The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-01-18
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Prize Peace Plan, Submitted
to Referendum, Is Target
of League Opponents.
BY EDWARD w. PIckARD

BY EDWARD w. PlckARD
EDWARD w. BOK'S prize Of $780,.
~ 600 for "the best practical plan by
which the United States might coop
crate with other nations to prevent
war;" has been awarded to COM
petitor whose name is not yet an
nounced, and the plan is now being
submitted to the people in nation
wide referendum The reactions of
Americans of various schools of thought
are interesting and sometimes amusing.
! Briefly summarized, the plan is:
Il. That the United States shall en-
ter the permanent court of interna-
| tonal justice, under the conditions
stated by Secretary Hughes and Presi-
| dent Harding in February, 1923.
~. That, without becoming a men,
Der of the League Of Nations as at
present constituted, the United States
shall offer to extend its present CO.
operation with the league and partici-
pate In the work of the league as a
body of mutual counsel under condi-
tions which:
"(a) Substitute moyal force and pub
lie opinion for the military and eco
nomic force originally implied In ar
ticles 10 and 16:
"(b) Safeguard the Monroe doc
trine;
"(cl Accept the fact that the United
States will assume no obligations un1
der the treaty of Versailles except By
act of congress;
I'D Propose that membership inI
the league shall be opened to all ma,
tions;
"(e) Provide for the continuin de-
velopment of International law
Advocates of American membership
In the League of Nations and "r.ld
reservatfonists," though admit. &
there sy4s nothing novel In the scheme,
gave 1t their hearty approval. The
'frxeconcilabIes" and all those who be-
lJeve the United States should stand
aloof from the tsngled affairs OF Eu-
rope naturally denounced the plan as
merely an argument for entering the
league. They asserted that the jury OF
award was packed and that the whole
affair was q conspiracy. The concern
exhibited by some of the members of
The senate was almost ridiculous. IT. "
orofessed to believe that the conf {,
was improper propaganda design nj
influence their votes on the per 4
question of American membership nj
he world court, and called loudly for
congressional inquiry. The referen-
ium, which Is being conducted mainly
through those newspapers that arel
willing to help, is bound to be someJ
shat iimited- !. w
= ENAT0R LODGE opened the
y weeks proceedings in the upper
iouse by delivering a carefully pre-
jared speech In defense of the admin
strations policy of refusing recogni-
ion to the soviet government of Rus
la. He presented a great volume Of
vidence and documents to uphold the
ssertion that the Moscow government,
irectly or indirectly, is making efforts
, cause disorder and dissension among
ne American people, and gave what
eemed to be real proof of the state
lent that the Communist information
lie and the soviet government are In
interviewer and controlled
y the same men.
Senator Borah. who has introduced
resolution for Russian recognition,
lid the proof submitted by Mr.. Lodge
ould not stand rest In any court,
Id that even If it were true it would
! easier to deal with the alleged con-
tions If diplomatic relations were re-
ored.
Senator Brookhart of Iowa, with the
ashness sometimes exhibited by those
It yet experienced In large affairs Of
ate, declared the reasons for nom
cognition given by the administra-
IN spokesman were "the most ridic-
GUS | ever heard from grown up
en-"
NSURGENT Republicans in the sem
ate on Wednesday won the long
ruggle to keep Senator Cunmins out
the chairmanship Of the interstate
commerce committee. LaFollette ad-
vised his followers to throw their sup
port to Senator Ellison d. Smith of
South Carolina, the Democratic can.
dldate, and so Mr.. Smith was eIecteAl
On the decisive ballot the vote stoodj
Smith, 80; Cummins, 90; Couzens. d
The only Democrat out Of line was
Bruce of Maryland who, as once BE-
lore, voted for Cummins. Senatos
Smith was chairman Of this committee
for a time in 1919. He was opposeA
to the Esch-Cummins Transportation
law, but is not classed as a radical.
II lGHT here it is as well to record
the fact that the Supreme court
mas Just upheld one of the important
provisions of the transportation act
tna' one requiring railroads to dlyidss
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