Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1921-11-30
Little Thoughts on Big Topics
The limited States has spoken.

the lead In the ScrdppIuS u wal oAiP %
and the practical suspension OF naval
construction for period OF ten years.
The buck is at the feet OF the ma
tions of the old world. They cannot
pass it. Neither can they kick II
aside. They must act, for or against.
If they sincerely desire peace they
can have it by adopting the simple
expedient of meeting the emlnently
fair proposition of this country.
If they have secret leanings toward
future wars and conquest they will
hagple and hedge and the conference
will fail of it's purpose.
The world is holding its breath.
Whether the final outcome is to be
permanent peace and the reduction OF
the heavy burdens Of armament re-
mains to be seen.
Europe has yet to speak.
Without a doubt the people Of the
civilized world are earnestly hoping
for solution of the arms question
that will bring continued and lasting
peace to the earth. But what the
people desire, and what governments
vii do, are often widely at variance.
Delegates from the principal world
powers. represented in Washington
were quick to rally. from the stunning
blow administered by Secretary
Hughes. They accepted Gin princi-
pie" the American proposals, but
qualified their acceptance with the
statement that the actual working
out of such a revolutionizing plan
would depend mainly upon the posi-
bility of their s'technical experts and
advisers" being able to reach COM,
mon ground of understanding.
Therein lies the great danger, and
it is grave indeed.
These Technical advisers" may rise
to the supreme occasion and hberate
the world from the blight of war.
Then again. they may not. No one
knows in advance just what an Eek
pert" will do or say. Technically is
their god, the shrine at which they
worship. They live in an atmosphere
of their own, out of touch and out of
harmony with the mass Of the peo-
pie.
AS you follow the proceedings of the
parley from day to day just keep
these facts i'm mind and your enthu-
siasm in check.
The American proposals were &C
ccpCcd only III pIAuCAP1Os ANO SOuA
try could afford to go on record as
the lead.
In working out the details the Eek
perts" attached to each set of delegates
will vancouver for position, in the
age old effort to gain as much as pos
sible for self.
Each will be ready to accept sacri-
fees from others, but few will be
willing to make them.
The common ground Of under
will be difficult to reach. 1t
may not be reached at all.
The daily press has supplied us
with volumes and volumes of long |
winded articles and press dispatches |
on the arms question. No human be-
ing can digest it all. It would be fol- !
ly even to attempt it. The publish |
ers are in a mad scramble to see
which can "dish up the most dope.
Each is entitled to prize.
But the facts are as above-in few
words.
Do not believe all that you read on
the subject. Our asylums are al
ready overcrowded.
Washington correspondents are YER
satile. They possess the ability to
write glowing articles even upon sub
jects of which they know little-or
nothing. They must earn their pay.
And do not be hasty in jumping to
You might have to jump
back again before the. conference adj
journs.
Fourteen thousand four hundred
and sixty-three forest fires in the
pulpwood regions of the United 4
States, burning over $685. 08 acres
is the record for 1920, according to
a report of the woodlands section of
the American Paper and Pulp asso-
citation. And in New England and
New York, the report says, the record
for 1921 is even worse. Reforesta-
ton is highly important but these
records are eloquent of the value of
the ounce of prevention.