Evening star., 1920-02-29
THE STORY THE WEEK HAS TOLD

tiously. Opinion in that country seems to be
that the final treaty will make the contin-
uance of Turkish rule in Constantionople de-
pendent upon the good behavior of the Turks.
Interest in tho national labor situation GEN.
tered during the week upon what the action
Of tho President would be upon the railroad
bill passed by the House Saturday the
21st. and by the Senate upon Monday. The
bill reached the Presidents hands for final
action upon Wednesday and was Immediately
followed by memorials from the railway broth
erhoods. the Farmers National Council and
the American Society Of Equity, urging that
he veto the measure. Meanwhile the bill had
been sent from the White House to the Attor-
ney General for opinion to its const
tutionality and legal aspects.
Yesterday the President signed the bi11. and
starting tomorrow the business Of returning
the roads to private control may thus be
begun No wiser counsel. it is generally felt,
could have been followed by the labor inter-
ests involved than that evidenced by the spirit
in which they have met successive disap-
pointments in their fight against the legisla-
ton. Setting aside the question of the merit
of their objections to the bill framed. their
fight has been recognized throughout as 1egit-
imately contended. The threat Of a retalfa-
tory strike was killed in their own councils.
Their disposition. along with other affected
interests. to resort to the duly constituted
methods of affecting the changes they desire
in the law of the nation will irrespective OF
whether directly successful or not draw gen.
erous dividends in renewed public confidence.
While the appointment of Mr.. Rainbridge
Colby to succeed Mr.. Lansing in the office OF
Secretary of State came as a surprise to
the nation. the shock fell upon a partially
numbed consciousness. Those who know
have said that after being hit by one rihe
ball the second seems a matter of small mo-
ment. One wonders dispassionately what
next" With the understanding that the above
parallel applies only regarding shock. 1t
outlines generally the reaction Of Jim and
lane to the rapid developments at the State
Department.
little is known Of Mr. Colby's qualifications
for the very high Office he is called upon to
fill. Politically, he has established reputa-
tion for entire independence Of parties or
leaders He has been described as liberal"
in domestic affairs There is no question but
that broadly speaking at least, his mind goes
along with Mr.. Wilson'S
The general Impression. both in Washing
ton and abroad through the country, seems
70 be that it was this latter qualification which
nrirmarily recommended him for the portfolio.
Nor does there when all Is said and DONE
seem to Jim and Jane to be anything extraor-
dinarv in that it should be so. Mr. Wilson
has ever shown a readiness to be his own
minister of foreign affairs. In the hnal anal
ysis he is in any event. alone responsible
for the conducting Of diplomatic relations dur
ing his administration. mind to go along
With his would seem to be a distinct advan-
taee. IL not a necessity. to the nation In these
critical. times.
X + X
The week witnessed An extraordinary twist
in the history of the universal military train
ing provisions Of the House Army reorganiza-
ton bill Two weeks ago these provisions
were being generally urged by republicans and
resisted by the minority democrats The DEM
ocratic caucus on the subject. at which 1t
was determined to fight the training features
of the pending legislation. despite the admin
istration request that support be accorded 1t,
will be recalled. Speculation as to the out
come Of what was expected to be sharply
defined party struggle on the moor of the
House was rife.
And then. quite Of a sudden. the House mil
itaxy affairs committee, by bipartisan vote.
but in response to the demand Of republican
leaders decided to exclude universal military
training from the provisions Of the bin in