Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1922-01-16
NOTES FROM
WASHINGTON
More About the Great Con-
ference of Nations at
the National
Capital.
FRANCES DEMANDS
How Superstition is Woven
Into the Lives of
FRANCES DEMANDS
ByT. NJ. SMILEY.


ing that terrible ..debauch" Ono othe
word readily comes to mind) in super
stition concerning lucky and unluck
numbers DAILY FTeeman-J Journal G
Friday" the 6th), with Christina
and New Year only memory. an
with the people of the earth realizin
once more that they are still her
(some of them with great gastric sol
row, it is thought well to relate som
incidents of international importanc;
worthy of notice by the World and hi
wife. They are matters that strik
into the heart of the everyday mai
woman and child more than anythin
that has come before the Washington
conference.
Superstition and Progress.
In the meantime, it is suggested tina
those who wish to delve into thu
question Of how ridiculous superstition
is: how it so unconsciously is wovel
into the daily life of so many: how
it stands in the way Of progress, free
dom of mind, decision, judgment. clear
thinking, and so on, should read Mel
sons Encyclopedia under Divination
The books are no doubt in the Kendall
Young Library. In fact, the diabOl
ical thing is largely responsible for tho
necessity of this present conference
Why? Well, superstition as to the
divine right Of kings-divine right OF
ANYBODY during past ages
against progress-even now. super
stition of estates. nobility, aristocracy
and caste: superstition that death in
war insured immediate passport to
heaven (prOminent among the Turks
and certain other heather nations and
during the last great war;; supersti'
ton that great armies and navies in
sure peace; superstition that the king
can do no wrong: superstition in re-
gard to God being for this side or that
side (or both sides) superstition that
war is necessary to keep thrift. honor.
patriotism and progress in the world
superstition in regard to the glorifica-
ton of war: superstition that peoples
should be kept in darkness. These ana
many other such ideas during past
ages caused wars which resulted In the
death of hundreds Of millions and the
destruction of properties into the
thousands of billions. Certain of the
principal lights in the Washington con-
ference, trying to abolish war. are now
having almost to sacrifice themselves
fighting against what one hopes are the
diving traces of these superstitl0ns
fighting against the idea THAT arma-
ments are necessary. 1t was larger!
because of these superstitions that the
nations did not long ago abolish the
whole business of war. 1t is why our
own the Honorable Elihu Root stood
there in that secret committee room
without the worlds knowledge. fight
ing like a worn hero, fighting for the
non.combatant man, woman and child
in time of war And it is not settled
vet! There is no dOuht that the
world a genera ton from now Will ap
preciate him very greatly more than
we are able to just now. The devil is
still doing vast amount OF running
nm and down the earth, sometimes ike
a roaring lion and sometimes so quietl!
and stealthily one would never think
him there, and will soak the earth
with still more blood if given half
chance.
Frances Determination.
ANYWAY, the battle of the giants was
on during the last days OF the ias'
wear. and it appeared for while that
the worlds Christmas gift might DE
BOBBY or fizzle. largely on account OF
tho determination of France (after
agreeing to the 5.5.3-1.75-1.75 ratio for
capital ships for the five powers) that
she would not recede from her demand
far 33O. 900 tons Of auxiliary ships ana
m OOO tons of submarines. The aux
iliary ships include cruisers. destroyers
and other smaller ships. claimed by
France TO be defensive ships only. MI.
Hughes submarine allotment on the
opening day of the conference was w.
mo tons for the United States ana
Great Britain. $4,000 tons for Japan
and about 1880 and 21,OOO (status
ouo) respectively for France and Italy.
frances demand is thus very large.
France has caused tnree distinct
shudders to run up and down the back
Of this conference, as well as to send
chills through the inhabitants OF the
earth. First, when conference hopes
were shaken because of the stand OF
BRAND and France for large army
II was finally necessary to omit for
tho present this part of the agenda.
Second. France demanded 100000 ton