suggestions to Justice. Colonel Roosevelt talked to the coun- sel for both sides, offered suggestions and entered into a discussion of more than one point with Justice William S. Andrews, presiding, whom he address- ed as “Judge” He was entirely at his ease in the witness chair. He stretched his arms over the back of his chair, crossed first one leg and then the other and then adjusted a re-adjusted his glasses from time to time. He cut all his words off shortly except when he mentioned the name of Mr. Barnes. He drew out the name of his opponent and put a peculiar pronunciation on the ~last _syllable. of the wife and four children of the |- champion. The happy family is shown in the accompanying illustration. It is from a very recent photo of Mrs. Wil- lard and the four children of the champion. Willard has several prof- itable theatrical engagements on his as they will permit. Willard always has been a deyoted family man, and his first message he sent after winning the big fight was a _telegram to his_ wife and babies in California. Spectators said every time he men- tioned the name of Mr. Barnes they ‘were reminded of the noise made by a pebble droppir- into a pool of still water. Mr, Barnes himself appeared to be very much interested in the first part of Colonel Roosevelt's testimony. As it nrogressed, however, the plaintiff in the action seemed to lose interest and he first receded from a seat close to the witness stand to one farther away and he then left the room. Mr. Barnes’ attorneys had rested be- fore Colonel Roosevelt was called to the stand. They ‘completed presen- tation of their case in 20 minutes and called as their single witness the de- fendant’s own private secretary. CARRANZA MEN FIRE ON U. S. ARMY BIPLANE About Twenty Rifle Shots and Fifty from Machine Gun at Matamoros. Brownsville, Texas, April 20.—A United States army biplane, flylng over Fort Brown, near here, was fired upon this _afterncon by Carranza soldiers in Matamoros. About 20 rifie shots and fifty shots from a machine gun on the Mexican side, it is believed in army circles her, were fired at the aircraft. The machine landed safely. The biplane was piloted by Lieuten- ant B. Jones with Lieutenant T. D. Milling as_observer. Both were un- aware of the incident until they land- ed about 5.30 o'clock. The biplane was not struck, but one bullet hit the army wireless station at Fort Brown and another was picked up near the city hall in this city. The aircraf:, which was sent_ here recently for border patrol duty, had made a circle near the Rio Grande when fired upon. Upon Making a cir- cle and. when within about 200 feet of the river, the rattle of the machine gun was heard. All the shots were fired over American territory. VIGOROUS CONTEST FOR CONTROL OF D. A. R. Nominating Speeches Made Last Night —Balloting Begins Today. ‘Washington, April 20.—Lines were drawn_tonight for a vigorous contest for the control of the national organ- ization of the Daughters of the Amer- ican Revolution. Mrs. Willam Cum- ming Story of New York, the present president-general, was renominated for another term and Mrs. George Thacher Guernsey of Kansas was nom- inated by the opposition faction. Nominating speeches were made at tonight/s session of the 24th con- tinental congress and the balloting be- gins tomorrow, The schooner Eatille, of Newport News, ran ashore off Newbern, }‘S. C. Regulation of the Jitney Bus HEARING AT HARTFORD BEFORE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. WAS A SPIRITED SESSION Counsel for Connecticut Co. Maintained Jitneys Should Be Taxed and Regu- lated the Same as Trolleys—Owners of Jitneys Attacked Trolley Com- panies for Service Given and Their Attitude Toward the Public. (Special to The Bulletin.) Hartford, April 20.—The judicia committee gave public hearing Tu day afternoon in the hall of the hous of representatives, to a first time hear ing on the regulation of the jitney ser- vice. There was an attendance of o3 300, the great majority being dir interested in the new mode of publi trave!, and who were opposed to leg- islation of any description that would in any wa: affect the jitney. At the opening Senator Isbell, chairman of the committee, stated that an act cov- ering the jitney matter was with the committee, but he said_that the com- mittee was desirous of receiving in- formation on the subject. regardless of the regulations presented in the bill. It was stated that the bill pre sented by the Connecticut company, a basis for discussion, provided t a bond of $3,000 for each jitney be filed, that a license fee be paid in ad- dition to the registration fee, and that the governing powers of cities and towns be authorized to specify charges to be made and the routes to be tra- versed and that the measure be in ef- fect 20 days after 1ts passage. Counsel for Connecticut Co. Harry G. Day, representing the Con- necticut company, said he was in favor of regulating and not restricting the jitney, and suggested the adoption of measures that had been passed in other states. The bus £ public carriers is governed by the state and properly so, and the jitneys should be included. He referred to the taxes paid and for the large amount expend- ed in street paving, olling, repairs and taxation which amounted -to nearly $900,000, by trolley companies. If the jitneys are to compete with street railways they should be placed on a like basis. No Chance for Both to Survive. There is no chance for the jitneys and the trolleys to both survive, for if this unfair competition is to con- tinue, one or the other must be with- drawn. He referred to the trolleys be- ing required to operate from early in the morning until late at night ana on routes that are unprofitable, while the jitneys have a go-as-you-please system, and operate only when the jitney owners see fit, and can discon- tinue service in unfavorable weather. He said the jitneys should be under state and municipal control just as are the trolley lines. Unfair Competition. The dissatisfaction of overcrowded cars during the rush hours cannot be relieved by the jitneys. While the trol- ley cars are required fo run according to state regulation, give transfers, and maintain unprofitable lines, the jitn are not rejected or restricted. If jit- neys are to compete direct with trol- leys this unfair competition should not be permitted, Jitneys Should Be Bonded. The jitneys should be bonded to meet damages as a protection to the public and if operated from town to town they should be under the direc- tion of the public utilities commission just as are all other public carriers. In cities where the jitneys are operated a raasonable license fee should be col- fected in_ addition to the state regis- tration fee. Trolley companies are obliged to pave streets and do not use the pavement, while jitneys do, and they ought to pay a part of the cost. Trolleys Operate in Unprofitable Sec- tions. The jitney may prove a powerful competitor on short rides, cut into the receipts materially, but the _trolley companies must under state law oper- ate in unprofitable sections. Mr. Day submitted to the committee a brief of what he said, and also a copy of the Rhode Island proposed law, which was drawn by the city solicitor of the city of Providence, which features the bondin~ of jitney drivers in an amount sufficient to meet liability in the event of damages and the carrying capacity of each jitney and the qualifications of the drivers. In Tennessee the jit- neys are classed as common carriers and treated as such in law. Without regulation or restriction the jitneys will not operate over unprofitable routes and the public much of neces- sity suffer inconvenience. Leo Davis of Norwalk. Leo Davis, of Norwalk, representing the Norwalk Chamber of Commerce, sald he was opposed to any legisla- tion against the jitney service. He at- tacked the methods of the Connecticut company and referred to the water stock of the company. He favored the cities and the towns, not the state, to regulate the jitneys. People of Nor- wallc asked for an extension of ser- vice of the Connecticut company, but were told their charter would not per- mit of the proposed extension. He sald the Connecticut compeny has Dbeen an insult to the people of the state and now when the little jitney appears the company cringes and ap- peals to the state for protection. . It has been a “Public be damned” pol- foy with the Connecticut company. Mr. Davis read the vote of the Nor- walk Chamber of Commerce executive committee which favored the Jitney competition with the Connectigut com- pany. He said he voiced the sentiment of every municipality where trolley cars operated. The conservative Deople 8 Gonnecticut, he said, wil take proper care of the jitney matter at the next session of the legislature, if necessary, until then he implored the committee not to favor jitney leg- islation. ¢ Opposed to Bond Clause. Warren Lewis of Waterbury, who represented a Waterbury jitnéy com- pany, sald the company had already taken insurance precautions for the safety of the public and the stockhold- ers of the company as well. He op- posed the 33,000 bond clause and be- lieved it to be unconstitutional if ap- plied only to jitneys He favored mu- (Continued on Page Six) Conflensed Telegrams Richard Lydekker, the B h uralist, Qied in London. nat- lce in the Yukon River, is brea up, the earliest in history. Cardinal Farley of New York was seventy-three years old yesterday. Unusual sun spot activity was ported by astronome at St. Louis. Exports from the port of _ew York were $2,933,538, and imports $2,240,151. Efforts are in progress in Chicago to settle the strike of building empioyes. George F. Slosson, former billiard champion, filed a voluntary petition in bankruptc; The battleship Arizona will be launched at the New York Navy Yard on June 19. Six thousands tons of zinc ore reach- ed Galveston, Texas, on the steamer Sydie from Australiz The Hotel Arlington, at Waverly, N. Y., was burned with a loss of $15,000. All the guests escaped. A bid of $1,600 was made for a seat on the Pittsburgh Stock Exchange, with none offered. The last sale was at $1,450. Don Jaime of Bourbon, pretender to the Spanish throne, declare he is strictly natural and will live in Italy during the war. The Eagle Valley tannery at Ridge- vay, Pa., operating on part time since September, ill start on an 80 per cent basis to One hundred and fifty members at- tended the opening of the convention of sociation of Reserve City I er at Louisville. The work of tearing down the old Sheepshead Bay racing plant in prep- aration of the erection of a motor- dome was begun. t Paris, and S s with high ment official The Navy Department was advised of the successful launching of the fuel ship Manmee at Mare Island Navy Yard, near San Francisco. John Cudahy, former packer, banker and leader on the Chicago Board of Trade, now ill at his home in Chicago was reported slightly improved. Loaded to capacity, 10,000 tons, with foodstuffs and munitions for the Brit- the Cunard liner Orduna sailed from New York for Liverpool. Percy L. Marvin, a lawyer, aged committed suicide by jumping from window of the Erie Coun- Bank building in Buffalo, Mary Dickson, postmistress at Ke- shena, Wis., was shot and killed by an Indian, James Wapoose, a rejected suitor, who then shot and fatally in- jured himself. Fourteen passengers and crew of three of the yacht Dolphin were res- cued in the Guif of Mexico by the steam yacht Gypsy as the former was rapidly sinking. The World® Peace Foundaticn at Boston announces that Edwin D. Mead, its chief director, hjas been granted a year's leave of absence on account of nervous prostration. Gabrielle De Rosa, a who killed his brother, this city 23 years ago. dropped dead in his cell in the state prison at Thomaston Monday night. life convict, Baptiste, in Judge Crump, in the Court of Equity at Richmond, Va., decided that the courts have no right to interfere with the operations of jitney ’'bus lines recently started in that city. Ten thousand Protestant churches throughout England observed “King’s Pledge Sunday.” Many thousands took the pledge to abstain from intoxicants for the remainedr of the war. A neatly dressed man, aged 79 years, was sentenced to ten days in the workhouse in Yorkville Court, New York, for habitual beggary, after it ‘was ‘shown that he had savings of $1,000. Five hundred acres of valuable woodland in Lexington, Bedford and Burlington were burned over. The fire departments of the three Massachu- setts towns were unable to stop the | flames. Rates over the Santa Fe and other railroads on newsprint paper from Galveston, Tex., to Oklahoma City and other Oklahoma points were declared unreasonable by the Interstate Com- merce Commission. Samuel Konenicz was arrested in New_York as he.was about to board the White Star liner Arabic, charged with stealing in Chicago the money necessary to take him back to Russia to fight for the Czar. Miss Mildred Powers, aged 19, of Massena, N. Y., was killed when hurl- ed from an automobile whe nit skid- ed from an automobile when it skid- a tree. Three other occupants of the auto were slightly injured. Carmine Carbonne and Frank Abarno, the youthful anarcists who placed a bomb in St Patrick'’s Ca- thedral on March 2, were sentenced to serve not less than six and not more than twelve years in Sing Sing. Sebastiano Pagano, of Newport, R. I. was killed and William Goodbout, of Fall River, received a bad fracture of a leg by the breaking of a painters’ stage at the R. T. Wilson villa. They fell 25 feet, Eric Lundberg, a short term pris- oner ' in Massachusetts state prison, sawed his way to partial liberty only to be caught as he accidentally broke the glass in one of the outer windows of ‘the prison, i Youth Drowned at Poguonnock. /Poquonnock, Conn., April 20.—Fran- cis Norris, 19’ vears old, was drowned tonight in the Farmington river near the Tunxis dam, when the rowboat in which he was fishing for eels with two companions overturned. His com- panions, Francis McCarthy and Ray- ‘mond Hoskins, escaped. The boat over- turned in the swift current near the “Apron” of the dam. Norris’ body was caught in the timbers and has not yet been recovered, EUTRALITY Definition Given in an Address at the Annual Luncheon of The Associated Press in New York GREAT DISTNCTION COMING TO UNITED STATES Asserts the Nation is Bound to Play an Important Part in Ad- justing the Affairs of the World, Once the Fighting is Ended—“We Have No Hampering Ambitions” He Said; “We Do Not Want a Foot of Anybody’s Territory"—; Declares the Basis of Neutrality is Sympathy for Man- kind, an Impartiality of Spirit and of Judgment. New York, ident Wil- son today gave a definite and _clear L of the ality which is administration during the crope. He chose the occa- ual luncheon of The for what he said he as a statement of gravest rtance to the American people. influence of the newspapers In moulding public opinion Mr. Wilson < prompted him to make clear his s of true neutrality yress upon his fuln tion of a t the nev Seemed to Weigh Each Word. Mr, Wilson to i vidually each word he importance he attact ment was reflected in n the dissemina- seemed weigh | 10 attempt be made to paraphrase his ate friend of | peech or to give it publ 1 White House st ibed it in fu the only great nation not engag- ed in the war suffering under the immediate infl e of the war zone, Mr. Wilson d ed that a great dis- toinction awaiteq the United States when the hour of readjustment should come, provided this nation _should prove to the world its self control and self mestery. The past had been dif- ficult, he pointed out, but the future would be more difficult. ty until the apher had America Unhampered. America, president said, mnever attempt to sit in judzgment upon r nation. No n m was fit he added. But America, hampering ambitions as a free of a lust for terr cool znd without self-i construction processes of The weutrality of the States,” Mr. Wilson said, higher basis than a petty keep out of trouble, “There is something €0 much great- er than to do than fight” he said. “Let us think of America before we think of Europe, in order that America. to be fit to be Europe’s friend when the day of tested friendship comes. The test of friendship is not sympath with one side or the other, but get- tins ready to help both sides when struggle is over.” he president, -greeted . with cheers when he appeared at the luncheon, constantly was interrupted by ap- plause and expressions of approval. Restrained by Responsibility. “I am deeply gratified by the gen- erous recepticn you have accorded ‘me,” he added. “It makes me look back with a_touch of regret to former occasions_when 1 have stood in this place and cnjoyed a greater liberty than is granted me today. There have been times when I stood in this spot and said what I really thought; and I pray God that those days of indul- gence may be accorded me again. But I have come here today, of course, somewhat restrained by a ‘sense of re- sponsibility that I cannot escape. For I take the Associated Press very se- riously. I know the enormous part that you play in the affairs not only of this country, but of the world, You deal in the raw material of opinion and, if my convictions have any valid- opinion ultimately governs the 1d. Talked to Fellow Citizens. “It is therefore of very _serious things that I think as I face this body of men. I do not think of you., how- ever, as members of the Assoclated Press. 1 do not think of you as men of different parties or of different ra- cial derivations, or of religious denom- inations. “I want to talk to you as to my fel- low citizens of the United States. For there are serious things which, as fel- low citizens, we ought to consider. The times behind us, gentlemen, have been difficult enough; the times be- fore us are likelv to be more difficult because whatever may be said about the present condition of the world’s affairs, it is clear that they are draw- ing rapidly to a climax and at the climax the test will come, not only of the nations engaged in the present colossal struggle; it will come for them of course, but the test will come for us particularly. Only Great Nation at Peace. “Do you realize that, rous™ - speak- ing, we are the only great nation at present disengaged? I am not speak- ing, of course, with disparagement of the greater of those nations in Europe which are not parties to the present war, but I am thinking of their close neighborhood to it. I am thinking how their lives much more than ours touch the very heart and stuff of the bus- iness, whereas we have rolling between us andgthose bitter days across the water three thousand miles of cool and silent ocean. No Disturbing Elements. “Our atmosphere is not yet charged with those disturbing elements which must be felt and must permeate every nation of Europe. Therefore, is it not unlfkely that the nations of the world will some day turn to us for the cool- er assessment of the elements en- gaged? 1 am not now thinking so preposterous a thought as .that we should sit in judgment upon them— no nation is fit to sit in judgment upon any other nation—but that we some day have to assist in recon- structing the processes of peace, Our Resources Untouched. “Our resources are untouched; we are more and more becoming by the force of circumstances the mediating nation of the world in respect of its finance. We must make up our minds what are the best things te do and United “had a desire to what are the best ways to do them. We must put our mone; our energy, our enthusiasm, our sympathy into these things; and we must have our judgments prepared and our spirits chastened against the coming of that day. So that I am not speaking in a seifish rit when I say that our whole duty for the present, at any rate, is summed up in this motto, ‘America first.’ Let us think of America before.we think of Europe, in order that Amer- ica may be fit to be Europe's frien when the day of tested friendship comes. TI)B‘! t of friendship is not now sympathy with- the one side or the other, but getting ready to help both sides when the struggle is over. The basis of neutrality, gentlemer, is. not indifference: it is not self-in- terest. Basis of Neutrality. “The basis of neutrality is sympath; for mankind. It is fairne: pit l: 2ood will at bottom: it is impartial= ity of spirit and of judgment. I wish that all of our fellow citizens could realize that. There is in me ‘quar- ters al osition to create distemper in this body politic. Men are even uttering slanders against the United. States as if to excite her. Men are saying that if we should go to war upon “either side there will be a di= vided America—an abominable libel of. ignorance; America is not all of it vocal just now. It is vocal in spots. But 1, for one, have a complete and abiding faith in that great silent body of Americans who are not standing up and shouting and expressing opinions just now, but are waiting to find out and support the duties of America. T am just as sure of their solidity and of their loyalty and of their unani= mity, if we act justly, as I ant -th the history of fhis country-ha§ At every crisls and turning point illud= trated this great lesson, Mediating Nation of the World: We are the mediating nation the world. I do not mean that we u‘: dertake not to.mind our own.business and to mediate where other peoplé are Qquarrelling. I ‘mean the word in" & broader sense.. We are comipounded of the nations of the wprld. - We. mediate their blood; we mediate their. tradie tions, we mediate their ‘sentimerits; their’ tastes, thelr passions; ' wé ‘areq ourselves compounded of those- things,. We are, therefore, able to- understand all nations: we are able to unde: them in the compound, not separately, as partisans, but unitedly;as knowing and comprehending and embodying- them all. Tt is in that sense that T mean that America is a mediating na= tion. .The opinion of America, the acw tion of America, Is ready .to turn and free to turn in any direction. We Are Trustees. “Did you ever reflect upon how al4 most all other nations, almost every: other nation, has through long centu- ries been headed in one direction? That is not true of the United States. The United States has no racial mo-— mentum. It has no history back of which makese it run all its energies and all its ambitions In one particul direction; and America is particular-' ly free in this—that she has no - pering ambitions as a world pnw}e:ni: We have been obliged by circumstanced or have considered ourselves to bg . obliged by circumstances, in the pasty to take territory which we otherwiss would not have thought of taking, believe I am right in saying that we have considered it our duty to admin=: ister that territory, not for ourselv but for the people living in it and to. put this burden upon our consclences, not to think that this thing is ours for our use, but to regard ourselves as . trustees ready to hand over the cos~ mique trust at any time, when the business seems to make that possibl and feasible. That is what I mean b saying we have no hampering ambie tions. We do not want anything oy does not belong to us. Isn't a natiof - in that position free to serve o nations and isn’t a natlon like t ready to form some part.of the as= sessing opinion of the world? Not Looking for Fight, but Determined_ “My interest in the neutrality ' of. the United States is not the petty de=s sire to keep out of trouble. I. have~ never looked for it, but I have found it. I do not want to g around trouble. If any man wants.a Scrap that is an Interesting scrap and worth while, I am his man. I warm" him that he is not going to draw m into the scrap for his advertisements & but if he is looking for trouble tha is the trouble of men in general and I can help a little, why then, T in for it. But I am interested in nei trality because there is something. much greater to do than to fight, be- cause there is something, there is : distinction waiting for this nation t no nation has ever yvet got.. That the definition of absolute self-cont: and self-mastery. Whom do.you ad=: Mire most amon your friends? - irritable man? The man out of W you can get a ‘rise’ without tryingi< The man who will fight at the drog of ‘the hat, whether. ne knows whigel the hat is dropped for, or not? , . Fear Self-Mastered Man. “Don’t you admire and don fear, if you have to contest with the self-mastered man who wi you with calm eye and comes in fwhen you have carried the thiry far that you must be disposed y is the man you respect. That is'the man who you know has at bott & much more fundamental and o courage than the irritable; fig) ing man.” - et s