The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-01-04
West Virginias State House Destroyed By Fire
ONE MAN KILLED AND A CITY FIREMAN FAT
Disarmament May
Come Through New
League Of Nations
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright by The lntel'iSencer

Washington, Jan. 5. Disarmament
may vet be the basis for tho new asso-
r,atIcn OF nations planned by the next
administration. PRESIDENT Wilson VIII
NOT await himself OF tho privileges given
him by the naval act OF 1915 authoril-
ing tho call Of conference or nations
10 discuss the question OF REDUCTION
NJ aruaments but there are indications
that President Harding Will call such q
conference.
Members Of congress who have been
NJ Marion reflect Senator Harding
views on naval armament as somewhat
dIssinilar from n. attitude or those
IN congress VINO want 10 enter int"
naval agreement with Japan and Great
Britain alone Mr.. Harding is repre-
<cnted as anxious 10 approach the whole
question in an effort TO get general
understanding with all naval building
nations and he IS further said 10 be un-
willing "a See Nmerica. cut down the
size Of h"r navy until definite agree
,nent with the other powers has been
reached,
Preparation Essential.
Perhaps IN" inSlStcnce by the WILSON
administration an completing the blk
buildiug progrant authorized IN 1915 has
been widely misunderstood as q sudden
turn 10 navaliSm and Seltishness. For
e.gu critics have CartooHcd america as
a second Germany. But the ruth IS
the Ideals which ac'uatcd the Wilson
administration nv the too proud to
ugnt" era have not been surrendered. but
lessons taught by. thc war have been
taken 10 heart Men Ike Joscphus
Daniels, who came intu n" navy depart
ment in l91S believing that war was I'M
possible and that Americas entrance
into the European conflict whom il did
arise could be avoided. are not SO trust
tul as before.
With hatred. suspicion. and jealousy
alive in th' world. and with America
"navirg r-tlSed - cnt"r ~" league OF
nations. the necessity ut hcrug prepared
for further International disturbances
IS regarded ~ rsS"at!2i. IN other words.
the Wilson administration Is just as
trustful as il ever was. Of other rat!ons
but IS sees the du'y OF the present hour
IS one Of caution and preparedness
letting changes IN pvl'cy he made only
when all other nations have signed on
he dotted line pledge 70 stop building
ships or preparing Tor war.
WIN Be Resisted.
Every effort to cut down the size or
The navy will hc resisted by the pres
4nt administration until an information
II agreement is reached with other ma
lions. All resolutions looking toward
he limiting OF rmamentS OF Japan ana
England alone will be rejected. For tho
disposition OF tho navy depar rtment here
s TO look upon the Borah proposal as
hothing more nor less than the begin
oing of a political alliance with Japan
md England. The Wilson administra-
ion is naturally ErItified that Senator
Horah has Seen the necessity OF an In
ternatlOnsl agreement of some kind and
nas given up the position nc took dur
ing the campaign that he didn't want
any political alliance or agreement with
any nation. but so long "a the proposal
contemplatcs only three nations and
does not include all the powers OF the
Globe. Il will not have the sanction OF
the present administration.
Moreover 10 call an in,erna tional con-
tcrence now would mean 4 racet;rg not
.arlicr than the last OF February or the
first Of March when the Harding ad-
ninistration would De- coming into
powcr SO Il - practically certain tina:
10 move toward the assumption Of re-
:ponSIbiNty for such conference wia
- made until after March 1.
Harding's Position.
Meanwhile II cannot b" takcu tOr
granted that congress will cut down
Ihe size OF the American navy. as Il
4 reported that Senator Harding does
lot want any move made that might
AXE the cards out Of his hand when
le sits down with the representatives
II other nations 10 discuss the reduc-
Ion Of armaments everywhere. Senator
Harding IS Qeep.y Interested IN the
provisions OF the naval act OK 1916 un-
Ter which the present building program
was launched. lie need not ask con-
Sress for authority. He need not go to
senator's Borph and oJhuson or MEN,
3ers OF any group in the senate for the
aw is already on the statute books and
he appropriation for the expense o.
,uch an international conference IS al.
:eady made. Mr.. Wilson didn't call the
Conference because he believed the
League OF Nations would tackle the
question. 1t has. Rut America being an
outsider could not participate officially
n the discussions Of armam mont. Il iy
lot impossible that the European na-
lions will send TO Washington the
same men who have been members "E
he League OF Nations commission on
armament Through the question os
disarmament the whole subject Of in:
ternational cooperation may be open
ii anew and the way paved for ar
lsreemcnt with the rest OF the nations
5f the world TO prevent war and pre-.
serve peace. Disarmament has come
concretely before the peoples of the
world. including america, through the
.normous tax programs Involved. The
Wilson admsn!stvot. ton by sticking 10
It's naval building program has cm,
= bnhas!zed the necessity ot international
and som" kiDd OF League
= NATIONS. That's why any effective
move inward disarmament will havs
me approval Of Tn" Democrats in con,
grass even after the Wilson admins.
trat!on pasSes out OF power.
ALICE IIQIuQR WENT