The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-03-21
WASHINGTON VERY
BADLY DISAPPOINTED
ARMS CONFERENCE DID NOT
LAST VERY LONG. PROFIT
EERS ARE SPOILED.

WASHINGTON, d. C.-No more
disarmament conferences Tor Wash
ington. She's had her "tummy" full.
Less than four months ago the mer-
chants, business men, landlords, hotel
and restaurant proprietors, modistes,
nlanicures and bootleggers OF the ma
tional capital hailed the approaching
conference as a veritable Godsend
Business was dull prices and rents
were declining and profits weren't
what they had been in the golden war
days.
When President Harding announc-
ed his arms conference plans the
Washington patriots greeted them
with long, loud shouts OF praise.
Washington was 10 become the world
capital Delegates, plenipotentiar1es,
assistants, experts, correspondents and
visitors from all over the world were
to pour into the city and then pro-
coed to pour out their gold. 1t was
going to be like one continuous inaug-
uration-almost too good to be true.
Fine While 1t Lasted.
1t was fine while it lasted. Prices
went up. Hotel rates were boosted,
The boarding and rooming house
ladies kept pace. Everything was love
Everybody happy.
But Secretary Hughes and his little
agenda kept rushing things and IN
stead OF lasting six months or more,
as the profteers had all prayerfully
hoped, the conference went out OF
business in three months.
That was bad enough but the worst
was yet to come. The conference had
succeeded in cutting down the navy
and President Harding set about apply
ing the disarmament decisions 20
Washington first. The conference had
been adjourned hardly a week when
Secretary of the Navy DENLY, on or
ders from the president, discharged or
'"furloughed" 1900 workers employed
at the Washington navy yards. All
Washington was aroused at this out
rage The Knickerbocker disaster
was forgotten.
Business men and property owners
set UP terrible wall. The Chamber
of Commerce, Merchants and Manu-
facturers Association, the Real Estate
Board. the Board OF Trade and various
citizens organizations met and adopt
ed fiery resolutions.
Secretary DENLY, on whom the pro-
testants centered their fire explained
that under the conference treaties all
new navy construction was prohibited,
including the manufacture Of big guns,
torpedoes and ammunition, such as the
Washington navy yard specialized in.
Obviously, he explained, men could
not be employed when there was moth
ing for them to do.
Unnecessary Work.
President Harding, who was appeal
ed TO, said Aa greatly regretted the
personal hardShips involved but, as
executive head OF the government, he
could not feel justified in authorizing
the expenditure of S100000O a day
from the public treasury for work that
was not needed.
He added that those laid off had not
beef fired" but merely furloughed.
Thus they might be taken back when
ever other work might be available.
Washington is not the only city hit
by the disarmament program, but she
has let out the loudest yelp. Men have
also been laid off in the navy yards at
Boston, Brooklyn, Charleston and San
Francisco, making the total nearly TO-
600. But the lamentations arising from
the national capital drown out all the
rest.
Is Badly Spoiled
Washington thus oftentimes demon
strates that she is the only child or
the United States government. Hail
her local expenses are paid out OF the
federal treasury, but her hand is al
WAYS ont or more. more. more. Wash
ington merchants, shop keepers and
hotel men have the notion that they
are privileged creatures but now they
have discovered that the government
that gives may also take away.