Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-10-25
EVENTS or A WEEK

EVENTS OF A WEEK
- During the week there has been q getting together
Of the elements in tho senate opposed to the ratification
OF the peace treaty without change, and a tentative
agreement is reported on a set Of reservations which are
said to have the support OF those who are opposed to any
League of Nations, those who have advocated amend
ments or strong reservations, ana those described as
mild reservationists. Reserva tons upon which this
agreement is based have been reported by the foreign re-
Nations committee. the majority program this time having
the support Of all the Republican members and OF one
Democrat, Senator Shields.
In the senate at large the support Of all the - TIE
puolicans and of six Democrats is claimed for the new
observation program. That would insure the adoption
u the reservations, but it would still be possible for the
remaining Al senators to reject the resolution Of ratficas
ton with these reservations included. as on this resolu-
sion a two-thirds majority is necessary. Still further,
should the senate adopt such a resolution, it would re-
main for the president to act.
The president has said that he would construe the
reservation with reference to Article x first proposed by
the committee a rejection of the treaty. The new rcscr-
walton, although changed somewhat, in form, is almost
identical in substance with the former one. hence 1t is
assumed that the presidents interpretation will stand
with reference to the pending reservation. In that case
his course would be to report to tho conference that the
United States had rejected the treaty, and the machinery
for the framing Of a new treaty would have to be set in
motion. Inasmuch as France and Great Britain have
already ratified, and Italian ratification awaits only the
action of parliament which is regarded as certain, the
confusion in the situation is apparent.
. .
In view Of the fact that next year is a presidential
year, and that party men all over the country are con-
sidering presidential possibilities, the political bearing
Of the. situation becomes both interesting and important.
Most political writer's agree that Mr.. Wilson can have
the! Democratic nomination next year if he wants it, if
for no other reason than that the prospect for any other
Democratic candidate is not Inviting. We have seen no
intirnation by any writer Of note as to the presidents at
titude or desire in the matter. but there appears to be a
feeling that II any incentive should be needed to bring
Mr. Wilson again into the field. the approach Of tho cleo
ton with the League of Nations still unfinished business
would supply it, and that Mr.. Wilson would be quite
likely to 60 before the country as a candidate, with the
League Of Nations squarely before the people as the issue
to be determined The subject presents interesting pos
sibHities, and at present one mans opinion on them seems
to be as good as another's.
The industrial conference, called to consider in a
broad way questions affecting the Industrial situation,
split on the rock of collective bargaining, and two of its
three sections have withdrawn. 1t Is worth while to OBJ
serve the steps which led to the disruption of the gather
ing. 1t has been decided that on major questions the
sathering should act by groups, and that a resolution to
be of force must receive the affirmative vote of a ma
jority in each of the three groups. representing, respec-
lively, capital. labor and the public. A resolution en-
dorsing the principle OF collective bargaining was pro-
posed by the labor group and endorsed by a large major
tty OF the public section. In tho capital section it was
defeated by one vote, hence, under the rules. 1t failed and
IL was impossible for the conference to proceed on the
basis Of collective bargaining, although a majority in two
~ AnA{4-e 49, - 11~~o ~o3o~;%. ~ IL -. l:.,.. -
bership were in, favor of it. In commenting on the result
Dr.. Charles w. Eliot, the venerable president emeritus
sitting as a member of the public group. denounced the
rule as impossible" but the rule had it's effect, and the
conference broke up.
While the>trouble was developing the president sent
a personal letter to the conference, urging all the mem.
bers to remain at work in an effort to achieve something
of value. Members OF the labor section, however, said
that the defeat Of the resolution, embodying one Of their
cardinal principles. made it impossible for them to be
ofsfurther service. and withdrew. The capital group fol.
lowed, leaving the public group alone 10 continue its
deliberations. In view Of tho fact that this group is OF
varied complexion, with its members drawn from widely
separated fields OF thought and activity, it is not YET
certain that something worth while may not come from
~ deliberations, although the withdrawal of the other
two sections was a bitter disappointment to all who had
hoped for q harmonious gathering.
1.-THE country Is now within a few days Of the proba.
btltty OF another great and disastrous strike. The soft
coat miners, to the number Of half 4 million, have voted
so#atrike on October 81 unless their wage and other de
faandsT are granted. and all efforts thus far put forth tc
Sssabtza4E the two sides together have been fruit1ess. The
ssexetary Of labor has held several conferences with. mine
oraEators ana strike leaders. but no plan which he and
III associates have proposed has been received viii
k9y4r by eitner side. The disposition just now seems to
sb4Io fight Is ont The prospect Of beginning winter with
a1Ettaie great soft coat mines closed Is not reassuring. and
s14Nasaons are made that unless there is an agreement
st Al ssoyernment must take q hand and see that in some
s11Ss q other the mines are kept open,
.N%sgN1tnodt warning another Industrial problem ha.