Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-01-29

value Of the Swift, Swift international
and Libby, Mcneil & Libby concerns.
II see no remedy for this whole
situation" Honey summed up, with his
J fist hitting the table sharply, Except
government ownership and operation
OF the refrigerator cars, the icing
plants, the stock cars, the stockyards,
the branch houses and the cold stor-
age houses.
Licensing will be of no more avail
than the bite of a mosquito on the
hide of a rhinoceros."
In the meantime, the packers, with
the aid Of their soup-bone press, are
securing a new kind of whitewash.
Some of their representatives are ap-
pearing before the senate committee
and their congressional friends are
asking leading questions to draw out
their supposed virtues. The big press
is reporting full accounts of what
these representatives say and at the
same time is killing the testimony of
much different kind offered by At
torney Heney and other representa-
tives of the trade commission and the
people.
How shocked, for instance, the con-
gressional friends of the packers were
when Armour told them the packers
were not called before the Investigate
ing board of the federal trade COM
mission! The surprise and indigna-
ton Is for public consumption, for
they we'll know that the packers were
not called because they refused to
come unless they were granted i'm
munity from prosecution for any
crimes that might be confessed
War on IIliteracy.
Congressman Baer of North Dakota
has introduced a bill to create a de-
partment of education and human
welfare. The bill provides for COM
bination of all the educational &C.
tivities of the government and the
elimination of duplication in such
work as is now carried on. It proposes
a close cooperation between the fed
eral and state governments to elimin-
ate illiteracy, equalize educational
opportunities, and promote steady
employment. It proposes real indus
trial workshops where trades would
be taught by combining work and
study.
The discovery of over 100000 illit-
crate men Of draft age in the United
States has been enough of shock to
the public to greatly increase interest
in education. Many prominent educa-
tors have already announced their
support of the League congressmans
bill and volunteered assistance.
Peace Conference on Russia.
The first important decision Of the
peace conference appears to be an I'M
expected stand on the Russian ques-
ton. According to reports, the con-
ference, after three-day discussion,
adopted statement of position by
President Wilson, including the fol-
lowing principles:
"They (the allied governments) re-
gard the Russian people as their
friends, not their enemies, and was
willing to help them in any way they
are willing to be helped.
"They recognize the absolute right
Of the Russian people to direct their
own affairs without dictation or direc.
tion Of any kind from outside. They
do not wish to exploit or make use Of
Russia In any way.
They recognize the revolution
without reservation and will in no way
and in no circumstances aid to give
countenance to any attempt at a
counter revolution"
This Is such reversal of the previ-
Gus position that it occasions distrust
as we'll as surprise. 1t may mean that
we are to let Russia alone, or it may
mean merely that the liberal senti-
ment in the allied countries demanded
surface concessions and that opposi
ton to the soviet government of Rus
STA will continue in other forms. The
proposal of a conference composed of
three representatives Of each of the
many factions in Russia would leave
the great radical faction hopelessly
outvoted The future alone will show
what Is in the wind.