The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-03-29

PRESIDENT READY TO TAKE ANY
MEANS TO STOP TROUBLE TO
THE SOUTH OF us.
WHERE ARE MONITOR NATIONS
Seem to Have Fallen Down on the Job
of Keeping Watch and Ward
Over Their Smaller Brother Coun-
tries, L
Bv TOWARD. g. CLARK.

Washington.-Here is the way the
Department. of State put forth q most
pregnant bit Of information
"The Department Of State has re-
quested the Navy department to send
warships to both the Atlantic and the
Pacific sides OF the boundary line be-
tween the republics of Panama and
Costa Rica to protect American lives
and property in the event it is found
that the local authorities are unable
to afford the necessary prOteL ton"
Curious ones in Washington are ask
ing what has become Of the monitor
nations OF Central and South Amer
lea which were to keep watch and
wnrd over their smaller brother coun-
tries, exercise moral suasiOn first, and
then force, il necessary, in order to
keep them in the straight and narrow
way Of peace, the way which leadeth
unto nations salvationA
Everybody knows the names Of the
monitor nations, where they are, and
also knows that they are not up and
doing. If they had been up and do
ing Panama pnd Costa I.ica probably
today would be in. a condition of lamb
like quiet and Uncle Sam would not be
nourisliing the big stick that Theodore
Roosevelt suggested to him as being
scrvicenb!e IN certain contingencies.
Before Mr. Harding came into office
Ms President there were politicians in
pienty who said that he had a dream
Of II grcater United States which would
extend from the Canadian line to the
snulhcrnmost point Of the isthmus Of
Panama. Men here say it. Is pretty
hard to believe that the President had
any such dream as this, and still less
easy to believe that he eyer will fOrmu-
late 81 policy so all-embracing and
frnught, as many men here, regardless
of party say, with peril. but it is
known that the President is ready to
take instant notice OF any trouble to
the south OF rs, and ready to take In
slant means to put a stop to 1t.
Monitor Nation Plan. ~.
! Washington is curious to know 1t
Mr.. Hughes intends to revive the old
monitor nation plan, put life and press
ure into it. pressure on the greater
Latin-Amcrican republics which will
move them to stop minor rows on their
own behalf. and thus relieve the United
States of duties which 1t does not care
to exercise because OF the ill-feeling
which our interference always gener-
atcS. ."aa $50. 81" H.. ....v,p. >-%
Some men seem to have forgotten 1t,
but Elihu Root as secretary Of, state
went to Central and South America
and pleaded for peace and good will,
and seemingly succeeded in laying the
foundation thereof. Memory has 1t
also that Mr.. Knox went to Mexico
City. Mexico was to be one Of the
monitor nations. She has been fine
monitor. The United States has been
busy admonishnig her ever since the
day Of the friendly visits to her capi-
tai
Mr.. Colby. as secretary of state,
went to South America. The salt
tang of the sea voyage is not yet out
OF his nostrils. Peace, good will, and
commerce were the motives of his mis-
sion, and vet here Panama and Costa
RIGA are at each others throats
In this day of the attempt to gel
the world to- settle down after the
biggest war it ever witnessed. 1t is
known to be rather disturbing to the
equanimity of the incoming admins
tration to have two republics, for
whose good conduct this republic has
assumed responsibility in the eyes Of
the world, tackling each other in a
finger nail match. 1t is nothing more
than scratching match, but It has in
1t tho possibilities of a, real fight
America for Americana.
Neither the President nor the sec.
rotary of state wants any OF these ma
tons to the south of us TO appeal to
the league as it exists. The whole
policy Of the present order of things
is America for the Americans, rows
or no rows, and thu America in this
case extends from the Great lakes to
the Strait of Magellan.
There never was an administrat lon