The Holly chieftain., 1921-10-20

The American delegation selected
Basil Miles as its secretary, consld-
cred and approved the physical ar
rangements for the conference, and
then took up the matter of publicity
for the big meeting. The members
explained to the anxious representa-
tives Of the press that this is a ques-
ton for the conference to determine.
but that they would place no obstacle
in the way Of the fullest publicity pos
sible consistent with the expedition
of the conferences business.
Hundreds of idealists have written
to President Harding. under the Inn
preston that the conference Is ex-
pected to accomplish the complete dis
armament Of the world. In reply to
one OF them, the President has under
taken to dispel the Illusion. In it he
says, as he has said before, that it
is erroneous even to suggest that the
conference can go SO far as to at
tempt universal disarmament, and
that ''if we can get reasonable limi-
tation we shall think that great things
have been accomplished" Continuing,
he says: q
"By reasonable limitation mean
something practicable that there is a
chance to accomplish, rather than an
ideal that there would be no chance to
realize 1t is necessary to deal with
actualities; to do the best possible.
Universal disarmament would be be-
yond hope of realization even its de-
STABILITY at this time might well be
questioned. Thousands of years of his
tory recording the wars and contro-
yersies Of mankind suggest that hui
man nature would require revolution
ary reorganization to make universal
disarmament possible. A consideration
OF the present state of the world must,
think, enforce the conclusion that
this is not hopeful time to undertake
that kind of revolution. To
undertake the impossible and fail
might leave our last state worse than
our first. The attitude Of the. nations
warrants confidence that. we will not
fail. but rather that substantial re-
suits Will be accomplished, calculated
to lessen the armament burden and to
reduce the danger of armed conflict"
One Of Americas most astute states
men and lawmakers, Philander Chase
Knox, died suddenly in his home in
Washington last wednesday. AS at
torney general, secretary Of state and
senator from Pennsylvania and for
many years as one of the leaders of
the Republican party, Mr.. Knox won
high consideration and fame. He was
candidate for the Republican nom
ination for the presidency in 1908, and
In recent years was especially promi-
nent as an answering opponent of
the Versailles treaty, and the author
of the resolution declaring the state
Of war with Germany and Austria at
an end. When he was attorney gen.
eral, under President Roosevelt. he d.
rected the suit that smashed the
Northern Securities railway merger;
as secretary of state, In President
Taft'a cabinet, he did much to extend
American business In foreign lands,
developing the principle Of dollar di-
plomacy," especially in the Far East.
Mr.. Knox often aroused the antago-
nism Of others by his downright poll
cies, but his unadulterated American
ism was never questioned and his
services to his country were numer-
GUS and important.
1t was expected In Washington that
the death Of Senator Knox would re-
suit In brief delay In bringing the
peace treaties to final vote In the
senate.
In response to many demands from
all over the country, the house rules
committee has been conducting pre-
liminary hearings to determine wheth-
er or not there shall be a congress
sional investigation Of the Ku Klu1
Klan. From postal inspector the
most interesting information was OBJ
tained. He said the Klan's member
ship is between $1,000 and 125.OO0.
instead Of 10000, as has been often
declared, and that m the North 1t is
strongest In Chicago He found the
organization has collected $1,14S,OOO
in dues. and could not discover any
thing to substantiate certain charges
OF fraud made against 1t. Neither
could he find that 1t had contributed
any money for charitable purposes
He said Imperial Wizard Simmons
had n salary Of $1,000 week. Many
other witnesses told what they knew,
or thought they knew, AGAINST the