Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 November 1907 — Political Comment, [ARTICLE]

Political Comment,

PuttiiiK n«o»ev*lt at the Head. The United States Is glad of the appreciation which it is receiving at The Hague conference. M. Xelidoff, the head of that gathering, has approved tilie draft of the conference which was submitted to him by the special committee, in which President Roosevelt is mentioned as the chief author and promoter of the\ gathering. This is “very agreeable to us, anti better still, it i 3 true history. Every member of the conference lias 'given his signature to this tribute which has accorded to the Uuited States’ executive the chief honor for the holding of the present Hague gathering. It was during the St. Louis world’s fair of 1904 that the present conference had its origin. The Interparliamentary Union rnejt in St. Louis that year, and a Missouri man, Hon. Richard Bartboldt, was the prejjdent of the union. That body was composed of members of the parliaments of all the principal nations of the world and of many of the smaller ones. Our Parliament, necessarily, was represented by .many of its members, and. a Missouri man was put at the, head. The union ilsked President .JasaiA n call for a new Hague gatliering, to supplement the work done by that of 1899, and to consider new questions which have arisen since that body adjourned, and to take note of other questions were before that body, but, which assumed new aspects afterward. Mr.' Roosevelt issued the call, and the conference which is closing at The Hague is a conao. quence. The compliment which The Hague has extended to the United States is bestowed on the country to which it belongs. The conference of 1899 originated with Nicholas 11., but it did little, and in the lapse of a year or two was forgotten. Europe seemed to be anxious to let Its memory drop out when the United States stepped in and injected life Into the tribunal. The United States did this by referring to it a dispute which we had with Mexico, and thus the world’s attention was directed anew to The Hague. That issue was settled satisfactorily to both parties to it, and then Mr. Roosevelt took the steps which led to the present gathering. When the Nobel prize was given

to the President a few months ago for his work in the cause of world peace the world applauded the act. The world will also recognize the correctness of the tribute to the President which The Hague has now rendered, and the United States wins a new victory in the cause of peace.—St. Louis Hkfiobe-Democrat. What Revision Means. “Business interests need not be alarmed. The Republican national convention to meet next June will declare unequivocally for a protective tariff and against throwing the American market open to foreigners.”

Thus speaks the Des Moines Capital. That assurance will not, however, prevent a serious disturbance of business when the hauling over of tariff schedules begins. The charge Is made that some of the schedules are too high. No particulars are given. So the minute the onslaught begins all protected interests will be in a nervous state; retrenchment will be In order, factories will slow' down, workmen will be discharged, and business of all classes will show an unhealthy tone during tlie uncertainty of the tariff discussion. And then, after It Is ail over and another compromise bill Is adopted, the country will again struggle back to its present condition of prosperity. Meanwhile the people will have experienced a slump that will cause them to wonder If, after all, the present schedules were not all right and that It would have been better to stand pat.—Burlington Hawkeye. - —.

“Help Wanted.” Reports show that work is waiting for 256,400 persons.—Washington Dispatch. Come, ail you men who want to work, there’s jobs and jobs galore; p The country's full of workers, but it needs a million more. There’s-a hearty Welcome waiting from the Golden Gate to Maine For those prepared to work their way with two good hands or brain. It matters not your creed or raee, your station or your birth, So long as you can Qll the job—the onlytest of worth. There’a work for men in thousands, jobs all along the line, In field and farm and factory, in lumber woods and mine. The shirkers aren’t wanted, nor any of the dross Need the signal of the whistle or the urging of the boss; . But the ever-ready workers, let ’em come in bigger mobs— There’s work and welcome waiting Tor the men can fill their jobs. —New York American. The number of children's playgrounds is Increasing rapidly in many cities. Recent statistics, covering 24 cities between 25,000 and 300,000 population, show there has been in two years an Increase of 04 per cent In school playgrounds, 48 per cent in park and municipal playgrounds, and a total Increase of ail kinds of playgrounds of 54 per cerit In that period. The most valuable crop in the Philippines is hemp; rice comes next, followed by tobacco. The export of Manila cigars amounts to nearly f1,000,000 a year and the home consumption la probably larger.