Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-08-08
ONRUSH OF BIG
PROBLEMS HITS
CAPITAL HARD
Both Congress and OH
cials Swamped by Tidal
Wave of Complexities.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

| (COpyrlght, 1915 Dy Ine ASus-J
Washington. D. c., Aug. S.-Do-
mestic and foreign problems crowd
| ing, each other in unprecedented
| congestion and irritating confusion
made a clear Interpretation of what.
| is happening nowadays in Wash
ington no less difficult for the per-
sons in position Of official RESPONSE
bility than disinterested observers.
All that the cabinet officer or high
official knows outside of the press
ing questions within his own turis-
diction is that with the return OF
President Wilson from Europe and
the ending of the peace negotiations
almost all the accumulated or post
poned dilemmas of more than two
thrust themselves to the front with
irresistible momentum 10 demand
attention.
Congress seems rudderless. The
Republican party has not yet found
itself Sharp criticisms inside the
party indicate desire to reach an
equilibrium and a definite Program
in both houses. Also the executive
branch of the government being
democratic and the congress of the
opposite party introduces an ele-
ment of submerged and occasional
ly open hostility between the CO.
ordinate parts OF the government
which the general public is anxious
shall work together harmoniously
in critical days.
Fear Soviet Hold on Industry.
The senate is leisurely consi1er-
ing the peace treaty. The house is
in a mood of unpleasant expectancy.
For President Wilson today was to
deliver an address devoted entirely
to the cost of living and giving the
country the impression that in con-
gress lies some relief from the con-
ditions which are producing such
widespread dissatisfaction and un-
rest. Menacing, too, is the action by
the railroad brotherhoods which in
itself is not causing SO much ap-
prehension but which it is feared
may prove contagious and mean
serious efforts to convert other in
dustries to the soviet system OF
management
Hostility Increases.
While the peace treaty lies in the
senate foreign relations committee;
the hostility between Rpublican
senators and the president is tend
ing to increase rather than dimin-
ish. AT the White House Mr.. Wilson
calmly takes his time answering
the numerous requests for informa-
ton embodied in a series of senate
resolutions. At the capitol, QuizZing
and cross examination of the
s~KI1 ~ mo fg4
mission to negotiate peace con-
tinues. Secretary Lansing's d1scom-
future before the senate committee
as well as the embarrassing line of
INQUIRY pursued by the interrogat-
ing duestioners will not soon be for
gotten. What is revealed in black
and white was simply what every
body. knew who went to Paris-that
the American peace mission was a
one-man affair with Woodrow VIII
son the sole director and executive
thereof Mr.. Lansing really ceased
to be secretary of state and became
merely a member of the peace mis-
sion. To Colonel House for example,
was delegated much more import
ant and vital tasks than to Secre-
tary Lansing.
Learn Naught by Quizzing.
What the senate has just brought
out is that as secretary of state,
Mr.. Lansing was without knowledge
of many things that happened while
he was a member of the American
peace mission. If they call other Of |
ficials of the mission, they will find
others equally ignorant. The i'm |
av,f
which only the four premiers and |
President Wilson participated. Ere !
quently these lasted all day and at |
the end of a nerve racking ordeal 1
which wits practically without re-
cess Mr.. Wilson often found himself |
unable to reepat all the converse
ton Of many hours duration. |
Only Wilson Knows, and He VIII (
Tell.
Minutes were kept for a while |
but even this proved a stumbling !
block Each member of the Ameri- /
can mission was busy too with his /
Secretary Lansing
worked on the committee fixing the
responsibility for the war. Colonel
House worked on the League of
Wilson, as his own prime minister,
worked personally on the most del
icate problems which are now up
for discussion. He alone can tell
the senate committee and he has
offered through Senator Hitchcock
to either go to the capital or re-
ceive the while committee. Also
he is conferring with Republican
senator's and answering their ques-
tions. But the veil of secrecy is
placed upon these conferences and
men like Senator Norris want to
ask Mr.. Wilson questions in the
open. So unless the senate COM
mittee decides to call Mr.. Wilson
10 testify. the public may not get
The information it seems to want
about the intimate negotiations in
Paris. (.
President Clears Jap Statement.
President Wilson's statement on
the Shantung question, however,