Great Falls daily tribune., 1919-12-02
SMALL POTATO POLITICS

| A good many American citizens must feel
resentfu and shamed at the boorish attitude OF
the republican congress toward the lnterna-
tional labor congress called in Washington by
President Wilson at the behest of our allies in
| the late war. The expense of the labor confer
ence was to be paid for out of the treasury of
the League of Nations, but the United States
was to advance the trifling sum necessary until
| the league treasury organized. AS matter
of fact Great Britain had to advance the money
for this nation to entertain its guests, and even
| to pay for the small American flag that decora-
ted the table where the American labor repre-
sentatives sat. Washington correspondent
comments rather sarcastically on this incident.
No wonder this correspondent says:
"Not content with carrying partisan politics
to the limit in every phase and activity of its
special session, the republican congress has gone
outside the fold of strictly domestic relations to
embarrass the United States abroad by what
seems to have been deliberate attempt to snub
the nations represented in the international
labor congress, now in session here under the
auspices of the League of Nations. After
authorizing the president to call the conference
and placing the United States in the position of
host to the civilized nations of the world congress
then proceeded to show every possible signs of
caddishness
IN the first place the United States was not
officially represented in the conference as
member of the league to which we were the
official host, and it was made apparent to the
conference that not only was it not the desire
OF the republican majority that the United States
should participate, but that same majority looked
with contempt on the League of Nations, the
parent Of the conference, and had set out to
knife it IN the interest of partisanship.
probo bI,r +bo
humorous act Of the past session was when the
republican rartisans permitted Great Britain to
buy even the small American flag that decorated
the table assigned to the United States at the
conference.
Early in October, when it was decided that the
labor conference should be invited to hold its
meeting in Washington, congress was asked to
advance funds. It was then definitely promised
by the representatives Of the league that this
government would be reimbursed by the league
for funds SO advanced-the funds to be used in
fitting out quarters and providing the necessary
machinery for the conference. That this agree
ment was acceptable to congress is apparent
from the fact that at the last moment an made
quate appropriation was made bu4 not until aft
er funds had been advanced by the British treas
ury. The American appropriation did not be-
come available until three and half weeks at.
er the start Of the conference and just about one
week before the conference had determined to
adjourn.
Congress was asked to advance 100000 10
carry the conference for 60 days. all funds I'M
used to revert to the United States treasury and
the government to be reimbursed for all funds
used. Congress eventually appropriated $65.000
which became available so late that Great Brit
am IN the meantime had to advance funds in or
der that this country might entertain From
these funds the aforementioned American flag
was bought The conference to date has cost
approximately S125000, to be paid out Of the
league Of nations treasury. Several days ago the
advance by the United States congress Of S65.-
600 became available and it is doubtful whether
any OF it will be used. The story of our penury
has gone broadcast through the necessity of ap-
peallng to Great Britain to supply funds The
delegates to the labor conference from all parts
OF the world are acquainted with it,