RESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S ringing call to all the civilized world to unite in outlawing war, in abandoning fts weapons of offense and in agreeing le not to send armed q forces across national borders aroused the peoples of the earth to enthusiastic ap- proval, and may well prove to be the great- est act of his regime, Coming as it did when Europe was on edge with rumors of coms ing wars and when Chancellor Adolf Hit. Chancellor ler was about to make Hitler his first declaration of international policy, the reaction to Mr. Roosevelt's message was awaited with intense interest. Everywhere [t was considered that he was directing his admonitions especially toward Ger- many and for twenty-four hours the absorbing question was “What will Hitler reply?” The German chancellor had sum- moned the almost obsolete reichstag to hear the speech he had prepared in seclusion, and when he delivered it, It was found that he indorsed President Roosevelt's plan for a non-aggression pact and agreed to join it. At the same time, In ringing tones, he reiter- ated Germany's claim to equal arma- ment and refused to adhere to a dis- armament agreement, even if It were reached by a majority of nations, un- less this demand for equality is fully recognized. Otherwise, he declared, Germany will withdraw from the League of Nations. The chancellor agreed with Roose- velt that lasting economic reconstrue- tion is Impossible unless the armament question Is settled, and accepted the MacDonald plan, indorsed by Roose- velt, as a basis for disarmament, but insisted any new defense system must be identical for Germany and the other nations. He promised to dis- band the German auxiliary police and also to subject semimilitary organiza. tions to international control, provided other nations accept the same control, Hitler declared his nation had suf- fered too much from the insanity of war to visit the same upon others, and denied that Germany contemplated in- vasion of either France or Poland. He demanded revision of the Versailles treaty, asserting that Germany had fulfilled the “unreasonable demands” of that treaty with “suicidal loyalty.” Officials of the State department In Washington said Hitler's speech was encouragingly conciliatory. In France it was not so well received. The French government was rather cool toward the Roosevelt proposals, and the fear was entertained in Paris that Hitler's approval of them would Isolate France. N HIS special message {0 congress accompanying a copy of his dis- patch to the nations, President Roose- velt thus summarized the peace plan that he had proposed for the world: “First, that through .. a series of steps the weapons of offensive warfare be eliminat- ed. “Second, that the first definite step be taken now. “Third, that while these steps are being taken no nation shall increase existing arm- aments over and above the limitations of treaty obligations. “Fourth, that subject to existing treaty rights no nation during the dis- armament period shall send any armed force of whatsoever nature across its own borders.” To the correspondents he sald he had consulted no other governments concerning his project, and had con- fided the plan only to Secretary of State Hull The cablegram was a complete sur- prise to the chancelleries of the world, and the President's direct method of approach rather stunned some of them, especially the Japanese, The emperor of Japan, it was explained in the Tokyo foreign office, “never speaks with foreign nations on political mat- ters and the foreign office cannot comment on communications to the emperor.” Prime Minister MacDonald, speak- ing at a dinner of the Pligrims’ so- ciety In London, praised the Roose velt plan almost extravagantly, rejole- ing that “henceforth America, by her own declaration, is to be Indifferent to nothing that concerns the peace of the world.” In Italy, the Balkans and Mexico, as well as elsewhere, Mr. Roosevelt's proposals were received with warm approval, and Norway's cabinet was quick to be the first to accept them formally, Russia felt that the mes sage might be the first step toward recognition of the Soviet government by the United States, so Moscow was pleased with It Opinion In the United States, as re- flected in editorials in newspapers of all parts of the country, was that the President Roosevelt # President had made a bold and timely move to save the world from warfare, and that it had a chance to succeed; but there was some fear that he was trying to extend the Monroe Doctrine over al! continents, and some doubt as to what his future course would be {if his proposals were rejected. Generally, the President was highly commended for his energetic and en- lightened action. NLESS Japan yields to the peace pleas of President Roosevelt and others—which is unlikely—~the Chl nese may burn both Peiping and Tient- sin to prevent their use as bases by the invaders. Late dispatches from Shanghal said the defenders, already driven back to a point only a few miles north of the old capital, had planned to destroy both cities If they could not hold them. AU the Chinese banks in Pelping had transferred their specie reserves to Shanghal, and Brit ish mining operations north of Tient- sin had been stopped. Thousands of families had been evacuated from Peiping in the belief that a Japanese air attack would soon be made, The navy office in Tokyo announced that the 1033 grand maneuvers of the navy would be held In “seas south of Japan,” beginning early in June. Ad- miral Mineo Osumi, naval minister, explained that “there is nothing sig: nificant” In the fact that the maneuv- ers are being held In waters south of Japan, “Such a big event cannot be staged on the sea of Japan owing to the lack of space,” he said. USSIA'S new alignment with China was endangered by the Soviet proposal to sell the Chinese Eastern rallway of Manchuria to Ja- pan. The Chinese were enraged by this plan and called off the negotia- tions for a trade treaty with Moscow. Chinese papers claim that China Is likely to retaliate against Russia with a boycott on Soviet oil, which has made serious inroads on the Chinese market in the last two years RESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S big public works-industrial regulation bill finally was completed by his ad- visers and submitted to congress, It provides for a £3300. : : 000000 construction program with which it is hoped depression will be routed and the industries of the na- tion put on their feet. How this Immense sum will be raised was left to the ways and means committee of the house to de. cide. Mr. Roosevelt conferred with Lewis W. Douglas, director of the budget, and thereafter it was made plain that the plan to finance the program by the issue of greenbacks was abandoned, though Senator Glass, wisest financier in the Democratic party, had said he preferred that to any form of taxa. tion, despite his general opposition to inflation. The President was informed that congress would not stand for a sales tax to provide the £220,000,000 required during the first year for In- terest and amortization charges, The bill, as drafted by Director Douglas and others, would authorize the following construction works: 1. Publle highways—8400,000.000, of which $250,000000 would follow the present allocation and $150,000,000 would be for extensions, 2. Public bulldings—No set limit. 3. Naval construction—=8100,000,000 maximum, 4. Army, Including equipment and possibly a huge airplane flotilla should the disarmament conference falil-- £100,000,000 maximum, 5. Slums and housing following the pattern of the United States Housing corporation of war days—No set limit, 6. Natural resources, including soll and erosion work, forestry and similar projects—No set limit, 7. Loans to railroads for mainte. nance and equipment—No limit. RINCETON university was thrown into deep mourning by the death of Dr. John Grier Hibben, president emeritus, who was killed at Wood: ridge, N. J, when his automobile col: lided with a truck. Mrs. Hibben, who accompanied him, was severely In- jured. Doctor Hibben, who was born in Peoria, Ill, In 1861, was educated at Princeton and the University of Berlin. He succeeded Woodrow Wilk son as president of Princeton In 1012 and retired In June last year. He ranked high as an educator and as author of works on philosophy. Lewis Douglas RESIDENT ROOSEVELT notified Rufus C. Dawes, president of the Century of Progress, that he would be unable to go to Chicago to open that great exposition on May 27. He added that he hoped ta attend the fair be fore it closes, Notwithstanding this disappointment, the exposition will be formally opened om the date named above, and the intensive activity on the grounds gave assurance that It would be practically completed and ready for vigitors at that time. HREE members of the American delegation to the world economle conference In London have been selects ed by. President Roosevelt, They are Secretary of State Hull, chairman; James M. Cox of Ohlo, once Demos cratic candidate for the Presidency, and Senator Key Pittman, ITTING as a court of Impeachment for the eleventh time in its history, the senate began the trial of Federal Judge Harold Louderback of the northern district of California, Vice Pres- fdent Garner WAS president of the court and Henry F. Ashurst of Arizona, chalrman of the judiciary com- mittee, served as mas- ter of procedure. The ’, == Washington,—The great experiment In farm relief is under way at last, Already, regulations Farm Relief ana policies are issu- Machiner ing from the office y of George N. Peek, the prosecution was made by tive Hatton W. ners of Texas, man of the Sum. chalr. house Judge Louderback i i plexity equalled only by those pro- mulgated for enforcement of prohibl- They are the work of a dozen or so of men who are designated as experts, and the concensus around ate and It was believed the trial would end by May 27. Judge Louderback is standing trial on five articles of {impeachment charging him with irregularities In receivership cases. It Is alleged that he displayed favoritism in appointing receivers, that he appointed incompe- tent persons, and ordered them pald exorbitant fees, One article claims that he appointed a telegraph operator as receiver for a three million dollar motor company; ceiver out of office because the re celver would not comply with his or- ders to select a particular attorney. CXECUTIVES representing nine of the leading life insurance companies that hold farm mortgages called on Henry Morgenthau, Jr. In Washington and told that chairman of the farm board that, while they were desirous of helping in the sue cessful administration of the emer twenty- change for federal under the terms of the emergency leg- islation. For refinancing the outstanding farm mortgages the land banks under the direction of the new administration are authorized to issue up to 22000000000 of bonds which may be sold or exchanged for mort. gages held by the insurance com panies and others. Loans on or ex- changes of bonds for these securities may not exceed 50 per cent of the “appraised normal value” of land mortgaged plus 20 per cent of the in sured improvements, however, and Mr Morgenthau recently sald that “in or. der to effect an exchange of first mort. in many cases the smount of such mortgages will have to be curtailed to come within the sum which can be loaned.” It was the consensus of the execu tives that most of their mortgages had been conservatively written and that in justice to their policyholders they should not make additional sacri fices of assets to losses sustained dur. ing the last four years. The opinion prevailed that the companies should continue to carry their farm mortgage holdings pending a return of increased land values to come with the general prosperity which they felt was not far off. Meanwhile the companies would continue avoiding foreclosures wherever possible and decide indi. vidual cases on their own merits, OME time ago the senate called mn formation concerning grain speculating on boards of trade. Mr. Wallace has just reported In response, and he says that big speculators in wheat futures in the grain pit were short “on an average five days out of every six" from April 1, 1830, to Octo- ber 22, 1982, in his report, Wal lance declined to give the names of persons wr and firms short 1,000, 000 bushels or more Sec’y Wallace during the last “two or three years” on the Chicago Board of Trade, as asked by the senate. He explained the grain futures trading laws pro hibited release of this information, A total of 700 trading days covered in his report. Wallace sald, showed “the big speculators, as a group. were predominantly on the short side of the wheat futures market. “As a group, their net position as of the close of the market each day was short on 643 days, or 836 per cent of the time, and long on 125 days, or 164 per cent of the time, and one day evenly balanced,” Wallace re ported. President Peter B. Carey of the Chicago Board of Trade said the in. formation presented to the senate is “simply a repetition of data assem. bled by Dr. J. W. T. Duvel, chief of the grain futures administration, In an effort to retain his bureaucratic Job.” all adhering countries. The delega- tion from the United States is headed by John C Cooper. Jr. chairman of ©. 1993, Western Newspaper Union, at President Roosevelt and every one else is hoping the law will rescue agri- culture and construct a firm founda- tion for the entire economic structure of the country. To help attain success, the President called Mr. Peek away from his vast implement manufactur ing business at Moline, Ill, to take charge. Mr. Peek is sympathetic with agriculture in every respect. He real jzes, for example, that agriculture must prosper or his plants are going to be idle. He will sell no farm ma- chinery. So the law will be adminis- tered at the top by a friend. tut as the machinery for adminis tering the act is developed, it becomes painfully apparent that the danger lies not in what goes on here in Washing- ton with respect to It. The fear Is held by many supporters of the law that the small army needed to carry its provisions into effect will be the However intensive is the desire to get the best out of the law, there is bound to be varied construction of its terms and the regulations promulgated under It Jt is humanly impossible to have it otherwise, and there are plenty of in the administration of other federal laws that have attempted to go too near the Individual eltizen as well. It has happened in other laws dealing with Individuals. This one presents brand new opportunities in that direction. The Department of Agriculture Is striving, however, to scquaint the country with facts as to what the law means, how it operates and what It proposes to do. It is seeking the co operation of all. Without co-operation, success is likely to be limited. The department, therefore, Is seeking to have the farmers understand the neces. sity for the statute In advance of ap- pointment of the vast personnel that will be needed to reach into every coun- ty where agriculture predominates, If that ean be accomplished, It is argued, which to work when interview farmers concerning their willingness to join In reducing acreage. It is by reduction of acreage, of course, that the main profit for the farmer Is expected. That Is the way it is figured to force prices higher. Secretary Wallace and Mr. Peek and others connected with the job here in Washington have been holding confer. ences with representatives of pro. ducers, of processors (those who grind the wheat or spin the cotton, ete.) and other agencies. The processors are di in several Ways to obtain agree to reduce production. That is one way of creating what the bill calls price parity. The main purposes of basie information that will serve as . » = While the section of the farm relief : of refinancing them See Hope in may not awaken the Bond Issue Inierest generally that the other part of the measure does, It seems to me that the provision enabling the Fed. eral Land banks to issue $2.000.000,000 worth of new bonds holds forth much more promise, The federal govern. ment guarantees the Interest on these bonds, and the proceeds of them will be used to make new mortgages or re finance existing mortgages on farm lands, The Federal Land banks are au thorized to buy outstanding mortgages from the present holders, or to ex. change the new bonds for them, but the law specifies that this must be done “on the best possible terme.” The plain meaning of this is that the land banks must seek to force a scaling down of the debt wherever possible It 1s believed by many persons that holders of mortgages on which the in. terest has not been pald and on which perhaps installments are overdue, will be willing to reduce the amount of the debt in order to dispose of the mortgage. In other words, the holder of a $5,000 mortgage that is delinquent is considered as likely to accept some- thing less than that amount If he gets what amounts to a government bond In its place. He kbows the Interest will be paid. . This section of the law likewise grants what amounts to a moratorium on interest payments by the owners of the mortgaged land during the next five years. It prescribes lower interest rates algo, so that the debt will not be mounting so rapidly In the mean Of course, the Interest eventually that now is the time when freedom from forced payment of ise Interest will be of most help, Direct loans to the farmers by the land banks are allowed under the mortgage section of the law in cases where farmers live In communities having no farm loan association, The land banks will require such a bor rower to agree to join a farm loan as- sociation if one is organized in his vicinity, but the law opens the way for him to obtain credit despite the absence of such an organization, On top of these Increased benefits avallable to the farmers, ihe law ap- propriated £200,000,000 of Reconstrue. tion Finance corporation money to en- able farmers to redeem or repurchase farms lost through foreclosure, or to reduce or refinance what is known as Junior mortgages and obligations, These commitments may include such things as mortgages on live stock or farm machinery and other equipment, Congress sought to provide assistance the pressure occasioned by the local bank or other lender of money who naturally wants to be paid off, It was argued that no farmer would be suc- cessful in a full measure if he had threats hanging over him of losing his work stock or whatever he had mortgaged to provide working funds, Loans from the Finance corporation funds need be no repayment of principal for the first three years. As was stated enables a farmer to put hie debts Into bit free until conditions Improve. And not improve within three years, money will not be worth much anyway. . o® It Is almost three months since the Roosevelt government. things have hap pened, some of them an astounding character, in that time. In the broad- er perspective, one of the things that Economic Policy of look into the future is the deep-tooted economie policy that President Roose velt has fostered, In some respects, the President has been driving hard toward what may be described ns economic nationalism, For example, there is the law which he describes as placing the government in partnership industry, respects, he has sought ends properly described as international- ism. The tariff truce and the program for lowered tariff barriers throughout the world proof of this course. 1 have found It difficult reconcile the two, yet it pointed out to me that the President will be free it with economic constitute conference is ended. If all nations stand hitched, there will be tariff re ductions through the world ; if they do not agree in that conference, Mr. Roosevelt can turn back to economic nationalism, The price parity bill, which I have just analyzed, is essentially national. istic, and If it proves successful there will be sufficient unto ourselves. In this connection, the gold embargo should be recalled. Whe our tariff rateg have been high, holders of cap. ital In this country Joaned billions abroad. These events surely have the appearance of a foundation for “planned economy,” and affect our own development. President Roosevelt Is not going to allow the American delegation to talk about the debts owed to the American government. That subject remains in his hands. It is safe to say he will be his own secretary of state to receive any communications the eleven foreign nations have to make respecting their inability to pay their semi-annual In stallments In June and later. . "0 In considering what the Roosevelt administration has done since March 4, many observers Just Hard here have reached Workers the conclusion that the President did not need to select strong men for his cabinet. The makeup of that eabinet never has been looked upon by those inclined to analysis as being outstand- ing In any particular respect. He has chosen honest, hard-working Individ- uals for the various posts, but it Is no secret that announcement of appoint. ment of some of them brought ques tions among some rather important persons in the President's own party as to the identity of those named. In. deed, in the case of one cabinet mem ber, T heard two long-time Democratic senators remark that they never had heard of him before, The point of all this Is that Mr. Roosevelt has come to be the govern ment Insofar as one individual can possibly be. He has dominated con. gress far beyond anyone's espectation or hope aryl he controls his eabinet to the point that In some Instances makes of them just obedient servants as far as policies are concerned. He con colves the (dens; they effectuate them, Consequently, there has been no loss to the country in the failure of the President to appoint outstanding Ine dividuals, : ©. 1933, Western Newspaper Unten, Howe About: Back to Recovery Temperance Hard Times Not Rare By ED HOWE N READING 1 lately encountered the following sentence: “America can move forward to a new system that will solve our present difficulties, but cannot move back to recovery.” I admit it is an impressive and high-sounding paragraph, but denounce it as nonsense, It is precisely back ward we must go to recovery; back to the old economy in public and pri. vate affairs, In marching forward recklessly we have reached a dangerous position we cannot maintain; we must retreat back to safety, and reform our lines for another advance, * * s One of the worst American calam- ities was adoption of the prohibitory law, for the reason that opposition to it become general, and apparently (though not actually) whisky won a victory. Whisky is bad stuff, but In the row over prohibition (really a de mand of sober men for a sounder temperance measure) the unthinking gained the impression that temper {ance is a bad idea. The whisky idea | was thus encouraged as never before in our history. The wisest and best men of all ages | have placed temperance near the head { of their recommendations Let | sane remember that temperance is stl] { the best word in the | language. the cCoOminon sense » » * times with no more un hard are Frequent money affairs than are frequent bard t stomachs, our times or SNOW. Ours is a | should have a evclone cellar stantly handy which to retreat | Every day something happens to cause | all of us to regret we did not watch | out more constantly yesterday when the weather was fair, * * * 1 hope the sane did not neglect to note that the oppressed man who at- tempted to kill the President-Elect at Miami, Fila, wounded four and killed one in the gave as his excuse for the desperate act: 1. He had long suffered indigestion | pains in his stomach, 2 He hated men He confessed | day as a bricklayer, to losing $200 at the dog rac in Miami, and had a considerable sum of money on his per- HINER wi or of too much rain, airs because hard times world; ocon- to and crowd Presidents and rich generally. also to making $20 a OR son when arrested As 1.500 people ing. the shooter, court, offered to § judge appointed th He expense, to atte witnessed the shoot arraigned In ty, but the at pub- three when lead gull » lawyers Sith; RIO digestion. liberal after the op iis Miaml judge physicians to reli Congress has not and prompt ir It has never been quite understood in London why not get along with his wife, who, the woin- en have asserted for years, Was so pa | tient, kind and womanly they cannot understand why any man should re | fuse to live with her. | A recent English book prints a | story that may explain the mystery. | Oscar Wilde was admittedly a very brilliant nan: wherever he ap | peared, crowds attended to hear his | conversation. It is probable he “re | peated” a good deal, as all husbands { do, and this repetition of old sayings | and jokes must have been more fa- | miliar to his wife than to others. Anyway, whenever and wherever Oscar Wilde began his brilliant con- | veraation his wife left the room; she had heard him so often she was tired | of It. Oscar. being a great pet, might have thought her action insulting, and started a row, . - - - literature is shiftiess stuff: that no one actually cares much for it except publishers, and their hired men, the writers 1 mean no special condemnation of writers or publishers. Everything In life excites us to frequent fault find. ing. It is the fate of men; nothing among us is very good or satisfactory. We must select the best In every- thing, and get along with It as com- fortably as we can, - - - Lincoln Steffens lately wrote: “Noth ing ie done finally, nothing is known positively and completely.” This is good grumbling and good writing, but I cannot see how anyone will be able to get anything out of I3 beyond a little intellectual thrill, Mr. Steffens has again reminded me of my weakness: again made me uncomfortable. If this is the object of writing. then Lincoln Steffens is » good writer, - - - It is related in sacred history that Oscar Wilde did I often say
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