The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-09-27

bolshevist vessels and sank four OF
them, ther, after concentrating against
Kronstadt The fortress was bonn
barded and the city set on fire.
The situation in Upper Silesia Is
confused and confusing. The Germans
and he Poles are fighting each other
in a desultory fashion there, and both
are contending with the striking
workers of the country who have be-
come so violent that the German au-
thorities proclaimed martial law.
The new German constitution has
Just gone into effect, and summary
of it has been made public in Amer
lea. II seems to be in most respects
an admirable document, designed to
establish and maintain a moderate
and commendable form of republican
government, more strongly centralized
than our own. The powers Of the
president are very great. The equal
| tty of all men and women before the
law is asserted, and titles of nobility
are abolished except "as a part OF
! PERSONS name" 1t is noticeable. how
! ever. that Germany is still called an
| empire. 1t may be added as matter
| of interest, that the former kaiser has
| just bought place of residence IN
| Holland, and that current reports of
his fast failing health are fatty con-
tradicted by correspondent who sees
William nearly every day.
Uncle Sans war against the prof
iteers and hoarders went on steadily
if not so swiftly as the victims of the
H. G. Of L. might have hoped. The
| ultimate consumer hailed with en-
thuslasm the assertion by Attorney
| General Palmer that the small retail
| ers as well as the big retailers and
| the wholesalers are going to feel the
heavy hand of the department of JUS
tice. He appeared before the house
committee on agriculture to discuss
| proposed amendments to the food con-
troll act, and argued against a pro-
vision that would exempt from prose,
cution as profteers those retailers
who do an annual business below
100000. Many of the complaints OF
extortionate prices, he said, are
against the small dealers and he add
ed he would feel hopeless if he were
restricted to the larger dealers. Mr.
Palmer also asked the committee tt
withdraw the proposed provision Civ
ing the president authority to fix
prices. This, he said, he considered
unnecessary and calculated to provoke
too much discussion. The only amend
mems he favored were one extending
the scope of the act to include wear
ing apparel and containers of foods
feeds and fertilizers. and one impos
ing a penalty of $1,000 or imprison
ment for two years for profiteering.
! The great quantities of foodstuffs
which have been seized in various
cities by the agents of the department
of justice will not be placed on the
market until proper court proceedings
| have been completed. Meanwhile the
government Is disposing of it's vas
surplus army stores practically a
4 cost, and the way in which hundreds
of thousands of people struggle for ;
chance to buy these commodities II
sufficient evidence of their need.
The actors strike, after spreading
to Chicago, became so stubborn /
struggle there that the unions of mu
sicans and stage hands were called
on for help, with the result that near
ly every theater was obliged to close
Efforts to end the strike amicably In
New York were fruitess, and it wa
said there 1t might be extended to GOV
er the entire country and all hal
shows, including the movies.
Within week there probably will
\ be conference between the official.
of the steel workers unions and rep
resentatives of the United States Stee
corporation. If it Is refused by thu
latter, committee headed by Samue
Gompers is empowered 10 call strike
forthwith. The corporation maintains
the open shop, and the unions wish tt
present TO 1t rather portentous lis
of u basic demands.
Cudahy Wis, and Hammond, Ind.
were the scenes of strike riots ant
state troops were hurried to hotf
places to restore order, which they
did.
The farmers have won their fghi
against daylight saving, for although
the rest Of the population Is unani
nous In Its favor, the bill for repea
of the law was passed by both house
md senate over the veto of President
W;J-~o