Sioux County pioneer., 1922-03-16
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Ratification Of zap Treaty Indi-
Gates Other Pacts Will Go
Through Senate.
mot admitted BY ENEMIES
Fight to Modify volstead Act Begun
by Federation Of Labor-New Plan
to Finance Bonus-President Asks
Congress for Ship Subsidy.
BY EDWARD w. PIckARD

BY EDWARD w. PIckARD
IN THE preliminary bouts Of the
i treaty fight In the senate the al-
ministration has scored victories which
lead Senator Lodge and others to pre-
dict certain triumph in the main con-
test over the four-power Pacific pact.
as well as in the other bouts.
Expression of this confidence came
after the senate, on Wednesday, had
ratided the treaty with Japan concern
ing Yap. This Is not properly one of
the Washington conference series Of
treaties, but Its acceptance was con-
sidered necessary before action Is
taken on the other Pacific treaties. 1t
puts an end to the dispute between
this country and Japan by recognizing
: the Japanese mandate over Yap and
at the same time securing Americas
cable rights there.
The final vote on the Yap pact was
67 to % and was preceded by the vot-
ing down of n number of reservations
which certain Democratic senators
thought necessary to make American
rights on the island entirely secure.
Thirteen Democrats voted for ratifica-
tion, and three Republicans-Borah,
France and Johnson-against 1t. AL
though the administration forces said
they were entirely satisfied with. the
vote, the "irreconcilables" also pro.
fessed to be jubilant. The latter as
serted they had made small effort to
defeat this treaty and that they were
confident they could muster enough
more votes to beat the four-power
pact.
On motion of Senator Lodge the
senate Immediately took up the four
power treaty, and the indications were
that the debate on that would last sew
eral weeks. As it was reported to the
senate by the committee on foreign
relations, 1t carries but the one in
nocuous interpretative reservation that
was approved by President Harding.
To Borah. Johnson, France and a
few other senators might we'll be ap-
piled a sentence from one of the late
Ambassador Pages letters during the
war: "In the United States we lie
down every night in George Washing
toms feather bed of no entangling nj.
liances." During the debate Borah de.
cleared he would support the Ynp
treaty II he could be sure that it would
get rid of-iAmerica's one-fifth interest
in the inundated islands of the south
seas.
II cannot imagine more serious
ENHANCEMENT" said Senator Borah,
"than owning one-fifth interest in
these islands. We are becoming very
seriously involved and more so every
day"
Senator Reed Of Missouri deplored
the refusal Of the nations to recognize
the principle Of self-determination in
dealing with the question of Yap pro-
hibition. He declared that the Yap.
landers had never been consulted as
to whether they ''liked likker or not"
He drew "dismal picture Of thirsty
Taps groannig under the tyranny Of a
Japanese volstead." The treaty as rati-
fed applies the prohibition amendment
only to natives.
THIS mention of prohibition leads
L one to venture the personal opin-
Ion that If there is any force that can
bring about the modification Of the
Volstead act 80 that the country will
once more have Its beer and light
wines, that force has just been set in
motion. The executive council Of the
American Federation of Labor has
taken up this cause and seeks to make
Of 1t political issue In the forthcom-
ing congressional campaign. 1t issued
declaration in which the volstead en-.
forcement act Is denounced a moral
failure and dangerous breeder of dis
content and contempt for law, and
which concludes:
1--WE urge that all citizens In every
walk Of life demand from their repre-
sentatdves and senators in Washington
immediate relief from the unwarranted
restriction contained In the Volstead
act; and we likewise suggest to the
+ citizenship Of our country the wisdom
and advisability Of bearing in mind
the attitude toward this issue Of once
q holders and aspirants TO once In COM
ing elections In order that there may
]. be restored to the people the lawful
\ use Of wholesome beer and light wines,
which, under tfle provisions Of the
eighteenth amendment can and should
2An II .,xa ~ = - ~, II. knvinak