Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-01-25
EVENTS OF WEEK

preme council of the peace conference at Paris Is tnat
relating to Russia. Briefly, that decision is that repre-
sentatives of all the factions exercising governmental
functions over the fragments of the old Russian empire
are invited to meet with representatives OF the peace
conference on an island in the Black sea, there to dis
cuss the permanent adjustment Of Russian affairs. Four
conditions are prescribed as essential to any adjustment.
These are: First, immediate cessation of fighting be-
tween and within the several territorial sections; second,
freedom to trade and communication throughout the en-
tire territory. in order that food and other supplies nay
be distributed; third, elections on a representative basis:
fourth. adequate arrangements for the payment OF DEBTS.
. Il
While it was announced that the decision to invite
such a conference, to which representatives Of the Boil
sheviki should be admitted as well as others, was made
unanimously, it is not in accordance with the previously
announced French view, and a good deal of adverse
comment from other quarters is heard. The British
and American delegations took the lead in reaching this
decision, but no information is available as to whether
or not other powers than France were reluctant to agree
to the plan.
The objections seem to center around the recognition
Of the Bolshevik faction which is in control of the Soviet
government in old Russia. But, if that organization can
be induced to meet the conditions prescribed, which
conditions are all directly contrary to the plans and polio
les Of the Bolsheviki as hitherto carried out, Bolshevtk
control will be ended by the carrying out Of those con-
ditions. 1t must be confessed that at this distance it
does not appear probable that the Bolshevik government
will consent to ehace itself in this fashion. But, If it
does accept the conditions, which are elementary to all
orderly government, the Soviet government of Old Rus
STA will have placed itself beyond the pale of civilization.
and will be in no position to complain of any further
steps that the allied governments may find it necessary
to take.
#... -- = . ~
Tho corn,an elections held last Sunday resulted in
the Overwhelming defeat OF the extreme factions. In the
new assembly the entire group of extremists and terror
lists will be represented by but a handful of ,delega.es
The party Of greatest strength in the assembly will be
the so-called Majority Socialists, of which group, in the
main, the present provisional government is made up.
AS the outcome of the election the creation Of a German
republic along socanstic, but fairly conservative lines,
is generally expected. The assembly will convene at
Weimar on February 6, and is expected to be in session
about two months. It will formulate a constitution and
take other steps looking toward the arrangement Of the
affairs of the nation on a permanent basis.
A fact which may merit more than passing atten-
ton is that in the German elections the election device
known as proportional representation was employed on
the largest scale in its history. That plan is intended
to insure to every group except the numerically insignih-
cant some representation in the constituent body. 1t is
employed in some of the smaller European countries,
ri NAAA AL AAoAy SAtAeS SAA ou6AOuI Liz OT1U ASnLaDula,
Ohio, and Kalamazoo. Mich, being among the American
cities which have adopted it. But the method has never
before been employed in the general election of a nation
OF seventy million people. We may suppose that the
application q this plan on so large a scale will receive
attention from students of civics everywhere.
One Of the subjects which has occupied congress
sional attention is the proposed legislation to provide
for the taking over Of certain important items of the
meat packing business by the federal government. The
pending bill was prepared in accordance with the rec.
ommendation of the federal trade commission. the De-
ctLiarity Of whose reports on the meat industry has been
the subject Of much comment in the past For several
days representatives Of the great packing companies
have been examined before the house interstate COM
merce committee which has the bill in charge. Among
the statements made by these witnesses is that when the
commission was conducting its investigation some months
ago no representative of the packing interests, was per-
nitted to testify, but on the strength Of ex par,e ,eur1-