Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-12-06

~~~~~N~~~~~>~~~~~~
accepted by our allies, are thrown
overheard by the conference. Take
but one of the many great questions,
the freedom of the seas" Nobody
seems to know just what this means,
but it needs no prophet to know that
Great Britain regards her position as
the dominant sea power of the world
as matter of life and death.
OF course Mr.. Wilson is strong be-
cause he speaks for a nation that
wants nothing for itself and holds the
purse strings for the world. Yet who
loves the player who comes into the
game late and holds all the big cards?
Who will act as president during
Mr.. Wilson's absence? Opinions diff
fer. G. w. Wickersham, attorney gen.
eral in the Taft cabinet. says that the
Constitution makes it mandatory upon
Vice President Marshall to act as
president because of the presidents
inability to discharge the duties of
said Office c. D. Hilles, former chair
man of the Republican national COM
mjttee, says that the Constitution does
not cover the situation, as its makers
did not contemplate the absence of the
president. 'The next in line," he says,
is the secretary Of state, who is also
going to Europe; then comes the Sec
retary of the treasury. who has re-
signed" Still, there would seem to
be no cause for worry, as the president
intends to administer the Office on
board ship and in Paris. He says
there are no constitutional difficulties
and wireless and cable solve the physi-
cal problem. Besides, he leaves in
Washington Secretary of War Baker,
holding him to be the ranking member
of the cabinet upon the retirement of
Secretary Of the Treasury McAdoo.
And what of the United States SEN
ate, 1.-THE most august body on earth p
Under the Constitution it is the duty
of this august body to serve as adviser
and counselor to the executive au-
thority in the making of treaties and
to act as ratifying body. Certainly
the senate will not do much advising
and counseling; Mr.. Wilson will be
where he cannot be advised and coun-
seled' to any great extent. And as to
ratification-the senate fears that
will probably be about the same story
Mr.. McAdoo's resignation from the
treasury department and from the di.
rectorship of railroads is naturally q
topic of nationwide discussion, fol
the reason that it appears to contain
concealed significance. He says he
quits because the compensation is toe
small and his health is impaired by
| overwork. Some take his statement
at its face value. Others who have
seen in him presidential candidate IL
the making, ready to receive the man
think he quits because he does no
care to be identified with what he con
siders the presidents set purpose tt
impose government ownership or con
troll on all public utilities in this coun
try. They do not say that he has giver
up any presidential aspirations he ma,
have had. They do say that recen
government action has made the stu
alton so acute that he was compelled
to resign or to remain in Office ant
help to formulate a policy which h
does not approve. One thing is sure
Mr.. McAdoo's resignation from tn,
presidents official family has set tn,
whole country to discussing govern
ment ownership of public utilities.
is no new question, but it is one ol
which the American people have neve
passed. They have the right in time
of peace to be heard on measure
taken in war for the duration of tn
war" They will insist on beini
heard.
1t is understood in Washington tha
Bernard M. Baruch, chairman of tn
war industries board, has been offere
the post of secretary of the treasury.
"a
Change and disorder, If not actua
| fighting, are features of the Europea
E'news. In southeastern Europe mi
= lion Austrian army deserters have es
tablished fortified camps in variou
districts; these and hordes of release
prisoners are menace From Russi
come reports of the assassination c
Admiral Kolchak, dictator of Siberis
at Omsk; the wholesale massacre 9
Jews in Warsaw and parts of Galici,
and the massacre by the bolsheviki {
former Russian officers in Petr0grat
Polish troops have captured Lemberi
capital of Galicia, and Poles an
Ukrainians have declared an armistic
. looking toward President Wilson O
arbitrator. Crown Prince Alexande
of Serbia has been appointed regent {