The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-01-08

ers, and last week it was announced
that the latter had agreed, admittedly
under government pressure, to discard
all their interests except those directly
connected with the handling of the
nations supply of meat. More than a
billion dollars will be involved in the
disposing of the side lines the packers
have been handling, but it is stated
the bulk of their business will not be
affected. The ''unscrambling process
really began last summer when Swift
: & Co. gave up their leather business
and their foreign business to new COM
panies.
Reorganization of the packers is ex-
pected to follow virtually the plan OF
breaking up the Standard Oil company
and the method provided in the Inter
national Harvester company agree
ment in 1918. OF course, the primary
object of the department of justice
III this is to bring about lowering of
prices Of foodstuffs. Whether or not
this will be the result is uncertain. The
representatives of the packers were
noncommittal on this point, and many
persons were of opinion that there
would be tendency to increase prices
through abolition of the control that
now exists. If the process of unscram-
bling does no more financial harm to
the packers than it has done to capt.
talists in previous instances, they need
not worry on that score.
At the opening of the week the news
was cabled from Fiume that D'Annun-
zio was to hand over that city at once
to regular Italian troops, commanded
by General Caviligia, former minister
of war, and that France, Great Britain
and Italy had agreed that Italy should
have complete sovereignty over Fiume
and that all the provisions of the pact
of London would be carried out. The
alleged agreement was not confirmed,
and at this writing D'Annunzio is still
holding the city. The truth seems to
be that he was asked to give it up on
the promise by the Italian government
that it would be held by regulars, at
least until the Adriatic question was
finally settled. But a large part of his
garrison is strongly objecting to this
arrangement. His officers and soldiers
are living in luxury there, receiving
much higher pay than they would as
part Of the regular army, and prospects
for work in Italy are bad. Consequent
~ they insist that they be permitted
to remain as the garrison, and the
task of ousting them promises to be
difficult.
Just what the London conference
discussed and what decisions it reach
ed, if any, is not known at this time.
as no official statement has been is
sued. Doubtless there was a lot of talk
about the peace treaty deadlock. in
the American senate, and certain Eu
ropean correspondents were insistenf
in their assertions that the British
and French were ready and willing to
accept any reasonable reservations the
senate might make in order to assure
the cooperation of America. The Eu-
ropean diplomats realize the urgent
need for an early declaration of peace,
say these correspondents, and one of
them asserts that Ambassador JUS
serand for weeks has been trying to
see President Wilson to assure him
that the senate's reservations are ac-
ceptable to France.
Meanwhile the sentiment in congress
in favor of a compromise is growing
stronger daily, though the president
and the Republican majority continue
to "pass the buck back and forth.
Senator Underwood, who is candi-
date for the place Of minority leader
in opposition to Senator Hitchcock,
came forward as an advocate of peace
at any price" He said that the presi-
dent, when he declared he had no con-
cession Of any kind to offer and that
all the responsibility rested on the Re
publicans was merely giving notice to
the senators to get buoy and compro-
mise among themselves before asking
him to compromise. Mr.. Hitchcock
proposed the appointment of CON
citation committee for compromise in
a spirit of give and take. Senator
Knox again attempted to have the SEN
ate sidetrack the League of Nations
and pass a resolution ~ratifying the
treaty "in so far as it restores the
status of peace between the United
States and Germany" but he was
blocked by objections.
Whether or not the Germans are
taking advantage of the unpleasant
treaty situation. they certainly are
haggIing a lot over the signing of the