Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-11-10


iority OF people cannot make it worth
while. and il those gigantic Industries
which literally feed thousands of peo-
pie cannot make it worth while. then
n lonal bankruptcy faces all. II is
To avert any such catastrophe here and
abroad. that has caused the repre-
sentatives of the leading powers TO
gather in this city for a discussion of
a way of bringing about peace--mar-
I ti0l md cconomis--and that i'm
mediately.
We Head-0thers Follow.
lnsomuch as President Harding
called the Conference, il is Americas
duty 10 lead the way. The delegates
/ who are here have intimated i'm the
most courteous language that they ex-
pect America 10 lay her cards on the
table, and make complete show
down of what she is willing to do.
Then those same delegates will say
what they can recommend TO their
respective powers. To n certain ex-
tent the situation places our country
/ In bad position. We have got 10
lead, while those who follow us may
follow lit, so 10 speak. or refuse TO
play IN that round. at least. For ex-
aL.pie: If our delegates state autho-i-
tatively that our navy can be limited
to such and such an extent. then the
visitors can say that they can recon-
men but not promise-that their
navy will make a reduction similar in
percentage. II nothing comes OF the
/ Conference but talk, the question vii,
he ra.7cd by some rude folk lacking
I due respect TO the present adninistra
tion. For the love Of Mike why didn't
we reduce as we said that we could
F.. r, dnceg No amount Of argument
viii be able to appease that kind Of
hUman nature.
President Harding has about finish
ca the speech which he is To deliver
when the Conference convenes at 1880
f o'clock Saturday morning. Accord
!ng 10 word from the White House
thls IS 10 be Of the keynote variety,
or what your ward politician would
= denote rs "a whoop 'er talk" In speak.
Ing Of il one may use all the old
bromidial terms. 1t viii formal,
welcome the delegates breath :
spirit Of hope" "diffuse cheer u III,
nations awaiting his word" etc. etc
Somewhere in it-along about tn,
4 m!ddle-he VIII lay down the broa,
general lires along which the dele
! gates viii work He will not stat,
I any specific procedure which he wishe
e to be followed.
Harding Fades Away.
After Mr.. HarGing completes hi
speech he viii fade into the back
}. ground and viii remain there UNI
the conference closes. There is II
. doubt Of that. He viii so much as say
There YOU are. boys; go To il. Goo
luck and God bless YOU" But as h
fades into the distance Secretary @
State Hughes. who heads the Ameri
can delegation, viii appear in a close
up. 10 borrow a mighty good expires
sion from the movies. The feelinl
here today is that he will be chosei
! 10 preside. In that case the conner!
10 preside. In that case the Gamers
4 rectly on him throughout the Confer
ence. And IL he doas preside. responsi
bility for success or failure will res
10 a certain extent on his shoulders
Thus il viii be seen that sometim
Saturday-about II o'clock, the hou
when Mr.. Harding should be finish
ing his speech-the buck will be pas
sed nicely 10 Mr.. Secretary Hughes
: II Mr. Hughes fails. or if the Who'll
Conference should "go blooey" at an
time. the fault will be his. On tn
other hand. should there be success
the big bass drum viii be uncovered
and the sound will say did it,
did it-I did it,"-and the man VIII
will be beating it will be a tall, thick
set gentleman from Ohio. and not
n bewhiskered diplomat from New Yorl
: This is the way matters stand toda.
! Eut there is always an unknow
I quantity. In this case il is Mr.. REQ
= Although he does not head the Amer
{ IN delegation, Mr.. Root has had man
: times diplomatic experience Of Messr
r Hughes, Lodge, and Underwood com
= Lined. It Is not unlikely that Nj
\ Root may wish to crown his caree
. With one splendid world achievement
; His ability may place that oppor.unit
|. in his way, and he would be fool In
d deed did he not grasp il. And shoul
s he WELD power, and should he aehieF
: success for America, and all other
concerned, the bass drum may bes
9 ever SO often, but IL will not stiff
the sound of steam calliope, whic
J will be played by the loyal friends {
Elihu Root.