Evening star., 1922-01-01
What Of the New Year.?
BY N. 0. MESSENGER.

eSeA ASacCo thIou6h lhC
months. the democrats. through
the chairman Of their national
committee. Cordell Hull. sounded
the first big g-caliber gun of the
impending campaign. Judge Hull.
in a speech delivered before the
Tennessee democratic executive
committee last Wednesday. made
it clear that an aggressive cam
paign against the republican party
and administration has begun in
earnest, and that the opposition
may expect no quarter from now
on.
Judge Hull went after the op-
posing political party. its promises
and performances, ruthlessly, al
though he carefully refrained from
personalities. Democrats in Con-
gress are said to have been won
derfully heartened by his vigorous
leadership and preparing to fol-
low him Loyalty in the coming
battle, whose object will be<to
break the ranks Of the opposition
by seizing the House of Repre-
sentatives, il possible. in the on
ward march to the democratic
goal, the presidency in 1924.
X #*x
The new year begins with less
ened hopes of a large measure of
Nl{ {cLr pd from, the
arms conference. although with a
partial realization of expectations
in that branch of the international
meeting and a record of real prog
ress in the political branch. deal
ing with the far eastern situation.
President Harding. and Secretary
Hughes from the first warned
against expecting too much from
this initial move for lessened
armaments and for settlement OF
world problems through conference
and counsel. They both are of
opinion that a great deaf has been
effected, while wishing, of course,
that it could have been more.
III IeuuCNloH VI hdSdi
1t is contended that the agreement
for Limitation of capital ships,
which will stand. can be pointed
to as meeting in gratifying degree
the demand of the taxpayers of
the nations for materially lessened
expenditures. The capital ships.
whose cost runs high into the
millions, absorbed the money of
the taxpayers as the sands Of the
desert suck up the glacial streams
from the Rockies.
Df the pending proposition to
limit the size and armament of
tho auxiliary vessels goes through,
It Is insisted that the conference
can justly claim to have, done
something for the overburdened
taxpayers, even though the num-
Der Of such ships may not be as
closely restricted as could be de-
sired.
1t is also pointed out that even
though nations may be left un-
restricted as to the construction
Of submarines, there yet remains
the consideration that a certain
restriction will be put upon them
by their own financial ability to
construct burdensome navies of
submersibles.
1t is said that it is one thing for
a nation to feel free to build as
many submarines as it desires and
another to find the wherewithal.
wrung from the taxpayers. and
government or administration
that seeks as a point of honor to
save its face. will in the end have
to account to the people-who
pay the bill.
r X Il
In addition to the agreement on
Limitation OF capital ships. and the
restriction on fortifications and
naval bases in the Pacific, the con-
ference is expected to be able to
point to a record Of achievement
in the international political field.
1t is expected that out of the
conference will come treaties for
purposes having profound bene-
fetal effect upon the peace Of the
world. The most important will be
the four-power pact. by which the
United States. Great Britain,
France and Japan agree to settle
differences that may arise over
far eastern questions by mutual
council. and to respect the rights
of each other in the Pacific
islands and dependencies of the
signatory POWERS.
There will also be a treaty
signed by the nine powers repre-
sented in the far eastern branch
Of the conference. designed to
safeguard China and eliminate
friction which might arise from
disregard by any nation of China's
rights.
An important treaty will be the
one agreed upon in principle which
protects American rights in cable
communications in the far east.
X \ X X
And to be regarded as an ac-
complishment Of the first magni-
tude in value will be the abroga-
tion of the Anglo-Japanese alli-
ance, involved in the four-power
pact.
IND OF MUSIC
IAKE WIHlII MEAIc