The picture in The Outlook of November 22 of Governor George W. P. Hunt, of Arizona, was wrongly headed "Re-elected." The official review of the returns, we are informed, shows that Thomas E. Campbell, the Republican candidate, was elected by a majority of fifty-five votes, notwithstanding the fact that practically the entire Democratic ticket in Arizona led by a large majority. The matter may be taken to the courts.

The subscriber who sends the above correction also says that the maintenance of order during the Clifton strike of some months ago (credit for which was given to Governor Hunt) was due principally to the fact that Arizona has prohibition, and consequently there was no liquor in the Clifton camp to act as a riotbreeder.

Wireless telegraphic communication has been opened with Japan. President Wilson sent the first message, expressing the hope that this wonderful event might "confirm the unbroken friendship of our two nations." The Japanese Emperor responded with a similar expression of good will. The commercial rate for messages by wireless between California and Japan will be eighty cents a word.

Witchcraft still has a hold on the popular mind, even in enlightened America. A news item in the Philadelphia "North American " tells of the acquittal of a man charged with arson at Pottsville, his excuse being that he was obsessed with a black "hex" or "witch cat." He carried with him as a talisman a silver bullet, but its charms did not affect the "hex" on this occasion, for the man set fire to a row of houses of which he was himself the

owner.

A writer in the "Harvard Alumni Bulletin " says that the famous college "snake dance" originated quite by accident, about twenty years ago, at the celebration of the golden anniversary of Cambridge as a chartered city. Crowding and jostling in the ranks of the student body in the parade caused a swaying movement, and instinctively the marchers struck up the "snake dance." That happy accident in '98, the contributor to the " Bulletin" avers, was the origin of the zigzag march that is now so picturesque a feature of college students' celebrations.

A bulletin issued by the Irish Department of Agriculture, as quoted by an exchange, says that it has been found, as the result of experiments, that pigs thrive better on uncooked than on cooked food. This, in a way, justifies the indifference of the hog-raiser in a well-known story. The professor had said to him, while watching him feed his hogs uncooked food, "If you would cook that stuff, the hogs would digest

it in half the time." "What's a hog's time worth?" was the unfeeling reply. And now science justifies empiricism!

Encouragement to the struggling editor may be found in the newspaper announcement that "Arthur Brisbane, editor, to-day purchased seven lots on the southeast corner of Fifth Avenue and One Hundred and Third Street at a price of about $250,000. The purchase is intended solely as an investment."

The two sections of a new tunnel under the East River, connecting New York City and Brooklyn, have just met, completing the drive. The tunnel is notable because in its construction not a single workman was lost from the "bends," or caisson disease; because the work was completed ten months ahead of the time set; and because the two shafts met in the center of the river within three-quarters of an inch of the calculations. A lunch was served to the 1,200 "sand hogs" who worked in the tubes on the day the two gangs of workmen met, in celebration of the event.

One of the great athletic events of the year 1916, says "Good Health," was the run of one hundred miles between Chicago and Milwaukee, made in fourteen hours by Sydney Hatch. The best previous time was eighteen hours. Mr. Hatch, it is stated, is an abstainer from alcohol and tobacco, and has never developed "athletic heart," though he has done much running and is thirty-four years old.

Terra-cottas by Luca della Robbia, candlesticks by Sansovino, an incense-burner by Il Riccio-an auction sale with items like these seems to bring the Renaissance pretty near to Fifth Avenue. The treasures were brought from Florence by Professor Volpi, and were sold in New York City the other day. The incense-burner, made of bronze and twentythree inches high, brought the record price of $66,000.

The "Bookman" of December calls attention to a slip on the part of a New York “Sun" reviewer who said that the allusion in Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera “ Patience "to" Howells and James young men " referred to the American novelists W. D. Howells and Henry James! The "Bookman " says that "Howells and James" was the firm name of " a very fastidious London tailoring establishment." The fact is, as ascertained by reference to the authorized vocal score, that the firm's name was Howell and James

"A Sewell and Cross young man, A Howell and James young man,

A pushing young particle-what's the next articleWaterloo House young man,”

and these young men are described in a footnote as "clerks connected in large dry-goods establishments."

THE STORY OF THE WAR

We discuss the two great war events of the week-Germany's proposal to enter into peace negotiations and the Cabinet reconstruction in England and France--in two editorials in this issue.

Apart from unauthorized speculation as to the terms which Germany might propose at such a conference, the facts as to Germany's new move are these: On Tuesday, December 12, the German Chancellor, Bethmann Hollweg, announced in the Reichstag that, in union with the Governments of Austria, Turkey, and Bulgaria, Germany, through its Chancellor, had handed to the diplomatic representatives in Berlin of Spain, Switzerland, and the United States identic notes to be transmitted to their Governments, and through them to the Governments of the nations hostile to Germany. The three nations were selected because their representatives are looking after the interests of subjects of the Central Powers in hostile countries. The identic note in substance is a proposal for a peace conference, and if it is accompanied by specific terms of peace it is not known what they are. That the note names specific terms is inferred from the Chancellor's statement: "The four allied [Central] Powers propose to enter forthwith on peace negotiations. The propositions which they bring for such negotiations are, according to their firm belief, an appropriate basis for the establishment of a lasting peace."

The note is somewhat vague in its wording, and some of its phrases will strike many readers who are not partisans of Germany as grandiloquent. It declares that Germany's aim is not to annihilate its adversaries, but that Germany is ready to continue "the war forced upon us.” Reference is made to the recent events in the Balkans, to the expectation of further successes, and to the power of Germany "to continue to a victorious end,” disclaiming responsibility to humanity and the world if the proposal is rejected.

The Chancellor enlarged on the note in

his speech, going into details as to German claims of military success, and even saying, "To these great events on land heroic deeds of equal importance are added by our submarines" Compressed into a few words, the note itself and the Chancellor's exposition merely say that Germany is ready to fight on, but, assuming that German arms are triumphant, believes that the time has come for the nations to confer about terms of peace.

The terms which have been mentioned in press dispatches from Washington as those which are said to be regarded as probable for Germany to offer, in the opinion of "persons close to the German Embassy," are as follows: 1 Complete restoration of Belgium.

2. Evacuation by Germany of all territory captured in northern France.

3. Establishment of Poland and Lithuania as independent kingdoms.

4. Restoration to Austria of territory captured by Italy in the neighborhood of the Adriatic Sea.

5. Restoration to Germany of all her colonial possessions.

6. Retention of Constantinople by Turkey.

7. Retention of Serbia by Austria-Hungary and the restoration to Bulgaria of all territory lost by that country in the second Balkan War.

Intelligent discussion of Germany's terms of peace is of course impossible until they are made known officially. All that can be discussed is the situation created by Germany's offer to negotiate. It is to this that we confine the editorial discussion on another page.

WHAT RUMANIA IS FACING

If the despatches from Berlin and Sofia are anything like accurate, the Rumanian army in itself is not now in much better condition than the Serbian army after the AustroGerman drive through Serbia. Last week's despatches from Berlin claim that the total losses of the Rumanians in this war up to December 11 have been 250,000 killed or wounded and 150,000 prisoners, while 600 large guns are reported captured, and the

amount of ammunition, grain, petroleum, and other supplies is described as enormous. With all due discount for partisan exaggeration, the Rumanian loss has undoubtedly been great. The news of the week included the statement that the section of the Rumanian army which was cut off in extreme western Rumania (or Little Wallachia) in and about Orsova had in large part surrendered.

What is left of the main Rumanian army has succeeded in getting so far northward in eastern Rumania as to make its connection with the Russian armies moving from the north complete, and it is from the joint effort of Russian and Rumanian armies in Moldavia that resistance or future advance is to be expected. The German forces have crossed the Danube in two or three places, have taken possession of the ground west of the Cernavoda bridge, and have occupied all railways and principal points, such as Ploesci, in southern and western Rumania.

DOUBLE DEALING IN GREECE

The Greek situation continues to be critical. Despatches from London predict that King Constantine will be deposed, Venizelos put in charge of the Greek Government, and the Greek army disarmed. This is pure speculation, but it is true that the subjects

of the Allies' Governments have been notified to leave Athens, and most of them have done so. Viscount Grey, until last week British Foreign Secretary, has made for the press an authorized statement of the history of King Constantine's dealings with the Allies, in which he says:

The unconstitutional behavior of King Constantine, his refusal to abide by the terms of the Greek treaty with Serbia, and the flouting of the decisions of M. Venizelos and his Parliamentary majority hardly admit of denial even by the Germans themselves, who content themselves with saying that he [the King] acted for what he believed to be the best interests of his country.

Greece voluntarily promised "benevolent neutrality" toward the Allies; it promised to give certain war material to the Allies to balance that which it had given Bulgaria by "the prearranged surrender of Fort Rupel and Kavala." These and other promises were broken and the forces of the Allies were treacherously attacked in Athens. If Germany had been in the place of Great Britain or France, the King would long since have been coerced and rendered harmless.

LIBERTY VERSUS COMFORT IN BELGIUM

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Indignation at the German deportation of the Belgian workers will not down; from every side come protests. Ours, among other governments, has sent what it calls a formal protest. It consisted of a note cabled to Mr. Grew, our Chargé at Berlin in the absence of our Ambassador, with instructions to Mr. Grew to read the note to the German Chancellor.

This seems to be a cross between the old and somewhat outworn method of the Administration in note-writing and that of a verbal lecture. In this communication our Government protested solemnly in a friendly spirit against the deportation as "in contravention of all precedents and of those humane principles of international practice which have long been accepted and followed by civilized nations in their treatment of noncombatants."

A reply has been made by the German Government, which in substance asserts that there are 1,250,000 people suffering in Belgium because of the lack of work, that idleness was causing demoralization, that those who have gone to Germany are happy and contented" (which a large body of evidence shows to be a straight-out falsehood), and that the deportation has been carried out in a humane and kindly way.

That Germany suggests peace while she is deporting Belgians in this wholesale fashion indicates that not even two and a half years of war have taught her to what lengths of sacrifice a liberty-loving people will go to defend their freedom.

PRINCE OYAMA

With the death of Prince Oyama passes one of the great figures of the RussoJapanese War. He had been a man of influence in Japan for thirty years or more before the war of 1894 between China and Japan. It was for his services in this war, culminating in the capture of Port Arthur and Weihaiwei, that he was made marquis and field marshal by the Emperor. In the war with Russia Oyama was commander-in-chief of the Japanese army in Manchuria, and after that war he was made a prince. He came of a race of warriors, the Satsumas, and was prominent in the political revolution which in 1868 restored to power the father of the present Emperor.

In order to give our readers an impression

of the individual traits of Oyama, we take the liberty of quoting from a personal letter written by Mr. George Kennan, who, as our readers know, was the representative of The Outlook in Japan during the war with Russia:

It was the general understanding in Japan that he was a stern, despotic Samurai of the mediæval Japanese type; a man of strong character and an indomitable fighter, but not a skillful military leader in the modern sense of the words. He was greatly respected and feared by his soldiers, but he did not direct their movements nor "prearrange" their victories. It would not be quite accurate to call him an imposing, awe-inspiring Samurai figurehead,

because he was more than that; but he was not the strategist who planned the Manchurian campaigns. The thinking mind in the battles of Liaoyang, the Shaho, and Mukden was that of General Kodama; but Field Marshal Oyama got most of the credit, partly because he was the nominal head of the army, and partly because he really was in character an immovable rock of strength. You perhaps know men whose mere presence gives you a feeling of power and security. They may not be intellectually brilliant or resourceful, but they cannot be surprised or shaken or terrified. They are the captains of their own souls and of yours. Oyama, from what I heard of him, was a man of this type.

Princess Oyama, his wife, was one of the first young women sent from Japan to the United States for an education. graduated from Vassar in 1882.

PROGRESSIVES IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

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One of the most marked aspects of the recent election was, as we have already pointed out, the very general success of progressive candidates, irrespective of party affiliations. Progressive Republicans and former Progressives who during the campaign were affiliated with the Republican party are undertaking a movement to make the Republican party progressive in organization. One plan outlined last week by Mr. Chester H. Rowell, of California, involves four methods.

The first is to attempt to put throughout the country Progressive-Republican candidates on Progressive-Republican platforms or programmes before the voters in the Republican primaries, and to back such candidates up. This effort, if successful, will lay in the popular vote a foundation for a thoroughly progressive organization of the Republican party.

The second method is to attempt to im

prove the administrative side of the Republican party by continuing as an active committee the party's Executive Committee, which during the campaign consisted of ten regular Republicans and six Progressives.

The third method is to attempt to reapportion the delegates to the National Convention so that States which are not naturally Republican will no longer have the disproportionate influence that they have had, to the demoralization at times of the whole party.

The fourth method is to attempt to render the members of the National Committee

subject to their respective State committees, so that the Committee itself will be more responsive to the will of the Republican voters than it has been heretofore.

How far this plan has been accepted we do not know; but it suggests the sort of practical politics into which men who really wish to improve political conditions in this country ought to enter.

PREPARATORY SCHOOLS FOR
WEST POINT AND ANNAPOLIS

The most interesting part of the first annual report of the Secretary of War, Mr. Newton D. Baker, is his advocacy of a change in the educational systems of West Point and Annapolis.

Secretary Baker intimates that the present system of choosing students for West Point and Annapolis-the system consisting of "designation by the President, Senators, and Representatives, with examination as a prerequisite to acceptance "—is not adequate for the need of " a nation efficiently organized from a military point of view."

The Secretary of War suggests that the Federal Government establish throughout the country a number of schools in which the rudiments of a sound education, the elements of mechanical skill, the principles of business co-ordination, and the beginnings of military science" should be taught. Such schools, the Secretary thinks, "would develop the natural aptitudes of the students in such a way as to supply those fittest by temperament and talent to pursue in the Military Academy and Naval Academy the study of military science; and incidentally these schools would furnish a great body of men returning to civil life fitted by training either to respond in an emergency to a call to the colors or to take their places as civil soldiers in the service of the Government in those industries and undertakings fundamental to