I wonder if any living man has known as many of the rulers good and bad, of this world as Dr. Butler. When we remember that he is still in full activity as president of Columbia University, of the Carnegie Peace Endowment, of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and of the Pilgrims it seems amazing that he was introduced to Mr, Gladstone and Prince Bismarck in 1884 and that he has been acquainted with most of the monarchs and statesmen of Europe since that time. But, what looks at first sight almost incredible, he has met thirteen of the 31 Presidents of the United States.
Of all the American statesmen Dr. Butler has known, I feel sure that the man he most liked and admired was Elihu Root, and of all his disappointments the greatest was his failure to secure the Republican nomination for Root in 1916. If only that could have been secured, he writes, the Republican party would have gone forward constructively to new and progressive. politics and to a leadership in international ce-operation which would have meant peace and prosperity for the United States and the world. It was always Dr. Butler's hope that during his lifetime the American nation would respond to words spoken by President McKinley on September 5, 1901, the day before his assassinaion:
The period of exclusiveness is past. The expansion of our trade and commerce is the pressing problem. Commercial wars are unprofitable, A policy of goodwill and friendly trade relations will prevent reprisals. Reciprocity treaties are in harmony with the spirit of the times; measures of retaliation are not.
Those who have worked with the Carnegie Peace Endowment under the direction of Dr. Butler can testify to the enlightened public spirit and foresight he has displayed since the war in trying to bring about economic co-opera tion between civilized peoples and Govern: ments. The Chatham House conference in Lon: don in March, 1995, was arranged by him, Its recommendations gained wide publicity. Had they been accepted they would have stabilized exchanges, reduced tariffs, enlarged international commerce, and diminished the burden of armaments. But the Governments could not be prevailed upon to act, and the race towards bankruptey went on until Europe was again plunged in Armageddon.
For the second time since its foundation the efforts of the Carnegie Peace Endowment have been frustrated. When peace comes, will America's contribution be more successful than it was in 1919? It should be recorded here that. after President Wilson's failure Dr. Butler did his best to persuade President Harding to modify the policy of isolation which (along with its high-tariff policy) has prevented the United States playing its part in the re-establishment of international peace and security. Difficult as the task will be, I think Dr. Butler will not despair of his country and countrymen under the guidance of President Franklin Roosevelt and Mr. Cordell Hull.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.