Milford chronicle., 1923-01-12
UNCLE TED'S
BEDTIME STORIES
LOOKING BACK OVER TWELVE
MONTHS

1t was one of those damp, cold
rainy winter nights when the rail-
suddenly turns to snow and sleet anC
the wind rushes through the trees
with sound so mournful that those
lucky enough to be inside where the
fire burns brightly turn to serious
thoughts. Ruth and Jack were busy
with their school lessons, stretched
out on the floor in front of the big log
fire. Uncle Ted sat in big arm chair
with his feet warmly encased in a
Christmas present-twO new slippers,
"Uncle Ted" called Jack.
What is it, Jack?" answered his
uncle.
1--WE have to write short piece for
school about some of the important
things that happened in 1922 where
the United States played an important
part, and I'm stuck"
what are you stuck on?" asked
Uncle Ted.
"He's stuck on the whole thing,
know" said Ruth. $50 am I. Please
tell us a story about some of these
things so we can get through"
well, that's pretty big order,
Ruth" said Uncle Ted. $50 much hap
UGuGu
States played a leading part. In fact
everything that was accomplished to-
ward constructive world peace was
accomplished through the lead taken
by the United States. 1t has been said
of 1922, when looking at those things
which marked real progress toward
adjustment and universal peace, that
the Washington conference on the
limitation of armaments, begun in No
vember, 1921, led all others. Naturally
the Washington conference has been
pointed out by the reat economic and
political writer's of the world as the
most important event in 1922. That
conference insures peace in the Pa
cific and a real friendship with Japan
where all keen observers had predict
ed the next war would take place. Sec
retary Hughes summed up the whole
affair when he said: we have estab-
lished good will and cooperation in
the Far East in the place of mutual
distrust.'
"Now let us look at the Navy. The
biggest accomplishment there, as AS
sistant Secretary Roosevelt has said,
was the establishment for the first
time in the history of the country of
a concrete naval policy. That policy
was developed by the Washington con-
ference which makes it possible for
the United States to have navy equal
to that of Great Britain and 81 per
cent greater than that Of any other
nation.
From the Navy we will take a
glance at the Army. Under the great
est of difficulties, because of getting
back to a peace basis and complying
with the requirements of the National
Act, the Army is at present
in splendid shape. Through the train
ing of the Reserve officers Training
Corps and the Citizens Military Train
ing Camps, the young men of the
country have been kept in splendid
mental and physical training.
mo more important part Of our
exists than our Treasury, !
headed by Secretary Mellon. Mr.. Mel I
Ion is a keen business man and he |
runs the Treasury along business
lines. During 1922 the Treasury reduc-
ed the gross national debt about ST. |
900 100000 and the balance for the |
year shows that we have about $780, |
900 left after paying our bills. Mr.. |
Mellon also says that the best way to |
help Europe is to keep our own fnan- |
ces sound. In other words not to go to |
work giving away few million for |
temporary help and at the same time |
making our financial condition weak
er and weaker.
"That letter in your hand, Ruth, TO
minds me that the deficit in the Pos
tai Service during 1921 was $157, ,517,- |
BOO and it was reduced to $6O,Sl5,OOO |
during 1922. DR.. Hubert Work, Post |
master General, says that it will be
cut $31, 100000 during 1928.
even though we faced a serious Ia
bor condition throughout last year |
with strikes by railroad men and coal |
miners, all those troubles were final !
" settled through the hard work Of |
he President, the Secretary of Labor |
and the Labor Board. Secretary Davis |
feels that the efforts of last year will |
mean industrial peace for 1928, which |
means that big job was accomplish
ed in that direction. One interesting |
,act is that the number of labor dis
1utes brought up to be settled by the
Department of Labor during 1922 were
ever than in any year since 1916.
although authority did not reach
he Department of Justice from Con-
yress until last June, the war trans
lotions section of that important
,ranch of our government brought
uits against the builders Of army
camps to recover about S71 100000 al
eyed to have been wrongly taken dur
ng the war. Out of 9646 civil suits in
which the United States was party
Turing 1922, 5000 were closed. The
fact is that the war fraud
ases are being pushed, both against
and individuals and more
will be heard soon from the work
tarted there during 1922.
"All in all, kiddies, the United
tates has a wonderful outlook for
92S. Our domestic affairs are in the
nest shape in many years because
re have man at the head of the gov
rnment who believes in America
rst. Unemployment is gone, taxation
as been reduced and our foreign
rade is increasing. Now I think you
an write something for school from
hose facts, so run along to bed and
est up"