The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-11
MONTAGUE TALKS| WORLD CONFERENCE FOR DISARMAMENT
America'S Contribution to Conference Will Bring Honor, States Speaker.
 Underwood Praised

Close-ups on the world confer ence for disarmament in Washing ton beginning last November, pre- sented very forcefully by Andrew Jackson Montague, congressman from Virginia, and former attorney general and governor of the state, comedy skits, accordion music by Miss Matte Lou Burns, food, fun and dancing were all combined to make the annual dinner of the Southern Wholesale Dry Goods as- sociation, held last night at the Southern club, great success. E. B. Sydnor, president of the association presided. and introduced the speaker of the evening, Congressman Mon- tague.
 After calling attention to Amsri- cas- contribution to the great and ai- most insurmountabie catastrophe which as he said would bring honor on the ninth, tenth and intending generations" the speaker paid tri- bute to the personnel of the Ameri- can commission at the conference in which he spoke of Alabama's own Senator Oscar w. Underwood as "a parliamentary leader who has had no equal in the congressional or Sem atorial halls since the Civil war"
 Charles E. Hughes, Elihu Root and Henry Cabot Lodge, the other Amer lean representative were duly attri- buted with high praise, but in this connection 1t was asserted that of the 600 treaties entered into by our government only two had been orened to senators who in the speakers opinion should not be al- lowed to pass judgement upon their own work.
 World Peace
 The prevailing opinion abroad that America had not born her part in promoting world peace as she had in world war and the necessity for a reduction in the burden of taxation were cited as the salient reasons for calling the conference, at Washington when America was most hospitable and the atmosphere was Encouragement itself.
 oSCdSicu Wdb tnen Iaken to re- view the accomplishments of the conference as given by the Ameri- can delegation-land disar ma ment was boarded" when blocked by France who because of an unujstif- able fear of her big neighbor on the Rhine, retains her army; battleships were pronounced universally to be on the last lap of their journey; submarines and aircrafts were not limited althougt action was taken to preserve the international idea of Freedom of the Seas" and the auxiliary crafts were not curtailed according to the American idea, it was pointed out.
 It was stated that the startling figure of s70,eo0,0o0 would be neees- sary to scrap America's battleships according to the agreement. and in quoting figures Mir. Montague showed that after various expendi- lures and others pending the naval appropriation of $t13,000,0 900 would be consumed
 Court of Justice
 With an expression of hope that the international court of justice would do much to restore mutual confidence among nations which had pttn C uCCPiy SHahCI Wftn LIE late war than ever before, the speak CT concluded by stating that on the whole the conference was well worth while and whether arms and instru- ments of war had been limited or net, future wars would be less cost ly.
 Americanism and more of it was urged, placing political interests In the background, and said Mir. Mon tague, With all It's defects and dis orders, America Is the best of gov ernments, gives more happiness to more people, and there Is a chal- lenge midst so many perplexing problems, for you as unofficial statesmen to direct your affairs steadily and to give strength to your official statesmen who are depend- ent upon you"
 A beautiful silver loving cup was awarded Mrs. Alfred Williams, Nashville, winner of the putting contest" held by visiting ladies at Roebuck Country club yesterday aft ernoon. The cup was awarded by Murray Brown, Goodall- Brown, Bir- mingham.
 The annual ball was then held on the ballroom floor until a late hour with Nappi's orchestra furnishing the music.
 Another executive session will be held this morning, with the election of officers this afternoon and the annual golf tournament Friday, held under the supervision of Walter c. Barnweli, Atianta, Murray Brown. George Johnston and L.. C. Wilson. all of Birmin gham, local chairmen. AAlI IlAnnlRIN TA