OUR AMERICAN LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3234, 8 March 1916, Page 49

OUR AMERICAN LETTER.

WAR, POLITICS, AND BUSINESS

(Fbom Oub Own Cobbespondent.) NEW YORK, December 22. Again this nation is close to the point of breaking diplomatic relations with a European Government. Demands haye been made upon Austria for a disavowal of tho sinking by one of her submarines of the Italian liner Anoona, on which were several American citizens, and for the punishment of the officer who ordered the attack. Austria's reply to these demands is far from satisfactory, and the Government at Washington has just sent a second Note to Vienna which has almost the character of an ultimatum. The Wilson Administration is evidently determined not to be led into a long-drawn-out controversy with the Austrian* over this Ancona affair, having learned some valuable lessons in that respect from its dealings with Germany after the sinking of the Lusitania. Germany •was called sharply to acount after that tragedy, and after several weeks had passed finally agreed to abandon its submarine warfare upon unarmed vessels. But bo far she has refused to make the disavowal demanded for the killing of the Americans who were among the Lusitania's passengei'3, and President Wilson has had to endure somo very sharp criticism for his failure to get complete satisfaction from Berlin. Yet he has shown a good deal of backbone in several instances in dealing with the offending Teutons and their Austrian allies. He has sent home Captains Boy-Ed and Yon Papen, the attaches of the German Embassy, who were caught mixing in the offensive German propaganda, and ho also presented tho Austrian Ambas eador (Dr Dumba) with his passports. Also many arrests have been made of Germans and Austrians on various charges in _ connection with plots to destroy munitions factories. 'T/hese plots have become extremely serious. Several powder factories have been destroyed, and a few days ago the town of Hopewell, Virginia, which was entirely given up to supplving England and her Allies with munitions, was wiped out by fire. It is perhaDS neodloss to say that after these events the German cause is more unpopular than ever in this country. In the midst of all these troubles President Wilson has found time to gct # married. Mrs Edith Gait became his wife at her home in Washington last Saturday. The first Mrs Wilson died a year ago. If there is any man of high standing in this country who takes the Ford peace expedition seriously he has yet to _ be discovered. When Henrv Ford set sail on the Oscar II two weeks ago, with tho avowed purpose of stopping the war and getting "the boys out of the trenches by Christmas," the jeers, of his felkyvv-countrymen were ringing in his ears, and his reputation ae a successful manufacturer of automobiles and his great wealth will not suffice to silence the howls of derision. The expedition, however, has offered splendid opportunities to a number of men and women •who have always been fond of cheap noto riety. This is the emphatic'way in which former President Theodore Roosevelt expresses his view of President Woodraw Wilson's recent Message to Congress:—"President Wilson has met a policy of blood and iron with a policv of milk and water, indecision, and the treatment of conversation as a substitute for action; and, above all. the making of threats, which are not carried into effect," the colonel stated, "put a premium upon exactlv the form of anarchy and conspiracy of which the President complains. He now wails to Congress that he is unable to control anarchy, and would like it to supply what is lacking by passing laws, the nature of which he does not indicate. There would be no need for this wail if, 10 months ago, when ho wrote his Note to Germany stating that he would hold her to - 'strict accountability ' for outrages against us, he had meant what he said. Such action would | not provoke war. It would prevent the cumulative outrages which lay the foundation for war. At the outset of his Message, President Wilson, speaking of tho war, Bays, ' We have stood apart, studiously neutral. It was our manifest duty to do so.' Further on, he says, ' We insist upon security in prosecuting our self-chosen lines of national development. W T e do more than that. Wo demand it also for others.' Later he says, ' We regard- war as a means of asserting the rights of a people against aggression,' and continues, 'Wo are fiercely jealous ... of aggression from without.' What does Mr Wilson mean when in one line he 6ays that we have 'stood apart, studiously neutral,' because ' it was our manifest duty to do so,' and a couple of paragraphs later says that 'wo demand security in prosecuting self-chosen lines of national development for others'? He can take either of the two positions; but he cannot take both. Did or did not Mr Wilson 'demand security' for Belgium to prosecute its self-chosen lines of national development ' ? He knows he did not. Then what does he mean by saying that 'we demand this security also for others'? Ho is using words to cover a policy of dishonourable m--1 hero is much encouragement for the prohibitionists in tho annual report of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, and in then- endeavour to promote u national agitation in favour of tho abolition of alcoholic beverages, they will hardly fad to turn his statistics to account. The figures tend to refute the commonplace that prohibition docs not prohibit. The falling off m the consumption of intoxicating liquors is undeniable, the deoreaso in' the withdrawals of distilled spirits amounting to almost 15 000 000 gallons in a year. With 12 states under prohibition and seven more about to be controlled in the same way.it is, but reasonable to believe that the decrease is attributable in largo measure to legislative restrictions. The opponents of prohibition insist that tho recent "wave of economy is sufficient to account for the phenomenon, and point out that in tho last year the consumption of cigars was reduced by about 680 000 000. However, in the same period there has been an enormous increase in the use of cigarettes, and though a saving spirit might possibly account for a decrease in the consumption of certain beverages it is hardly sufficient to explain the all-round reduction indicated in tho annual report. An interesting passage in tho report deals with the so-called boot-legging activities in prohibition states. The problem is one of tho most difficult that confront tho revenue officers. ''The business of the moonshiner in whisky # in the Southern States," says tho commissioner, "from the number of illicit distilleries reported seized during the fiscal year ending June SO, 1915, appears to be increasing. There were reported 3832 illicit distilleries destroyed during tho year 1915. as

against 2677 destroyed during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1914." Wherever prohibition has boon forced on a community similar difficulties invariably arise so long as a considerable minority are opposed to it. Alcoholic beverages are easily prepared—even a saturated solution of sugar yields a beverage containing as much as 14 per cent, of alcohol—and the opportunities for the illicit distiller are practically unlimited. In many of the _ Southern States there is a reasoned opposition to total prohibition, and as long as that opposition exists so long will total prohibitiop bo impossible. In addressing the Senate Committee on woman suffrage at Washington the other day, Mrs Carie Chapman Catt said that paupers and illiterates cast tho deciding votes which brought about the defeat of the suffrage amendment in the recent NewYork election. Delegates to the Suffrage Convention abandoned their deliberation to hear Mrs Catt and other speakers at a hearing before the committee. One delegate fainted in the packed committee room. Others retired gasping for breath, but most of them stood for two hours listening to the plea of their speakers. In a sarcastic leference to the recent defeat of suffrage in New York, Mrs Catt told the Senate Committee that New York " was very liberal with its suffrage—except to women. ' " Our workers reported," she added, ' that in many preoincts voters were so ignorant that they had to be aided in casting their ballots. All tho inmates of the almshouses and all the paupers were voted by tho machine to beat our amendment." Dr Anna Howard Shaw, in her closing address as president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, declared that the movement had passed beyond the grasp of " the idealist reformer *' into the hands of those "capable of dealing with politicians." Those who answered tho call of our movement in tho beginning," said Dr Shaw, " were reformers; those who respond to-day are politicians." Our cause has passed beyond the stage of academic discussion and entered tho realm of practical politics. To the idealist this comes as a revelation and a distinct shock, but she must recognise that it is true, and submit to the trend, though she may personally be unable to adjust herself to the changed condition. The time has come when organised machinery must be political in character, and the work directed by political leaders. This should not disturb us, for the science of government is essentially as righteous and holy as the science of religion. Let us not be afraid of tha demands of the new day." Dr Shaw expressed the opinion that the United States, until the franchise be granted women, is in no position to meditate between the warring nations of Europe. "No one will deny," said the speaker, " that the real cause of the war was the injustice and selfishness which permits Governments as well as individuals to ignore their obligations and duties to each other. But can the United States be said to hold a superior position ? How can _it plead for justice in Europe whe,n it denies justice to its own women? How can it claim that written arguments between nations are Binding when it violates the fundamental principles of its own national Constitution, which declares that the right of the citizen to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State? Is it true that the Constitution, too, is a scrap of paper, to be repudiated at will?"

"One who has not three and seventenths children is a failure as a eugenic member of society, inasmuch as the best children are the fourth or fifth," said Professor R. M. Johnson, of the University of Pittsburg, addressing the eugenic section of the Academy of Science and Art. " There are three things that one must do to improve the standing of the coming generation," he said. "First, one must not die —that is, not prematurely,—and this is very important j secojarfily, one must mate; and, thirdly, one must have an _ adequate number of children. Divorce is far more profitable than separation. It is not an evil, but a remedy for ill-mated pairs. Monogamy is on trial in this country. It is not working very well. If it cannot be made to succeed better it will fail and another system will be placed in its stead." According to Dr Karl T. Waugh, of the department of psychology, of Beloit College, three years of college- training will do this for a young person. Increase his amount of information 4-4.7 per cent. Increase his general mental standing 19 per cent. Increase his speed in learning 11 per cent. Increase his power of concentration 4.6 per cent. Increase his ability to learn 4.2 per cent. Increase his ability to associate ideas 2.6 per cent. Dr Waugh has compiled figures to show tliat the student who thinks the quickest is highest in general class standing. The student who is least nervous is lowest in class standing. It took Dr Waugh three years to complete the tests and compile the figures and deductions. Mr W. A. Russell, a corporation lawyer, of Melbourne, Australia, who is in this country largely to see what the United States is able to offer Australia both in the Way of equipment good's and in the matter of 'investment of capital, said the other day to a reporter: "During a eix months' visit 1,0 your United Slates I havo been particularly struck by the extreme insularity of your point of view. Nowhere is this so evident as in financial enterprise." Mr Russell, who is ckwely connected with some of thii most influential interests in Australia, while successful in tho particular mission bringing l.im here, says he has been disappointed at the attitude which prominent financial houses and leading American ivanufaoturers take in regard to the Australian field. In speaking of his impressions, Mr Russell said : " How often have I road in your i,ewspapers and hoard the same phrase eel oed by banker and brokers to the effect that the war had made the United States the pivot of financial movement; New York had taken London's place; the dollar had elbowed the sovereign off the stage, and that captains of industry would make your finanoial capital that of the world. All these phrases and more have been circulating industrially, and have contributed to bring the smile or the victor to the face of tho American business man. Furthermore, your statesmen and representatives use all the force of rhetorio to drivo homo tho tmdoubted fact that your banks aro full, your granaries bursting with a record harvest; in short, that you are beyond doubt in the proud position that Great Britain, or, rather. England, occupied—is it a million years ago? Yet, in spite of your financial position, I have yet to see evidence that your people realise the responsibilities as well as the advantages of their wealth. And hero is where your insularity comes in. Australia is guiding her policy in order to become a great manufacturing nation, said the Australian representative, " but at tho nxesejit

time she is hampered on account of the lack of modern and up-to-date equipment. The United States, on account of its efficient methods, is in a position to supply Australia with the larger part of the machinery equipment, but unless American investors are willing to secure control of the trade bv encouraging and stimulate ing Australian development, the bulk of this trade will go to other nations. It is sometimes stated that Australians do not like Americans, that they prefer to deal with the British. Undoubtedly the Australians prefer to deal with the British, if the British oan supply goods which meet their needs, but the Australians find, for instance, that American maohinery, on the whole, is better and cheaper, and that American boots and shoes more nearly meet the tastes of the people than the English styles. The earth has brought forth its increase thii year in a manner which tho greediest optimist would have been ashamed to ask for "Never was there such a fortunate combination of quantities and prices. Where the vield is short the price 18 high. Where the price i« low comparatively the yield is superabundant. Naturally, the total is above all records. The crops, which are the usual standard, pass five billions—--5 568,773.000d01—f0r the first time, and other farm products, notably cattle bring the total above 10 billions. Calculating m the manner of the cotton farmers, we all should have been ruined bv such a calamitous abundance but for the unprecedented demand on account of the war. _As it is, we have saved others from calamity. Last year held the record for value for five principal crops, but is a poor second this year. The only comparison for 1915 is all other years, all the best on record. Examination in this manner brings out some notable contrasts. The largest crop of corn was ln 1912 but its value was 1.520.454-,ooodol, against 1,755.859.000d0l this year. Tho calamitous abundance of cotton was raised in 1914 but its value was 519,612,000d01. against ' 602,393,000d0l this year, although the yield was almost 5,000,000 bales less. And this year the planter* are said to have raised food crops, which they customarily have bought, to a value above the cotton crop. Wheat passes tho billion bushel mark for tho first time, and just falls below the billion dollar mark. The comparison is 930.302.000d01, against the previous best (878,690,COOdol). The men who publish Bibles in this country are making money out of the war. Due partly to the handicap which Bible < houses in Europe must labour under in turning out their product, and partly to an Increased demand for Bibles fostered in adversity, they are getting rich out of the misfortunes of others, or eo some of our European brethren would term it. But these detractors seem inclined to forget that the Bible is invariably worth so much more than it costs that it is the purchaser always who is the more enriched It is estimated that tho Bible business of the world, save only in Germany and Austria, will be larger this year by 50 per cent, than ever before. This will come as something of a blow to our pacifists, all deeply religious persons. But the Bible was not fashioned for pacifists alone. It is rather a belligerent old document, take it as a whole.