The Raymer enterprise., 1921-03-31

tive Partisan journalist, visitors to this
country, during the next three weeks
will be in conference with President
Harding, Secretary Of State Hughes,
other cabinet members and a number
Of senator's and representatives. The
great question agitating Washing
ton is the extent to which their In
fluence will prevail In formulating the
peace program which the President
shall submit to the coming extra ses-
sion Of congress.
Domestic economic considerations
are involved In the fact that a return
to normal conditions requires q mar
ket for American products abroad.
stablllzing Of exchange rates and the
establishing Of more settled state Of
affairs In Europe. Influences are not
lacking, both inside and outside the
administration. to point out that these
things cannot be achieved without the
strong support Of the United States,
acting in q league or some sort Of de-
finite agreement with other countries.
A big straw In the strong wind Of
foreign influence 10 seen In q recent
decision Of Great Britain to bring a
speedy termination to the Mesopo-
tamian problem by admitting the
United States into full rights with ma
tionals Of the League Of Nations In
exploiting the oil resources of the
Asiatic country. Such conditions and
influences confront the President and
the new congress, and the question Is
being freely propounded II. under the
circumstances, the administration can
afford to definitely turn down some
form Of 4 league.
New York has taken straightfor-
ward method Of dealing with the rent
problem BY releasing from taxation
for ten years homes upon which con-
structi0n shall begin before April !,
1922. This strikes at the heart Of the
question In that II II q virtual guar.
antee against construction losses. II
property comes down in price as a re-
suit Of lower material and labor costs,
the owner Of a home will have com.
pensation In the form Of tax elimina.
ton. The maximum tax exemption IL
$1,000 which restricts the benefit to
the type Of home sought by people Of
small means. Already boom In home
building IL reported. The legislatures
Of Illinois and several other states are
struggling with the rent problem.
One Of those popular elections which
do not decide and speedily become un.
popular, may be said to character.
Ire the plebiscite In Upper Silesia.
Germany received heavy majority Of
the total vote, but 1t came from the
larger towns and centers Of popula.
ton. Polish strength was manifested
principally in the villages and among
agricultural groups, and the conten-
tion has arisen as to whether the re-
turns shall be interpreted by the whole
majority or by village and group units.
Various factors contributed to the Ger.
man majority. the principal among
them being that military service Ii NO
longer compulsory In Germany. where.
as Polish citizens must serve two
years; German factory and mine own.
ers threatened to close their works II
Poland won the plebiscite. 80 many
Polish employees voted In favor Of
Germany through fear Of losing their
Jobs; the Berlin government vaguely
promised to share the big landed e..
tates In Upper SilesIa among the small
land owners and Germany promised
amnesty to all political offenders. Al
ready there has been violence In the
disputed territory and although the
interallied commission which super.
vlsed the voting will have to decide
the questions arising from II, any do.
cision can hardly create a permanent
settlement.
Enforcement Of prohibition under
the volstead law has been broadened
BY recent rulings, whacked in several
places BY court actions and 10 threat
ened In its entire validity BY new
suit before the Supreme court at