The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1919-10-09

T0rcOm TO be presented TO PRESIDENT w
Baltic front, 1t desires peace and
friendly relations with the new states
formed in that region. OF course it
would then be able to turn most Of it's
attention to the East, where Admiral
KOlchak is reported to have had sew
eral notable successes recently.
Japan, according to report, has been
asked by the United States to pledge
formally the return of Shantung to
China. and to set a date for the restO-
ration. AT the time Of writing no re-
ply had been received from Tokyo,
and the japanese foreign office de-
MED that any such note had been re-
ceived from Washington. In state
ments issued in California. in reply to
lists of questions asked him. President
Wilson asserted that the League of
Nations would have a powerful effect
IN forwarding the final restoration of
Sh%antung to China, and that no other
fundamentally or action could be sub
stituted which could bring about that
result. In one of his San Francisco
addresses he said the great powers
had Japan's promise to return Shan
tung to China. and intended to see
that it was fulfilled under the league.
His colleagues at Versailles. he said,
told him they meant under the leagre
to inaugurate a new policy toward
China.
Another subject taken up by the
president in bis nswe TO questions
and in his speeches was the Irish ques-
ton. This. he asserted. could prop
erly be brought up in the council of
the league under article XXI. (which
makes it the right Of every member
Of the league to draw attention to any
thing anywhere that is likely to dis
turb the peace Of the world or the
good understanding between nations,
upon which the peace of the world de-
pends." The covenant would not bind
the United States to assist In puttinge
down rebellion in any foreign u
try, he said. nor would it limit the
power of this country to recognize the
independence of any people who seek
to secure freedom. He explained that
Ireland was not given a hearing at the
peace conference because the confer
ence had no Jurisdiction W ques-
lions of that sort that affected terri
tories that did not belong to the de-
feated empires.
The Irish-American opponents of the
league were far from satisfied with
this reply. and especially did they dis
like what they termed the presidents
righteousness. They asked him to
answer point-blank the question: Are
you in favor of self-determinatiOn for
Treland?' and requested a reply by
September %. when the Irish execu-
five committee meets in New York. 1t
does not seem possible that they ex-
pect a "~yes-or-no' answer to such a
question.
Some one must have whispered a
warning to Mr.. Wilson concerning the
resentment caused by his general at
tacks on all senators who do not favor
ratification of the treaty as it stands.
for last week his speeches were
much more conciliatory. and he eve
had good words to say concerning the
mild reservationists." But his ex-
pressed opinion of the B~orah-Johnson
group had not changed. Throughout
the country there is evident a de-
termination to learn definitely what
the treaty and covenant mean, and the
crowds that flock to hear the presi-
dent and the opposition senator's are
not actuated solely by curiosity to see
and hear notables. Each in his own
way. and from his own standpoint. the
speakers are trying to enlighten the
people, and 1t is especially crafty
ing to note that Mr.. Wilson is more
explicit in his explanations of the
articles over which the main contests
have arisen.
The national committee for organic
ing iron and steel workers announced
that the great steel strike would be-
gin Monday, September %, according
to schedule. since every effort to hold
a conference with Chairman Gary of
the United States Steel corporation
had failed. Mr.. Gary issued a state
ment explaining his refusal on two
grounds: First, that he did not be-
Iieve the committee was authorized to
speak for large numbers of the en-
ployees; second, that a conference
with the committee would have been
by II is a recognition of the \
closed shop method Of employment.
which method the corporation Is de-
termined not to countenance, since It
destroys the workers personal indie
pendence and ambition to succeed and
prosper. The organizing committee re-
piled that these two reasons are false.