Nebraska Newspapers

    THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
SENATE WANTS MORE LIGHT
ON TREATY NEGOTIATIONS
TO
DESTRUCTION LIES
li PATH OP FIRES
Plan to Question the President on the
Disposition of Shantung, Japanese
German Secret Treaty and the
Failure to Recognize Costa Rica ao
a Belligerent.
DUAL MONARCHY MUST PAY FOR:
PART PLAYED IN WAR.
GREAT DAMAGE TO TIMBER
WESTERN STATES
IN
TERMS
AUSTRIA
FOREST FIRES GET BEYOND
CONTROL IN TWO STATES
High Winds, Abnormally High Tem
perature and Absence of Rain for
Many Weeks Work Heavy Handicap
for Fighters Thousands of Acres of
Timber Destroyed.
Spokane. Racing ovor mountnln
ridges of wostorn Montana nnd north
cm Idaho, forest firos, burning foi
moro than a weak, eproad destruction
to tlnibor, and to small towns which
have been severed by tho flainos from
communication with tho Unltod States
forest sorvlco headquarters at Mis
soula, Mont. The fire near Hondorson,
Mont., jumped the mountains into tho
Mullan gulch country, whore thero was
jiractically no opportunity to catch It.
Tho fire near St. Regis, Mont., crossed
tho Clark fork rlvor and spread un
checked ovor a largo aroa. Deter
mined offorts to check the spread of
the forest flros in the Thundor moun
tain district In central Idaho fallod to
tain control.
Tho cost of fighting llTcs now rag
ing in Idaho and westorn Montana will
total $1,000,000 before tho season is
over, nccordlng to information re
ceived by Governor Davisf As a result
tho $40,000 sot asldo out of tho appro
priation given tho general land olllco
for fighting fires on tho public domain
in control Idaho will bo wholly inade
quate, ' Governor Davis will moot It. A. Hoi
ley, of tho gcnoral land olllco at Salt
Lake and Harry J. Shollworth, of tho
outhorn Idnlm co-oporntlvo firo pro
tective association" here for tho pur
poso of determining the cost of light
ing other fires. After tho conference
ho will wire Franklin K. Lane, secre
tary of the intorior, and Idaho's dele
gation In congress, asking for an emer
gency appropriation of a sufficient size
to cover tho oxpensoB which must bo
met.
Boln Kun's Army In Rout
Paris. -Dlspatchos reaching peaco
conference circles from Budapest in
dicate that generaL demoralization has
struck Bola Kuns army, which in
straggling back from tho different
frontB with utter lack of discipline
Tho breakdown in tho spirit of the
troops is attributed to discontinuation
of tho fighting against tho Czechs
and Rumanians in consoquenco of tho
armistice and to tho hasty lncroaso
of tho well drilled loyal army of
60,000 to moro than 125,000 men. Re
ports from tho sumo source, rocolvod
by poaco delegates aro to tho effect
that bolshevlsni in Hungary is con
fined almost exclusively to BudapoBt.
Peasants are obstructing shipmonts of
food to tho capital which is rapidly
reaching a dosperato state.
London Wolcomeo Pershing
London. With quaint, traditional
ceremonies, tho lord mayor of London
tendored Genoral Porshing tho honor
ary freedom of tho city and presented
him with a Bword of honor, Tho pre
sentation occurred at Guildhall nt
noon, after which Pershing altondod
a lunchoon in hiB honor nt tho Mansion
houso. Crowds Unod tho streets and
cheored as tho slato carriages passed
on tholr way to Guildhall for tho core
monlos. Alighting at tho hall, Per
shing inspected the guard of honor,
formed of gronudlor guards. Ho thon
was conducted to tho Dlua in the groat
hall whoro ho was grectod by tho lord
mayor and members of tho council,
dressed in coremonlal robes.
Car Fares Must Be Higher
Washington. Munlclpul ownorship
of Btreet railways as tho best and
quickest way to convince tho public
that it Is impracticable and undesir
able was advocated boforo tho federal
electric railway commission by Mor
timer IS. Cooley, dean of tho collogo
of onglnoorlnR of tho University of
Michigan. Dr. Cooley said ho be
lieved It was impossible to educato
tho public to tho noeds of tho street
railways in time to relievo tho present
irlngoncy of high costB and low re
turns of which thoy aro complaining.
Assassinate American Officer
Coblenz. Two Germans attempted
to assassinate Major George Cockrlol,
provost mnrshal of tho American
forces in Germany. Tho major was
not lnjurod. Tho Germans oscapod
after firing several shots. Major
Cockrlel'a home Is In St. Paul, Minn.
Tho shots woro fired at tho provost
marshal from behind.
Germany Wants Loans
Berlin. Germany wants loans or
credits from America. Director Was
herman ot the DoutBcho hank mado
this clear in an intorviow in which
he pointed out that raw materials and
food wero essential it Germany was
to met the obligations of tho entento
and hecomo a stable member of tho
world society. Gorman bankorn would
sot maka ovorturos to tho Americans,
"Wttsseriunn said, as thoy did not know
whom to approach, but would wait tor
American flnanciors 16 renew relations.
Washington. raving tho way for
dotailcd consideration of the poaco
troaty, tho sonato foreign relations
commlttoo approved three resolutions
asking President Wilson for Informa
tion bearing on tho Vorsalles negotia
tions. Tho resolutions concern the
Shantung settlement, tho alleged se
cret understanding botwoon Japan
and Germany and tho falluro to rec
ognize Costa Itica as a bolllgeront.
Debate on tho actual ratification of
tho troaty began with a display of bit
ter determination on both Bides. Tho
commlttoo took no action on President
Wilson'B suggestion that ho explain
directly disputed points of tho peaco
settlement, though tho president ro
itoratcd to his supporters at tho capi
tol his readiness to consult with tho
commltteo members. , With sovoral
sonatora not on tho committee ho dis
cussed at tho white houso certain fea
tures of tho treaty.
Tho presldont is asked for n copy
of the troaty said to havo been nego
tiated In 1918, in which Japan was to
Indirectly safeguard Germany's Inter
ests at tho peace tablo, and informa
tion Is wanted "with reforenco to tho
attempt of Japan Or hor pcuco dole
gates to Intimidate Chlncso peaco dolo
gates." Tho third resolution inquires
why Casta Rica was "not permitted"
to sign the peaco treaty, and whotnor
NIcaraguan forces "are now permit
ted" to lnvado or threaten Costa Rlc'an
territory.
In discussing the various phases of
tho treaty with senators who called at
tho whtto houso tho president said
that nocessarily the American com
missioner could not lmposo their com
ploto will on tho poaco conference and
wero compelled to accept somo things
of which thoy personally disapproved.
Flour Millers to Rescue
Chicago. As the result of a session
of millers from nil parts of tho coun
try, a now organization, having for
its purpose tho reduction in prides of
foodstuffs, is in existence, The new
organization, the Millers' Export as
sociation, was founded, according to
J. F. Bell, vice-president of tho Washburn-Crosby
company, to deal with
foroign buyers who aro already organ
ized. Moro than 300 millers, amone
whom aro the largest flour makers in
the country, have membership in tho
organization.
They Don't Like WJIhelm
Now York. J. L. Krobs, a silk im
porter who has just arrived frqm Ger
many, says the Gorman peoplo, beaten
and sick of bloodshed as thoy aro,
havo no moro uso for tholr former
rulers than wo have in America. Threo
years of decayed moats and othor pu
trid foods havo cured them of their
lovo for tho Kaisor and ho has "not
i ithe Bllghtost chance of ovor becoming
popular with tho groat working classos
again."
Test of the Germ Theory
St. Paul. Dr. II. A. Zottol, electro-
path, has challenged Dr. II. W. Hln,
exocutlvo secretary of tho Mlnnosota
public health association, to a duel to
the death to tost tholr rospectlvo gorm
theories. Dr. II1U has accoptod. Thoy
will oxposo themselves to tho most
virulent contagious diseases thoy can
find and then go Into quarantine.
Even leprosy will be used In tho test.
Fifty Thousiind Seamen Out
Now York. Fifty thousand seamen
employed on tho vobsoIb controlled by
tho United States shipping board hnvo
struck and thousands of stowards,
cooks and othor employees havo Joined
their ranks. Striko leadors doclaro
that thero will bo no ndjustmont until
tho men wore granted an i.ght hour
day and tho principles of tho closed
shop recognized by tho employers.
Bishop Scores League Enemlec
Now York. Tho Right Revcrand
Charlos David Williams, D. I)., Epis
copal bishop of Nobraskn, character
ized tho opposors of tho league ot
nations covenants as "pitiful palter-
ers" in a vigorous defonso of the
loaguo Uellvored from tho pulpit of St
Prtul'B chapel, Columbln unlvorslty.
Ilia address was concluded with n
plea for industrial democracy.
President Nicked for $21,000
Washington. The workings of tho
incomo tax was demonstrated to tho
president when thoro wm substractod
from his salary ot $7G,G00 tho neat
sum of $21,430, which is likely to di
rect his thoughtful attontlon more
than ever to tho high cost ot living
and kindred subjects, and 1b also likely
to cool tho ardor ot tho presidential
asporatlons ot others.
Demand the Kaiser of Germany
Borlln. Tho Tagoblatt reports that
Gormany will bo rcquostod to demand
of Holland tho dollvory of tholr for
mer rulor for trial to tho nlllos. The
same procedure will bo taken with re-
gards to German statesmen who have
tied to neutral countries.
For Capital Punishment
Jefferson City. Tho Missouri state
legislature in special session has com
pletod tho passage ot the measure
reinstating capital punishment.
1. American troops pnrade in Purls on' Independence dny. 2 DJemul Pnsha, Knver Pasha and Talnat Bey, leud-.
ers of the Turkish government during the wur, condemned to death by n Turkish court-martial. 3 General Hnlg
decorating Major General Squires, U. S. A.
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Peace Treaty and League of Na
tions Stir Up Lively Debate
in the Senate.
SHANTUNG AWARD SCORED
Charge Is Made That Gift of Chinese
Province Is Price of Japan's Signa
ture Warning of Peril of War
What Shall Be Done With
Mexico? Daylight Law
Saved by President.
By EDWARD W. PICKARD,
"Many people have - thought that
the mere signing of the treaty with
Germany marks the ending of the
world peril. The situation toduy is
still serious. The world's statesiuau
ship will be sorely tried in the next
few years.
'The pence conference (lias been
history's greatest Instance of a uni
fied world statesmanship directing
tho moral and material resources of
the world's family of nations. To al
low the spirit behind It to disintegrate
at this moment of emergency, when
united action is imperative, would be
fatal to nil the hopes of permanent
pence with which we entered the wnr.
"Out of It nil hns come the most
important International document
ever drawn-rtho treaty of pence with
Germany a document" which not only
meets the issues of the present war,
but also lays down new agreements
of the most helpful and most hopeful
character. The nations are bound to
gether to avert another world catas
trophe, bnckwnrd peoples are given a
new hope for their future; several
racial entitles are liberated to form
now stntes; a beginning is made to
ward removing unjust economic re
strictions, and the great military au
tocracies of central Europe are de
stroyed as tho first step in a general
disarmament.
"The trcnty Is, of course, nor" all
that we hdd hoped for. Too many
conlllctlng Interests were Involved.
Nearly every one will find In It weak
nesses, both of omission and commis
sion.
"I come home pleased, but not over-
complacent with the outcome of the
last six months; hopfcul, but not In
the least unmindful of the problems
yet to bo solved."
These are tho words of Robert
Lansing, United States secretary of
stnte. They sound llko both fact ami
sense. Therefore they are welcome
In these topsy-turvy days.
Admitting that the League of Na
tlons is the hope of the world, is It
one that America can accept m Jus
tice to nerself-7 That Is what the
United States senate Is trying to find
out. It is the question of tli hour,
So ninny shades of individual opinion
aro held among the senators Hint uc
ceptnnco or rejection can hardly bo
said to be a party question. Anv
way, tho Republican view Is nresuvu
ably correctly set forth In the follow
ing otncini statement-by Chairman
ttriit IT IT.. . M -wi . ..
mi ii. inijb ui uie iiupuniit'un na
tional committee:
"xne situation respecting the
league covenant Is simply this;
.mere musi ue encciive reserva
tlons. Thpse reservations must snfe
guard the sovereignty of the l nlted
amies in every particular: must
guarantee tho Monroe doctrine be
yond the shndow of a doubt; must
either eliminate article 10 entirely or
so inouuy it mat our own congress
snail ue morally as well us legally
rreo arter n specified period to do
cldo when and where anil to what ex
tent our soldiers shall bo employed;
must retain our lull control of liu
migration, tariff and nil other miroly
domestic policies, and nuiKt nrovlde
full right to withdraw hindrance or
conditions of any kind, upon giving
suuauie notice.
"It is up to the administration to
decide whether It will or will not ac
cept ttiese essential guarautees of
American Independence, which would
unquestionably be promptly accepted
by, the other nntlons."
Cutiously enough these several
questions distinctively American and
therefore pnwumably of the highest
importance to this country hnve tem
porarily been lost sight of In a burst
of senatorial indignation over the ac
tion of the pence conference by which
Shantung probably China's richest
province, with 30,000,000 people, the
birthplace of Confucius is given to
Japan.
President Wilson presented the.
treaty to the senate July 10. He said
that the treaty was nothing less than
a world settlement nnd It was not pos
sible for him In his address to sum
marize It; he would attempt only a
general characterization of Its scope
nnd purpose. He offered to be at the
service of the senate or the foreign re
lations committee. He did not mention
the Shantung provision, or the Monroe
doctrine, or our obligations under arti
cle X. Typical expressions of opinion
regarding his nddress follow:
"The address," said Senator Swan-
son, Democrat, Virginia, "Is magnifi
cent, aoie, eloquent nna inspiring, ane
reasons presented for the ratification
of the treaty, including the League of
Nations, were strong, cogent and un
answerable."
"Soothing, mellifluous and uniform
ing," was the comment of Senator Mc
Cormlck, Illinois.
Taking Its stand on President Wil
son's principle of "open covenants
openly arrived at," the senate commit
tee on foreign relations to consider the
peace treaty met Monday. Senator
Johnson, California, brought forward
a resolution embodying a demand for
data of every character relating to the
treaty and Its formulation. It called
for the suppressed plan for a League
of Nations submitted to the peace con
ference by President Wilson, which the
president admits was rejected In fa
vor of the British plan, nnd also called
for the stenographic reports of tho
peace negotiations. It was adopted
Tuesday by the committee.
Tuesday, after a heated debate, the
senate, without a record vote, ndopted
Senator Lodge's resolution calling on
President Wilson to submit to the sen
ate the text of the secret treaty nego
tinted last year by Japan and Germany
and all other data showing overtures
made by the mikado's government to
tho central powers during the wnr.
Throughout the debate the lighting
revolved about the Shantung incident.
Senator Lodge. Republican leader,
charged that the Shantung peninsula
was "the purchase price for Japan's
signature to the League of Nations
covenant." Senator Moses of New
Hampshire, a Republican member of
the foreign relations committee, called
It a "bribe," and Senator Norrls of Ne
braska. Republican, denounced It ns
"an outrage" and ''a betrayal."
Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska un
dertook to defend Japan's right to
Shantung, but Senator Williams of
Mississippi, Democratic member of the
foreign relations committee, frankly
admitted that If President Wilson had
not yielded In tho Shantung affair
Japan would have broken off from the
allies and negotiated a separate treaty
with Germany. Realizing the close re
lntlons between Senator Williams and
the White House, senators attached
much Importance to the Mississippi
member's statement that Japan would
never glvo up Shantung again without
a war.
"If that's the challenge we might
as well settle it How," said Senator
Borah of Idaho, Republican.
Thursday was marked by lively sen
ate proceedings. Senator Borah, lie-
publican, Idaho, called upon tne league
stnmortors to Join him In securing a
referendum. Senutor Sherman, ucpuo-
llenn. Illinois, made an address warn
ing the dangeivof war with Japan and
pointing out tnnt sucn u wur wuw
bo "Great Britain's opportunity to re
call! commercial and financial suprem
acy from us." The senato adopted Sen
ator Borah's resolution demanding the
text of the United States protest at
Paris auainst tho Shantung award.
President Wilson, seeing the league
making no hundwivy, nd receiving no
Invitation to tunica? before the foreign
relations committee, began Issuing In
iiotiiilillcau senators to
visit him at the White House to dis
cuss tlie treaty. Senator McCumber.j
North Dakota, an outstanding support-,
cr of the treaty and the league, was)
the first caller Thursday. Senntor Colt,
Rhode Island, was the second.
What shall be done with Mexico?
This question almost rivals the League
of Nations In Interest. Nobody seems
ready with a complete program, but
official Washington is guessing that
something will be done soon. Re
ports come from abroad that the ad
ministration Is pledged to interven
tion. This Is olllclally denied. ,
Wednesday Mrs. John W. Corrcll,
whose tragic experience Is well known,
nnived In Washington with her fn-
therless son. She hopes to meet the
president. A list of 179 Americans
murdered In Mexico since 1015 was
made public by the National Associa
tion for the Protection of American
Rights In Mexico. Mrs. Correll said
she was leading the ghosts of the 500
tVmerlcans who had been murdered In
Mexico since 1010.
The exclusjon of Mexico from the
League of Nations was based upon
the ground that It had been unable to
give proof of intention to observe in
ternational obligations. Aside from
the murder of foreigners humnn life
Is cheap these days money matters
will probably force action. Americans
have about $055,000,000 Invested in
Mexico; Great Britain about $070,000,
00b; France about $285,00,000; Spain,
uoiianu ami otner countries annul
$205,000,000.
Great Britain nnd Franco hold .the
United Stntes responsible for the Mex
Icnn sltuntlon, under the Monroe doc
trine nnd under the policy pursued
since 1910. They want Mexico put In
position so that this property will not
be confiscated and payment will be re
sumed on national and other debts.
In short, every Indication points to n
probable Intervention by the United
Stntes, nctlng as mandatory for the
League of Nations. Tho alternative
which Is unthinkable! Is that for
eign nations 'will be allowed to Inter
vene, In spite of the Monroe doctrine.
President Wilson has vetoed the ag
ricultural appropriation bill, giving as
his reason the fact that Included In It
was a section repealing the daylight
saving law. Debates in congress indi
cate that the farmers were all ngalnst
the law, and bonumrded congress,
while the rest of tho country favored
the law and did nothing to support
It. Aside from the actual merit of tho
law, students of government approvo
the veto on the ground that legisla
tion of this kind Is vicious. Legisla
tion by rider is never necessary, and ls
favored only by legislators who want
to avoid responsibility. The house
failed to pass the bill over tho veto.
Proceedings In congress seem to In
dicate that the present "dry" spell will
be prolonged and unrelieved. There
are seVeral preliminaries to the term
ination of war-time prohibition nnti
thev nil take time. First the treaty
must he ratified. Then pence must he
proclaimed. Finally complete demo
bilization of the , nrmy must ne
achieved. Apparently the length of
the dry spell depends largely upon how
Germnny and other countries behave.
Don't think for a moment thnt the
high cost of living Is not receiving Its
shnre of attention these days, The
federal trade commission hns reported
an approaching domination by the
packers of all Important foods In the
United States. The department of
justice has begun the investigation of
a "$100,000,000 food combine" among
the ennners. Several resolutions have
been Introduced In the houso within
the week cnlllng for congressional In
vestigation Into prices and the cost
of living. People vvhntfmoved out rath
er than, submit to an Increase In rent,
have found all the furniture storage
warehouses full, with waiting lists.
In 47 lending cities In 27 stntes SO
per cent of nil the household storage
Brace Is occupied. And finally, "the
apex of our woe, It now costs more to
save our'dough" which Is to say that
n least one bank has raised, tho price
of safety deposit boxes 50 cents a
year.
In the menntlme, If anyone lacks ex
citing reading, the newspapers aro full
of every possible variety and size of
strike, with more in prospect.
ARMY REDUCED TO 30,000
Immediate Advance of Food Animals -to
be Made Fifteen Days for
Final Answer.
Paris. The full peaco conditions of
tho allied and associated powers aro
now In tho hands of the Austrlans.
The first section of tho terms wero
presented to tho Austrian delegates
at St. Germain on Juno 2; the finnl
sections were delivered to them at
tho same place July 20, without cer
emony, by M. Dutasta, secretary
general of the peaco conference.
The terms comprise the whole
treaty which Austria Is asked to sign,
including the reparation, financial,
military and certain other minor
clauses, which wero not rendy for
presentation when the olllclal cere
mony took place.
The Austrlans are granted fifteen
days In which to make their final ob
servations, altliough they have al
ready submitted a large number of
notes on tho terms previously sub
mitted to them. t
In addition to tho published sum
mary of tho terms of Juno 2. tho
now clauses provide for reparation
arrangements very similar to those
In the treaty with Germany, Includ
ing the establishment of an Austrian
sub-section of the reparations com
mission, the payment of n reasonable
sum In ensh, the Issuing of bonds,
nml the delivery of live stock and
certain historical and nrt documents.
The flnanciul 'terms provide that
the Austrian pre-war debt shall bo
apportioned among the various for
mer parts of Austria and that tho
Austrian coinage and war bonds cir
culating In the separated territory
shall be taken up by tho new govern
ments nnd redeemed as they see fit.
Under tho military terms the
Austrlnn army is henceforth reduced
to ,10,000 men on a purely voluntary
basis.
Paragraph five relating to tho mil
itary, says that the Austrian army
shall not exceed 30,000 men, Includ
ing officers and depot troops. Within
three months the Austrian military
forces shall be reduced to this nuni-
'ber, universal military service abol
ished and voluntary enlistment sub.
stltuted.
The nrmy shall be used exclusively
(or the maintenance of Internal or
der and control of frontiers. All
officers must bo regulars, those of
the present army to be retained
being under the obligation to serve
until 40. years old; those newly ap
pointed ngreeingi to at least 20 con
secutive years of active .service.
Noncommissioned ofilcers and pri
vates must enlist for not less thnn 12:
consecutive years with tho colors.
Within three months the arma
ment of the Austrian army must be
reduced accordingly to detailed
schedules, and nil surplus surrendered'
Tho manufacture of all material shall!
be confined to one single factory un
der the control of this state, and
other such establishments shall he
closed down or converted. Importa
tion and exportation of arms, muni
tions and war materials of all kinds
is forbidden.
As an Immediate advance Austria
ngrees to deliver within three months
afterv ratification of the treaty 4,000
milch cows, to Italy and 1,000 each to
Serbia and Rumania; 1,000 heifers to
Italy, .100 to Serbia and 500 to Ru
lnnnia; 50 bulls to Italy and 25 each
to Serbia and Rumnnla; 1,000 calves to
each of the three nations; 1,000
bullocks to Italy and 500 each to
Serbia and Rumariln; 2,000 sows to
Italy and 1,000 draught horses and
1,000 sheep to both Serbia and Ru
mania. Each of the states to which Aus
trian territory Is transferred nnd each
of the states arising out of the dis
memberment of Austria, Including the
republic of Austiin, shall assume part
of the Austrian pre-war debt specific
ally secured on railways, salt mines
and other property, the amount to bo
fixed by the reparations commissions.
U. S. Sailors Robbed.
Washington.- The most serious of
tho recently growing list of attacks on
Americans In Mexico has been brought
to light.
A boat load of American sailors
from the U. S. S. Cheyenne were held
up in tho Tonics! river July 0, within
nine miles of Tainplco, nnd the snllors
robbed. The Amerlcnn ling was. Hying
from the boat. Closely resembling the
nttacks on American sailors which led
to he occupation of Vera Cruz In
1914, the state department did not
hesitate to regard It as a grave affair
and dispatched urgent representations
to tho Cnrrnnzu government nnd Tniu-
plco authorities.
Pledged' to Oppose Treaty.
Washington. President Wilson has
been offered a list of names of thirty
five senators, who have pledged them
selves to refuse ratification of the
peaco treaty unless reservations are
made, It was learned. This Is two more
thnn the number of votes necessary to
prevent ratification without reserva
tion. The list, R is, learned, waB of
fered to the president as proof that
the senate will not ratify the treaty
unless reservations are made to cer
tain of its clauses.