Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-14
SEE EARLY AGREEMENT
IN CONFERENCE AT
CAPITAL
PRESS GAG LIVES?
MOVEMENT is PUT ON FOOT TO
RENEW FIGHT AGAINST SEC.
TION OF ESPIONAGE BILL pLAc.
ING MuZzlE ON NEWSPAPERS.
BY ROBERT b. SMITH.
international News Service Staff
Correspondent

Correspondent
Washington. May 1.-THE end of
/ the long drawn out fight over the con-
1 scrption bill was in sight today. With
instruction from the house to accept
the senate amendment authorizing &C.
1 ceptance of Col Roosevelt's offer to
raise a division for overseas service.
the cOnferees renewed their delibera-
tions, They hoped to reach an agree
ment without delay Those in charge
Of the measure predicted it would be
in the nands of the president, read
for his signature by the middle of the
week.
Press Gag" Up Again.
Washington, May 14-Another ef
fort will be made to restore The cen
sorship provision to the espionage hfi
Senator Overman of N. G. announce
today that he would demand anetilog
roll call on the provision whei tie
bill is laid before the Senate for na
al disposition.
The censorship section was kills
by the Senate Saturday by margin
of one vote. 1t became known TODAY
that Senator Martin. of Virginia, the
Democratic leader of the senate. who
surprised his colleagues by voting to
strike out the censorship section
would change his vote on another roll
call
TO Offset this, however, it was re
ported that two Republican senators
Tho voted Saturday to retain the
modified censorship provision woi'
change their votes and would oppose
the restoration of the provision.
Suspend Board Of Trade.
Washington, May 14A vigorous
fight to amend the espionage bill to
suspend all boards of trade, chambers
of commerce, stock exchanges and 9TH
er organizations permitting specula-
ton in food products during the war
period, was launched in the senate i'm
mediately after it convened today
Plan Russian Reorganization
Washington, May 14--The United
States intends to bend every energy
to make Russia a forcefu factor in
the world war To that end the Root
commission will become active as soon
as it reaches Petrograd. It is ex-
pccted that it will lay down the law"
insofar as organization of a perman.
ent government with the consent Of
'hc people is concerned
Russia is bankrupt The treasury
D was looted by the old dynasty. The
United States is ready to replenish
the treasury as far as the purchase
of supplies is concerned, and that
: readiness is expected to prove the po-
/ tent weapon in the WORK Of the Amer
p iCan commission
While the commission works in Pc.
r trograd re-conciling the differences of
the various factions and aliening them
for plan Of cooperation which will
I restore Russia to its position as a
, world power, the American Railroad
Expert Commission win take over the
reorganization of the Russian rail
way It is expected that the first step
viii be practically to rebuild the ST
belian railway This line is abso'
utely tied up with munitions ship
; mcnts from Jaran and millions Of
tors of supplies are at terminals and
a at point along the line The efficiency
4 OF the road, reports received here
t show, has decreased fully u per cent
n since the outbreak o. 'no war.
v 1t is a,ao libcly hat the United
c States and Japan viii cooperate with
Il the Russian military commission ia
recommending plans for the re-organ-
s izatiou ol the army. The appointment
a of Lieut. Coloncy Robert Z. L. Niche
, William Y ludFan and I Bentley
% Mott IS interpreted here as mean'n:
i they will have large part in getting
. the Russian army out Of the present
!. lpt
It is admitted here that The Rus
y, sian army Is in very bad way. There
have been hundreds Of thousands OF
desertious Omcers Of crack units
u have been deposed from command by
il the committee OF soldiers and many
. of them have been shot By The ner
- they formerly commanded.
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