The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-01-18

til recognizable governments have been
established in the central nations. Ii
this were too long delayed 1t might be-
come necessary for the allies to step
Sin and help, though probably this
would be done only as last resort, |
and the United States might decline to
have any active part in it.
Ia
The British government, it is under !
stood, will urge that some kind of a |
general peace settlement be the first
business of the conference, one of the
important reasons for this being that
it would permit an early demobiliza-
ton of the army. Just now this is a
serious matter for England, for last
week there were many noisy demon
STATIONS by troops who want to be re-
. leased to return to civil life. The
crews of the mine-sweeping trawlers
also protested, and it was announced
that hereafter the work of these men
mostly fishermen-would be done by
volunteers. That no punishment was
inflicted for the open breaking of dis
cipline by the British soldiers is one
of the significant signs of the times In
the United States there is similar dis
content over the slowness and poor
system of rehabilitation, but so far
there have been no demonstrations,
Ia
Secretary Bakers pacifist soul Isl
finding expression anew these days as
the Yanks return from overseas. In
various cases there have been efforts
to organize receptions for these men I'M
their home localities before their de-
mobilization, SO that their friends can
see them parade and show them in a
body how their gallant services are ap-
preciated. Among these the case Of
the Blackhawk division and Chicago
was notable. But the secretary of war
seems to fear that such martial dis
plays as are asked would tend toward
militarism. He does not say so, but
that is the way it looks.
-n-
A jury in Judge Lands federal
court in Chicago did good Job last
week, finding Victor L. Berger, Adolph
Germer, w. F. Kruse, ]. Louis Eng
dahl and Rev. Irwin st. John Tucker
guilty of sedition and disloyalty under
the espionage act. The congressman
elect from Milwaukee and his Socialist
associates were active throughout the
war In their efforts to obstruct the
governments war program, and they
now face terms in federal prison and
heavy fines 1t may be that Berger
will not be permitted to take his seat
in the next congress, though this is I'M
certain, owing to his appeal from the
verdict
IA
The allies are planning to mitigate
the rigors of the blockade of the cen
trail powers in order to let in food, not
for the Huns, but for Poland and the
people of the Balkans and certain sec
lions of Russia. Partial surveys of
the food situation show that these re-
gions are near starvation, the shortage
of bread, meat and fats being especial
ly serious. Most of the fats must be
supplied by America. The German YES
sells required to send food to Europe
will be available before long and Mr..
Hoover, who is directing the relief
work is doing all in his power to
hasten the supplies so sorely needed.
IA
All other events of last week were
overshadowed, so far as America was
concerned, by the death of Colonel
Roosevelt Believed by his countless
admirers to be the greatest American
since Abraham Lincoln, he is admitted
by those who disagreed with him to
have been unexcelled in courageous
patriotism and zeal for the welfare of
his country and his coGntrymen. To
euogize one whose remarkable quail
| ties and achievements were known to
all the world seems superfluous. His
passing evoked the sincere and univer-
sal grief of men and women in every
rank of life. No pomp and circum-
| stance marked his funeral--none was
needed, for his glorious place in history
and In the hearts of his fellow citizens
is secure.
IA
Another mighty good man passed
away last weekMaj. Gen. j. Franklin
Bell commander of the department of
the East He was West Pointer and
had a distinguished career of forty
| years in the army. in the course of
| which he saw much fighting In Indian
campaigns and in the Philippines. He
trained the Seventy-seyenth division
for the war in Europe but was not
81 nh uSfoaIlv Al FIR sprvicp at fha front