Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-01-01
Domestic Affairs

! D0meSIlC Affairs
The return of the United States to
condition of peace was not accom-
plished easily. Unusual conditions ex
listed and the people of the countr!
were confronted with problems tha
had been unknown in the days before
the war
The adoption Of nationwide prohi
btion and the submission by congress
of the constitutional amendment for
complete woman's suffrage were inn
portant events of the year. Ratifica-
ton of the national prohibition amend
ment came early in the year with a
rapidity that surprised the nation. On
January % the state department pro-
claimed the ratification of the amend
ment and set January Is, 1920, as the
date when it would become effective.
On January 8 Attorney General Greg
DRY rendered his resignation, to become
effective March 4, and A. Mitchell Pal
mer was appointed to succeed him on
February. n. On January II Walker
/ u. Hines was appointed director gem
eral of railroads to succeed William
| G. McAd0o.
The governments first blow at the
radicals during the year was deliv-
cred on January when Congressman
Victor L. Berger and four other So
cialist leaders were found guilty by
federal jury in Chicago of conspirine
to interfere with the successful con-
duct of the war. On February IS they
were sentenced to 20 years imprisOn
ment.
On March Herbert Hoover was
appointed by the president to be di-
rector general of American relief |
among the population of Europe.
Because of the necessity for legis- |
lation to meet the new after-war con-
ditions, President Wilson on May Z by |
cable from Paris, called a special seS-
sion of congress to convene May 10.
On May 10 the campaign for the Vic
tory Liberty loan, the last popular war
loan. closed with q heavy OverSub-
scription of the S4,50O000,O00 bond
issue.
The special session of the Sixty
sixth congress opened on May 10 with
abe Republicans in control of both
house and senate for the first time
since 1912. The house of representa-
tiyes was organized by the election of
Gillett of Massachusetts
as speaker. In the senate Senator
Cummins of Iowa was elected presi-
dent pro TEN.
One of the first acts of the new
house was to pass the woman suffrage
to the Constitution by
vote of 304 to 50. The amendment
was again brought up in the senate on {
Iune 4 and this time was adopted by {
/ vote of SO to %.
The activities of anarchistc ele- {
nents were manifested on June c
when bombs were exploded simutan- t
,ously at the residences of ten men in f
light Eastern cities. e
On July the wartime emergency
Prohibition act went into effect and n
or the first time in history the sale n
4 liquor was Illegal throughout the d
Jnited States. On July - President | ]
wilson vetoed the agricultural apprO- C.
ration bill because of rider re- o
ealing the daylight saving law. Con il
ress promptly passed a separate bill N
apealing the daylight saving law and p,
hen President Wilson vetoed this al
leasure, both houses passed the bill al
yer his veto on August 20. II
The country was aroused during the IL
INNER by series of race riots, the m
rst OF which occurred In Washington dl
! July 81. Four persons were killed Al
the rioting at the capital On July W
the most serious race riots of the
ar began in Chicago. II was found pr
,cessary to call out state troops and VI
fore order had been restored 81 ye
,rsons had been killed and hundreds
jured. LEI
In recognition OF the services which loi
rendered as commander-in-chef of pi'
g American expeditionary forces, gu
neral Pershlng was made a general tut
+ life by act OF congress. His COM toi
ssion was handed to him us he 81
lded on September Of New York by
Ia the First division. Au