The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1919-07-10

"a, Switzerland.
opponents of the League of Nations
in that body almost to abandon hope
of it's defeat, but enough Of them still
demand the amendment of the cove
nant to prevent its ratification as it
stands. Senator Borah is unremitting
in his fight against both the covenant
and the treaty, attacking them on
every occasion. In talking against
the proposed American army Of 40O,.
600 men he said the league covenant
offers no hope Of disarmament, but In
stead makes certain an era Of the
greatest ornaments the world has
ever seen. The senate passed the bill,
which carries an army appropriation
of $685., 100000. The bill as passed by
the house provided for 100000 men
and appropriated $718O00,OOO The
house majority in opposing the larger
temporary army is seeking to hasten
the entire reorganization Of the army
and the adoption of permanent milf
tary policy. The naval bill presented
passed by the house, carrying an APP
preparation of $646,272,000 and in
creasing the personnel to 191, 900 men.
Plans for President Wilson's speech
making tour in support of the treaty
and League of Nations covenant are
not yet completed, but it is said he
certainly will go as far as to the Pa
cific coast. His return to America will
not be much longer delayed, and as
soon as he has spoken in Washington
and New York he will start on his
trip. The opposition senators also are
arranging tours in which, it Is under
stood, they will both precede and fol-
low the president.
The agitation in this country in be-
half of Free Ireland is increasing,
and the movement has reached such
proportions that it cannot be ignored.
The propaganda is carried on ener
getically and openly and the govern
ment could not Go anything to check
it if it would. Eamonn De Valera,
president of the Irish Republic" who
has been In America for several weeks
visiting Washington and other cities,
has emerged from his privacy and is
publicly working for the Independence
of his country and arranging for a
bond issue Of $5,0O0,O00. He gave out
the text of a letter his government"
sent to the peace conference warning
it that ireland would not be bound
by any treaty signed in its behalf by
English commissioners. His main pur-
pose in coming to the United States is
to compel our government, by force
of public opinion, to recognize official.
" the Irish republic. In the senate
he has a number Of supporters who
assert the principle of self-deterIlina.
ton should apply to such countries as
Ireland, India, Egypt and Korea as
well as to the countries of central
Europe. At least, they declare, these
people should have the chance to pre-
sent their claims to independence to
the peace conference The American
peace delegation was taken to task
for not complying with the resolution
Of the senate requesting the president
to procure hearing for the Irish
representatives.
The great sympathy strike in Winnt
peg came to an end Thursday, being
called off by the strike committee. Tht
terms Of settlement were left to {
government commission. On thu
whole the strike was failure.
Chicago and New York both hai
serious and embarrassing labor trou
bles last week. In the former city the
street cleaners, garbage and ash han
dlers and job foremen and the team
sters and chauffeurs working for ths
city and on city jobs went on strike
and many other city employees mad'
demands for more pay. In New Y0rl
strike Of teamsters almost deprived
the city of its supply of vegetables ant
fruits.
An interesting innovation was TIT
organization of labor union OF nav.
officers begun in the Atlantic feet
for the purpose of obtaining Increase,
pay and other concessions from thu
government. 1t is planned to Affiliate
with the American Federation of La
/ Dor and to extend the union to Include
the Pacific fleet and the European am,
Asiatic squadrons. A clause In tn
navy regulations virtually forbids tn
formation of such organizations, bu
the facts that their pay has not beel
increased since 1908 and that tht
communication Of quarters to officers
sea now is in danger of being cut OF
apparently have made the officers de
| fiant of the rule.