Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1920-04-21
BY JAMES p. HoRNADAY.

By JANIS p. HoRNADAY.
Washington.-If there is anyone In
public life who knows just what sta
ton the United States occupies in the
family of nations since the second re-
lection of the treaty of peace with
Germany he is not talking out loud
The new secretary OF state. Balm
bridge Colby, realizes that he VIII
have many unusual international
problems TO deal with so long as the
United States declines TO 90 along
with her allies in the war In making
peace with Germany and Austria, and
he does not hesitate 20 so express him
self. on the surfare of things cordial
relations between the United States
and all the governments of the world.
even including Germany and Austria,
will be maintained. but IL Is well I'M
derstOod by all persons acquainted
with International usages that so long
as the United States withholds its
assent 10 world peace strained rela-
tions 70 a certain extent are bound TO
exist.
The League of Nations is. of course,
already a going concern 10 some eN-
tent, but every nation that has Joined
the league realizes that unless the
United States shall eventually become
a member. the league scheme for pre-
serving world peace will sooner or
later go 10 pieces. II is inevitable, ac-
cordIng to the best informed states
meg. that II the United States should
decide 10 20 it alone in world affairs
other great nations would be obliged
TO recast their plans for the future.
Alliances viii Be Formed.
What will happen i'm case the United
States shall eventually decide to stay
out OF the league. so well-informed
statesmen say. is that offensive and
defensive alliances will be formed by
the other great powers. This means
that the world will drop back TO the
general defensive aud offensive poll
cies that prevailed prior to 1914. The
secret treaty will. IL Is asserted. be re-
vivcd and sooner or later every great
power viii be Suspecting the motives
Of nearly every other great power.
Most Of the people OF the United
States. il is believed. by persons who
are in position To speak with some au-
thority. viii continue TO insist that the
United States become a member of the
League of Nations. Persons who take
this view confidently believe that IL
the issue of league or no league
could be submitted to referendum
vote there would be no question about
the league receiving a preliminary ma
jorlty, but the difficulty Is TO get the
question before the people In any con-
crete form. It is generally assumed
that II nothing Is done with the treaty
with Germany between now and June.
each of the old political parties will
insert i'm its national platform a
plank favOring n League of Nations.
II this is done. IL is pointed out. any
election result would throw no guiding
light on the minor questions affecting
the treaty. the questions over which
the senate split. The latest informa-
ton from abroad Is that the European
nations which have already become
members of the League Of Nations
will take a patient attitude with re-
spect 10 the situation that exists in
this country and will keep the league
door open for the United States.
Congress May Adjourn in June.
Now that the senate has returned
the treaty of peace with Germany TO
President Wilson there will be an op-
portunity for that body TO dispose Of
a large accumulation of business. The
senate was in possession of the treaty
little more than eight months and
throughout that period II postponed ac-
ton on all legislation except that
which called for immediate attention.
Il did find time to pass the bill return
Ing the railroads to their owners and
it has disposed OF a good deal of I'M
important legislation. but in a large
way IL laid aside for future action pref
~ much everything Of Importance pro-
posed during the eight months.
The body has planned 10 Join with
the house of representatives to bring
this session TO an end along about June
/. so as TO get out of the way of the
rational political conventions, and the
leaders realize that IL this is TO be
done no time can be wasted from now
on.
A little later the steering commit
tees of the senate and house will de-
eide just what legislation shall be
put through between now and the
conventions. II Is inevitable that n
good many important matters will go
over until after the presidential cleo
ton. which means that they will not
be taken up until the last session Of
this congress. which will begin on the
first Monday OF next December.
Neither OF the political parties as rep
resented 10 congress Is particularly
anxious to explore new legislative
fields on the eve OF presidential cleo
ton: the prevailing tendency Is 10
play safe and wait until after the vot-