The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-03-17

and Britain in the Essen-Dusseldorf
district. She had 1900 troops on the
Rhine and has sent two more divi-
sions there. The French have 10000
men in the occupation zone and 2OO,-
600 in reserve close by.
Among the interesting side-lights
on the poor mouth" presented by the
Germans is the information afforded
by a reliable American officer who has
recently made thousand-mile motor
car trip through the chief agricultural
and industrial districts of Germany.
He says that Germany can pay the
sums demanded; that he saw every
where amazing evidence of productive
labor and growing wealth.
All American eyes were turned
toward Washington on Friday when
| Warren G. Harding was inaugurated
President, and all American ears were
| open to hear what he had to say of
| the policies that shall control his adj
ministration. The ceremonies were
simple and dignifed, in conformity
with. the wishes of Mr.. Harding. The
new President, in his address, left no
one i'm doubt as to his attitude toward
the League of Nations as now consti-
tuted. Much of what he said was de-
voted to the general subject of inter-
national relations He asserted that
America had proved the wisdom of
| its inherited policy of non-involvement
| in old world affairs; that it can be a
party TO no permanent military alli-
ance; that it can enter into no polit-
| ical commitments nor assume any
economic obligations (which will sub
| ject our decisions to any other than
our own authority" At the same time,
he said, America is ready to associate
itself with all other nations for con-
| ference and counsel; to seek ways to
bring about approximate disarma-
ment; to promote mediation, concilia-
| ton and arbitration, and TO establish
a world court for the disposition of
justiciable questions submitted by
| agreement.
| To his fellow citizens President
| Harding made an eloquent plea for
''the resumption of our onward, nor
NAL way" for sane reconstruction
after the devastation of war, for re-
adjustment with care and courage
without any wild experiments. Said
| he: eve must face a condition of
grim reality, charge off our losses and
start afresh." For his part, he prom
| ised administrative efficiency and
economy, lightened tax burdens, ade-
duate credit facilities, sympathetic
concern for all agricultural problems,
omission of unnecessary interference
| of government in business, and an
end to governments experiment in
business.
Among the interesting things which
Mr.. Harding hopes to bring about, ac-
| cording to unofficial announcement, is
| the creation CT a ministry Of de-
| fense' under a cabinet officer, to con-
| troll the natl 3nal defenses on land, on
sea and in the air. This, of course,
would mean the consolidation of the
War and Navy departments. 1t is
said the plan meets the approval of
both Secretary of War Weeks and
| Secretary of the Navy DENLY, and
| that both of them have agreed to give
way if the plan is adopted.
In the last hours Of It's life the
congress reached agreement on the
army appropriation bill and 1t went
through with provisions fixing the
strength "a tthee army Tor the next
year at 10000. The house had put
the figure at 10000 and the senate
wanted $4,000, so the result is
compromise in which the upper
house yielded most. The bitterest
struggle vas over the naval appro-
priation bill in the senate, the con-
troversy being over the $1OO,00O,OO0
added to it by the naval committee.
This fight prevented the passage of
number of measures. among them the
soldiers bonus bill, against which
Senator Thomas of Colorado threat
ened to filibuster.
Contrary to predlctlOnSs the mousse
judiciary committee took the charges
against Judge Lands in all serious
ness, and presented a report recon-
mending that they be fully investi-
gated by the next congress. The re-
port said that If it were true that
Judge Lands had accepted the posi-
| ton of baseball arbiter while holding
his judicial position-and OF course
| that is true-his action was "at least
| Inconsistent with the full and ade-
quate performance Of the duty OF
United States District judge. and that