Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1921-06-09
yard, the majority having relented in
that matter.

yard, the majority having relented in
that matter.
Memorial day not only was cele-
brated fittingly all over the United
States, but In England and France as
well, where many of-Our dead war
riOrs still lie. In this country, Of
course the most notable observance
of the day was In the national ceme
terry at Arlington, where the Presi-
dent delivered the address. Mr.. Har-
ding took advantage of the occasion
to declare that America must and will
do her full part in helping to stabilize
the world, to restrain ambition for
empire and to prevent the disaster
to civilization that would come from
denial of the equality of sovereign
states or persons. The United States,
he asserted. will neither pursue a pol
icy Of isolation nor surrender any Of
its independence of action, but will
stand ready to accept leadership in
the restoration of normalcy In the
world.
In Memorial day address In
Chicago suburb, former Senator
James Hamilton Lewis predicted
war with Japan in which America will
stand alone. "Not one country In
Europe is truly the friend of the
United States,"~ he said. 1.-The time
is coming when we shall have to pro-
tect ourselves against an invasion OF
the Asiatics." England, France, and
Italy, he said, will be appealed to by
Japan to force the United States to
grant the Japanese the same privi-
leges as they enjoy in Europe.
The federal railway labor board has
announced the wage reduction that
goes into effect on July 1, when the
national agreements are abrogated.
The average wage cut is to be II per
cent and this eventually will reduce
the pay rolls of the 1O4 roads affected
by $4OO.OOO,OOO a year. The board
in it's decision sets up new uniform
wage scales for all groups Of employ
ees, and these will later apply to every
Of the national agreements, 1t Is be-
lieved, may save the roads an addi-'
tional $3O0OO0,OOO yearly. In labor
circles it had been feared a greater
wage reduction would be ordered by
the board; hence 1t Is predicted the
action may arouse little open oppo-
sition. The chiefs of the railway
unions reserved comment
The day after the boards ruling
was made public President Harding
surprised the interstate commerce
commission by calling at its Office for
conference on freight rate reduc-
ton, which he deems Of vital impor-
tance In the restoration of business.
He made clear his desire in this line
but it was evident that he would have
to overcome strong opposition. The
cabinet agrees with the President that
prohibitive transportation rates large
ly account for the stagnation Of busf-
ness and the continued high price of
the necessities of life.
Chairman Clark of the interstate
commerce commission and Senator
Cummins, chairman Of the senate COM
mittee on interstate commerce, agree,
however, with the railroad executives
who contend that rates cannot be re-
duced generally until 1t has been
proved that railroad expenses can be
cut to a point assuring an adequate
return on the investment.
Aviation In America Is hard hit by
disaster and economies. The country
was shocked by the accident near
Washington in which an army plane,
caught In a fierce electrical storm, was
destroyed and all its seven occupants
killed The victims included several
aviation officers and former Congress-
man Maurice Connolly. Blame for the
accident, if there is any, is hard to
place though 1t Is felt that the es-
tablishment of altitude observation
stations would do much to avert sim
liar disasters.
At the government proving ground
at Aberdeen, Md, where rehearsals
for the army and navy maneuvers In
Chesapeake bay were taking place, a
5lpound bomb filed with INT fell
from a plane and the explosion killed
FIVE men and injured twelve. Apparent
ly the mechanism of the bomb-carrying
rack was defective.
All the air mail routes established
with so much flourish, except the trans
continental line from New York to San
master General Hays saying this Is
due to lack of money aud to difficult