Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1920-12-30
news REVIEW or
CURRENT EVENTS
Hasdlng's Plan for Association
Of Nations Reaching Defi-
mite Form.
MORE CABINET PREDICTIONS
Dawes May Head Commission to Reor-
eanixe Government Service-House
Passes Farmers Relief Tariff
BILL Scandal In Coal
b Prices Uncovered.
b. EDWARD w. PlcKARp.


President-elect Harding's confer
ences at Marion with the "best minds"
though by no means ended, seem al
ready to have resulted in the crystal
liking of certain of his policies into
definite form. OF course the two that
arouse the greatest public interest are
those relating to foreign affairs and
the League Of Nations, and to the plan
for recognizing the nations business
and establishing it on more econom-
ic basis.
In discussing an association of ma
lions, there is no evidence that Mr..
Harding has converted to his own
views such irreconcilables as Senators
Borah and Reed, or even Mr.. Bryan,
whose invitation to Marion aroused
the ribald laughter of the paragraph
ers. But Mr.. Harding seems to have
brought his theories into form fit for
presentation to the world. According
to what is said to be authoritative In
formation, he believes the first APP
proach to the formation Of his "asso-
citation Of nations" should be to OBJ
tain the assent of the five leading ma
tions, the United States, Great Britain,
France, Italy and Japan, his theory
being that, once these nations have
Joined, the other nations will fall in
line. The basis of this association is
70 be q world court to deal with justi-
ciable questions.
IN <ho%
ten Of nations can succeed without
the Endorsement Of the leaders of pub
lie thought, in America and elsewhere,
and that these leaders must reach
agreement in the essentials, leaving
details to be settled later; that all
governing features must be eliminated
from the association, each nation re-
manning free to make its own de-
cisions; that the agreement must be
apecfflc enough to prevent the posi-
nifty Of an offensive and defensive
MILITARY alliance of the five great
pewers, and the association of ma
items itself must place all nations on
an equal footing In the presentation
Qe their views on matters of world
policy.
Gen. Charles Gates Dawes, the Chi
cago banker, who is said 20 be the
leading probability for appointment as
head Of commission to reorganize
the government service, was one Of
, the weeks visitors in 7 Marion and
talked with the president-elect espe-
eiaiiy on the reduction Of government
tai expenses and its relation to taxa
tion. After the interview General
Dawes said:
II found that Senator Harding al
ready knew more than / did concern
ing this, and that the effort to reor-
ganize the government upon an eco
nomical basis is one of the tasks to
which he proposes to devote himself
NEST energetically. From conversa-
ten with him it is evident that he has
this great and needed reform constant
u In his mind. Considering that here
tofofe no continued and firm effort
has been made, this determination Of
tn President-elect to make this re-
Term one of his first efforts, means
tAa$ It will be accomplished"
&snAtor and Mrs. Harding are go
Ing to Florida next month to spend
eevsral weeks as the guests of Sena-
~ Frelinghuysen Of New Jersey.
ReMibly before they start announce
Oant Of the selections for the cabinet
viii be made. It Is believed Mr..
AArding's first choice for secretary of
state now Is either Senator Knox or
ChsFlss Evans Hughes, and that If
~. Hugss declines he viii be appoint