The courier-index., 1920-01-09

III Lllt DtIllu.
 able chiefly because of the language in which they are couched. Advices from London and Paris lead to the belief that if such objections were removed the other great powers would not hes itate to accept the American reserva- tions. They all feel that without the participation of the United States the League of Nations would be a phan- tom thing, and in the words of Gen. eral Shuts: "The machinery of the league Is wanted to save civilization from dissolving into fragments, from falling into decay. It alone can save tottering Europe"
 One London correspondent says most Englishmen with knowledge of world affairs would not be unpleased to see the league plan fail, because they de sire an Anglo-Franco-American alli- ance rather than league in which ev- cry little nation would have equal pow CTS with the great nations.
 French officials were disappointed but not surprised by the action of the American senate. They are more in- terested just now in the fate of the Franco-American defense pact. It Is taken for granted that the allied pow CTS will put the Versailles treaty into effect not later than December l. Be fore this is done, Germany must sign ho ko hA fu man delegates are objecting to the pro- vision requiring them to make repara- tion for the warships sunk in Scapa Flow and want to argue the question.
 So far the governments legal vic tory over the striking coal miners has proved but hollow. The union leaders said no court action could compel the men to work, and up to the present they have made good on that proposi- tion. In some fields some mines have resumed operation, but the number Is so small that the situation Is growing decidedly desperate. Many trains have been cancelled and industries all over the country are becoming alarmed.
 When he opened the conference be tween the operators and the mine un- ion leaders in Washington, Secretary of Labor Wilson told them they must get together. Later Fuel Administra- tor Garfield laid before the scale com mittees figures that demonstrated these two things:
 That the 60 per cent increase de handed by the miners is unreason- able and impossible.
 That the operators have a margin heretofore paid out in excess profit taxes upon which to base an increase of wages to the miners without neces- sitating a rise in the price of coal to the public.
 Dr.. Garfield then told the conferees that the country must and should have coal, and while he uttered no threats, It was the belief in Washington that If an agreement were not reached. the government would resort to extreme measures. What these would be can only be conjectured, though 1t may be 1t would follow the example of Kansas and North Dakota, where the state has taken over the operation of the mines by proclamation of the governor. Again 1t can only be guessed how, in such case, laborers would be obtained.
 Meanwhile Director General Hines everything possible to conserve the na- hon's supply of coal and to distribute It equitably. He has forbidden any unnecessary use of fuel by railroads and industrial plants. Also he has placed a censorship on all news con- cerning the coal situation because, he said, of false rumors that had been attributed to officials of the administra- ton. Mir. Hines is especially endeav- bring to keep as much traffic and in- dustry moving as is possible and is re- vlsing freight traffic to reduce unnec- essary mileage. The announced pri- ority In allowances and deliveries is being continued. So far there has been no embargo placed on freight.
 7 In Colorado another strike of coal miners was called on Friday by the district president because of allega- tons that not all the striking miners had been given unemployment. Those who were not taken back, said the op- orators, were connected with the l. w. w. Hundreds of miners in the New River fields of West Virginia who had returned to work quit again because the operators had discontinued the "check off" system for the collection of union dues.
 President Wilson has taken the ad- vice of'the group representing the pub lie in the recent futile industrial cor