Evening Star Newspaper, November 4, 1923, Page 41

| EDITORIAL PAGE - NATIONAL PROBLEMS SPECIAL ARTICLES | Part 2-—16 Pages \ “SUPERPOWER” DELAYS DISTURBING PRESIDENT Coolidge With Four, at Least, of Cabinet| Interested in Boston-to-Wash- : . 'flgton- Project. BY WILL P. KENNEDY. ' [development, the Federal Power Com- RESIDENT COOLIDGE. and at | mission says. least four members of his cab- | “Superpower” is- much misunder- inet—Secretarfes Weeks of | 8tood and does not conslst in_throw- War, Work of the Interior, |Ing away all:you have in the way of ‘Wallace of Agriculture and Hoaver of |Power plants and-starting all new, Commerce=are much toncerned over [they explain. “Superpowei” means the obstructive policles (or politics) |linking up the existing facilities (sta- ©of several states—notably New York, |tions), and then, as you build new Connécticut and Maine—which are de- |Ones, do it in big and efficient unij: laying the development of the Wash- | DOth steam and hydro-eléctric. ington-to-Boston superpower sone. The Pacific coast is linked up in Superpower, they emphasize, is a|this way all the way from Canada to| positive and permanent solution of [Mexico—a distance of 1,400 miles— the annual coal problem which har- | With the exception of only twenty- asses the great industrial section in jfve miles, and similar. interconnec- the northeaat; and the Washington-to- |tions are contemplated through Idaho, Boston zone s the next, and most im- | Montana, Utah, Colorado and Arizona, Portant, link in a chain of intercén- |to make an interconnected clrcuit of: necting and intertransmission reser- |More than 3,000 mtles. voirs for light, heat and power, cov-| In the southeast - interconnéction ering the entire,country from the At- |has been effected through Alabama, lantic to the Pacific and from the Ca- | Georgla, thé two Carolinas and Ten- Dadian line to the Gulf of Mexico. Aside from furthering the great na- tional policy of waterpower develop- ment, President Coolidge 1s interested because as a native of New England and former governor of the common- ‘wealth of Massachusetts he has an in- timate knowledge of the pressing in- dustrial needs of that territory and because personal friends have urged upon him that something must be done to guard against a yearly coal famine. Cabinet Members Interested. Secretary Weeks, also, has a per- sonal and close appreciation of the industrial needs of that section, while in Congress was a persistent worker for waterpower legislation and is now chairman of the Federal Power Com- mission. Secretaries Work and Wal- lace are also members of the commis- sion. Secretary Work has a speclal interest because it was under the auspices of the Interior Department that a_comprehensive survey of the Power needs and power potentialities of the- Washington-to-Boston: zone: was made a couple of years ago. Secretary Hoover's energetic es- Pousal of this cause resulted,from his close-up on the coal probiem, and he | had particularly in mind the relief of the industrial northeast from epas- modic and impending coal famines when he called public utilities com- issions into conference with him in New York a couple of weeks ago. _ Here is the situation as explained by ©. C. Merrl§; executive sedgetary of the Federal Power Commlission. We mow have federal legislation to go ahead with waterpower, hydroelec- tric, superpower development, but the federal activities have run afoul of conflicting policies in some few states and others where there is no policy atall, Maize Bans Export. A conspicuous example is found In New York. About two years ago they. passed a law modeled after the fed- era waterpower act, but before opera- tions started under this law a new ad- ministration (Gov. Smith) came in' with propesals for public ownership, Thie resulted in a deadlock. The exist- ing law isn't allowed to operate, and no watethower development is being done in New York, In Maine there is & law prohibiting the exportation of electric energy, the idea being that it they don't let the energy go out the industries will come Into that state. But the old- established industries of Massachu- setts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and southerri New Hampshire would do nothing of the sort. It would be far easter for them to go up the St. Law- nessee, and will'In the near future be extended into ‘Keéntucky, the Vir- ginias and Ohio. A start has been made on the next) big superpower zone—Washington to Boston—this interconnection with the| Adirondack Power Company wlill mean a most extensive system in New England. The final solution will be the ‘use of Niagara and St. Lawrence power In connection with big steam stations In places like New York and Boston, Needs Are Outlined. What is needed, the cabinet mem- bers stress, is a common policy be- tween the several states and the fed- eral government. Secretary Hoover emphasizes what must be done: First—Remove interfering legisla- tive policies. Second—If then necessary, get posi- tive legislation that will help carry the program through. Third—Have uch an. attitude of mind among responsible stite offi- clals that they. will use thelr Influ- ence to_get the work done: Fourth—For the utilities them- Selves to forget some of their jeal- ousles and work together. Summing up the advantage from uperpower, Mr. Merrill says that “Large-scale interconnection means a less-capital investment, a lower op- erating cost and a greater rellability of service than can be secured with local groupings or swith iolated sta- tions. Interconnection of hydro plants upon streams of different flow char- acteristics, and of hydfo plants with steam plants permits, & far greater utilization of the water supply than would otherwise be possible. Anti-Price-Cutting Measure Sought To stop the misuse of well known, [ branded products as cut-price’ ad- vertising balt, two bills will be In- troduced on the opening day ‘of Con- gress, which is only six weeks away, by Representative M. Clyde Kélly of Pennsylvania and Representatjve Schuyler Merritt of Connecticutt. Chalrman 'Wipslow of the House committee on interstate and foreign commerce, has already agreed to hold hearings upon these measures promptly upon the opening of Con- gress. Focussing attention upon this pro- posed leglelation, every member of Congress is being deluged with let- ters and telegrams from manufac- turers, wholesalers, retailers and. di: 'THE PASSING SHOW IN POLITICS BY N. O. MESSENGER. FFORTS are: under way by. Ohio re- publicans to"iron out the factional wrinkles in their party in the Buck- eye state by selecting a harmony can- didate for governor'next year in the person; of Representative Theodore E. Burton of Cleveland. The entefprise has taken such form that party leaders here have been ap- pealed to to lend a hand in inducing Mr. ‘Burton to stand for the nemination. It is claimed by the promoters of the plan that he is the one man in Ohio best calculated to bring the factions together. Mr, Burton has served several terms in the Hotise, and from 1909 to 1915 was in the Senate, “In ability and character he is re- ,garded ;s»qne(of Ohio’s.big men. * < * * ok ok Close: party teamwork between Presi- dent Coolidge and Chairman John T. Adams of the.republican national committee is pre- dicted by the' politicians. This suggestion hds no relation to.any possible connection of the committee with President Coolidge's renomination, for -the committee takes no “hand in the nomination. It means, however, that President Coolidge is cognizant of party politics and is:in harmony with the commit- tee’s! plans for the next presidential cam- paign. The politicians say that Chairman Adams is i high favor at the White House and is frequently called in for consultation with the President. * K ok k The wets are “going-after” Gov, Pinchot in ‘deadly earnest in Pennsylvania. The as- sociation opposing .the cighteenth amend- meént ‘has declared war-on him in a formal announcement ' to the effect that Gov. Pinchot must not be given a single delegate to the republican national convention from Pennsylvania. It is charged that he is the trustee of the Anti-Saloon League, and it’s thumbs down for him. O Coincidentally, Senatoy Pepper of Penn- sylvania, in a speech in Chicago before a women’s political club, made statements which would seem not to hold out much en- couragement to the wets. Senator Pepper, by the way, is on the same lay with' those who want to keep Gov. Pinchot from getting delegates-to the convention; he wants them uninstructed. What Senator Pepper said that is likely to dismay the wets was that he believed that “in ten years those who now break the (pro- hibition) law will have either ghanged their point of view, died or become unpopular.” Not much balm in Gilead for the wets irom this viewpoint. 2 * % X ¥ Advices from a credited source in Cali- fornid say that Senator Hiram Johnson’s friends are openly stating that he will be a candidate for the presidential nomination. Senator Johnson himself is making speeches throughou.! the state against the Hughes plan for an appraisal by a commis- sion of experts, on which the United States would be represented, of Germany's ability to pay reparations. In some quarters this is construed to mean that unless the project fails, and if it comes to the point when this country is.to be actually represented, Senas tor Johnson will consider that he has given fair warning and will come with announce- ment of his candidacy. * %k %k * Only four weeks more.and Congress will be here.. This is the Congress which was elected in November, 1922, and its members will-be glad to' get into their seats. They will hardly get well settled in them until they will have to bestir themselves to hold onto them in the elections next year. The system which the fathers created of postponing the functioning of a newly elected Congress for more than a year after its election, to allow the people to cool -off from partisan passion, is commended and - deprecated sliise. -of ‘Congress, all* . * speculators would ‘be-forecasting the "Presi- Many politicians and statesmen favor Congress going-into action while the campaign steam is.-still high:in:the gauge. ;i £ What were ‘thesissues upon which the coming Congress wag elected in. 1922, any- how? e A ; Dok ook ik ok Who can remember the good old times when, at this stage, prior to the convening e wise-gdy observers and dent’s message. Those were the days. With great cock- sureness we would prognosticate what the President would say, and out of the vw:ide range would happily light on something h( did subsequently say. The sharps seem to be afraid to speculate on whatithis Presiy dent Coolidge is going to say. Maybe.we don’t. know. = * Xk Xk k v What Congress is going to undertake isa. safert topic for speculatiom What will be done—well that’s “;qgther story, yet.” It'is safe to prophesy that it will under-. take.asraft| of legislation for the benefit of the farmer, That wise :statésman, Senator: Capper "of Karisas, ‘the farmers’ friend and mainstay,"has tiken the precaution: to warn his wards that they, must not expéct tpo much -in- actual accomplishment, nor must. they sit down in the middle of the row and wait for Uncle Sam to hoe their patch for them. There will-be a lot of talk about reduc- tion of taxes and probably little done. The railroads are in-for a grueling, with the ex~ pected introduction” of many..drastic bills which will furnish subjects for much debate for benefit of “the folks back home.” * k¥ % As you look back down the years the thought is suggested, “How much one Con- gress is like another. v e Restore Stability to Europe and Wheat Farmer Will Benefit, Barnes Declares BY EDWARD F. ROBERTS, ESTORE stable condition in Europe and you wifl“restore | prosperity to the American farmer. : That, in a nutshell, is the rem- edy for our agricultural troubles, prescribed by Julius H. Batnes, presi- dent of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States and the head of the greatest grain exporting house in America. Mr. Barnes is not the kind of man who renders snap judgments. Thi tall, quiet-spoken westerner, who, a8 American grain administrator, took a major part in the gigantic task of feeding the allled armies during the war, has a somewhat disconcerting habit of looking you over thought- fully for a few moments ®before he answers a question. If he does not feel certaln of Nis answer he does not glve it. .What Hope for Farmert? *What hope has the :American farmer got for an end to his troubles?” That was my first ques- tion when I met Mr. Barges in his aerfe in the top of one of New York's greatest skyscrapers, an serie from Julius Barnes Saysi— “The solution of the troubles of the American wheat farmer lies in Europe.” “Lack of transportation facilities will prevent Russia from exporting wheat in large. quantities for a long time to, come.” - “Outside of Russia all Europe could not increagse her present wheat yield more than 5 or 10 per cent.” “Standards of living arerising all over Europe, and history shows that as people advance in civilization they become wheat consumers.” “The Japanese, the Chinese and the East Indians will some day become wheat eaters.” . “The American farmer has no need to fear the future. It grows steadily brighter. All that is needed is stablo conditions in Europe.” [Hot wrong bit is the only means shas Been devised of keeping ‘the rket’ ‘stable ‘and preventing fluctustions which: would be disas- frous to both grower and trader. Manipylative speculation, where huge quantities of any commodity are dealt-in. with no_other purpose than to affect prices and in violation of natural business laws, is an evil whick should rightly be stopped and which,. as a matter of fact, s rarely attempted. The worst of it is that when such an attempt is made it receives, a tremendous lot of pub- llnl? d" the .public gets the idea that:all' speculation 18 of the same kind pnd dll ‘equally wrong.” “Do you think the present Euro- pean situation offers encouragement to the farmer?’ “Unquestionably yes,” replied Mr. Barnes, “ihis “timé with no traee of hesitation. “Conditions in Europe are steadily improving and produc- tion is steadily increasing. “But will not increased production in Eiifope mean a falling off in de- mand -for American products? Sev- oral statements haye been made re- RUSS TROOP MOVES STIR - EAST EUROPE NATIONS Several Countries Would Be Involved in Case of War by Virtue of Alliances With France.: BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN. TATESMEN and miljtary leaders of Europe today are striving to Jerk the vell from soviet In- tentlons. For, upon early de- termination as to what the tre-| mendous and speedy troop move- ments of soviet armies mean, may rest the safety and peace of the con- tinent—if, in fact, the present chaotic and disheveled conditions have sem- blance.of peace. .At.any rate, much depends whether there 1s to be early Or remote processes.of reorganiza- tlon. The chancelleries of Europa well know that should the Russlan bolshevists set in motion thelr great armies—propaganda and military— new soundings, politically, soclally and economically, must be taken by all continental ships of state. That the soviet would not be con- tent to'see frustration of their plans for general Balkan and central Euro- pean upheaval—which plot I revealed some weeks back—was at that time taken for granted. Then it 'was stated that the reds probably were but preparing to capitalize dlsinte- gration In Germany to the “nth” de- gree. Having falled in the Balkans for the time being, it is but natural that the red leaders In Moscow should concentrate upon potentiali- tles within Germany proper. During the month of October red “shock troops,” those well trained disciples of bolshevistic propaganda, have been endeavoring to pave the way toward united Germanic and Russian bol- shevistic action with the intent of impressing the red viewpoint upon the whole of central Europe—even- tually to spread It in all nations. Appreach Discontented Masses. Repeatedly, during recent weeks, Russians and Germans have been in conference. The hour of striking has. been deemed ripe at several different junctures. During recent weeks the bolshevist's big guns of sedition have been hammering away upon the dis- contented masses of central Europe with the hope of undermining the last vestige of moral strength and inspir- ing hatred of so-called capitalistic governmental form in anticipation of the hour of dellverance “for the working masses of the continent.” As stated, particular efforts have been directed against Germiany. That the bolshevists seem destined to fall in the kalser's former realm is Indicated by the rising tide of rence river and get hydropower. As | tributors of these standard goods. The & matter of fact there is a proposal | Cafipalgn wie headed by Edmond A. now to do that very thing by the | Whittler, secretary-treasurer of the utilities. The New England Power | American Fair Trade League. Company hss just made, or is about |i Held Vital Necessity. to make, Interconnection with the tlon of New York and Into the manu- facturing district of New England. | rooa: The result of such a policy will be.| wiion Mr. Merrill explains. that the water | 1'ojoin, Power of Maine will be developed only as fast as it can be used at home instead of being developed and used and subject to taxation in the state. While if they ‘were developed and converted Into the.general pool of New; England power they would in considérable part go outside ‘the ! ! state at the present time, but would ;“:’;'I;" st p::“;'::l‘_"‘:n o ons be avallable for use at any time that | LIUOE hS Past vear and am con- b fo e e ag | Interest tn price standardization than energy wilf always be.supplied €0 the ever before. I belleve we are In a market close at hand rather than be|POSition to obtain action, and that trammitted to & dlstaice, - ' every possible effort should be made “This is & clear-cut expre explains the vital necessity of tion giving American business men the right of protecting their good will through control of the pricq of their branded products. I am confident that this logical pres- entation should be of value before the committees of Congress. “I have attended a number of na- X now to get co-operation on the part Importation Bakmed. of the honest business interests af- ‘The state of Cpnnécticut has;legis- | fected by this legislation.” latlon forbidding the' importation of ~ Representative Schuyler Merritt of power, In order, presumably, Mr. Mer- ['Connecticut, who is the author of the rill says, to protect the markets of | aerrite bill, which also proposes to companies now generating it. I.uhlwo price maintenance, although All such conditions In New York.: by a different method from the Kelly ! Maine, in Connecticut and some|bill will address trade eeeamiseiioey conflicting legislation in West Vir-|ang chambers of commerce fhis fall ginia all stand in the way of mlklnl| in an effort to increase interest fn ® comprehensive development of l.gislation of this king. steam power and water power through " the New England territory and| = + Galls Methods' Untarr. through the entire~northeast from | . Secretary Whittier of the dair ‘Washington and connecting them all | trade league emphasizes - that- price- up for the most efMcient, results. cutting on standard goods is an un- All schemes of this sort are short- | fair, method of competition that, has sighted and fas] 1o ses that they are|ruined thousatidi df merchants and net of real benefit'to those communi- | 1s - threatening thte business life of ties oven if only selfish motives were| hundreds of thousands in every city, considered. It is too much like the!town and village throughout the proposition of short line rallroads|country, It fs felt, he said, that changing cars and shifting, .traffo | Congress must take aotion soon on every time they come to a state or, this question, in order that the pres- county line. . We have gotten.gver|ent confused situation as to what that di o and ‘we must ::t over | a manufacturer can do may be-clari- this one us spperpower, develop- |fled. S . A 5% ment, the federal oficials say, The falr trade léague feels, ' Mr. The more efficlent, use you make of |[Whittler says; that it is due the manufacturers of the country that stewm plants the Jess soal you re- quire. The more waterpower you de- | the present situation, resulting from velop und-yse the less cosl you re- |the seemingly opposing Colgate and quire, Thst iy .&‘nn answer to{Beechnut déclalons of the Buprpme Fecurrent “problem in- the |Court, . b8 ended by a new mandate 2 .&PM The conditions | from the chief law-making body of the that are $4ea3 for such ! nation. . (O S e which he had watched the grain argosies of America set: sall for Europe during those momentous years which decided the fate of the world's freedom. . Mr. Barnes looked meditatively at his desk, which was as bare and polished as if it had just arrived from the factory. Businesa does not accumulate arrears in that office. “I suppose. you mean the wheat farmer,” he said. “The . cotton farmer is in gqod shape and the hog and corn farmer is Yot in such a bad position. Hogs sre selling at 7 to 7% cents, as against 5 cents be- fore the war, and eorn 80 cents, as compared with a preswar, price of 56 cents. Compared with otaer mer- chandlse, these prices are fairly good. It is only in the case of wheat that there is any serious trouble.” “What ‘is: the ‘cause for the de. pression in wheat?” Must Look Abroad. “Conditions in Europe,” replied Mr, Barnes, “and especially the chaotic state of most European currencles. If the American wheat farmer is to understand his own position he must understand the relation he bears to Europe. There are 300,000,000 wheat consumers over there whose normal needs call for monthly imports of between 50,000,000 and. -§0,000,000 bushels, 80 per cent of which must e supplied by us. One trouble with the farmer is that he does not look beyond the merchant through whom he markets his grain, The merchant looks farther, of coutse. .He is sell- ing in & dozen countries,.in sparcely one of which. can;he; tell ' : to day what the valifeiat be. Naturally heiconfine minimum shipmentss . life depends on his caut! Mr? Barnes pausedy: *The sult 1s?* I prompted;, ° “The most positive, s and wheat intended Yor expart idle in ‘American warshouses, the inevitable depressing, effect ‘on prices.” “How much wheat is affected In this way?” ¥About one ,montlilg’ formal: "ex- ports. That is, there are about 50,- 000,000 bushels backed up om the corn farmer. The main consumption of hogs and corn s domestic and when we have prosperity at home the hog or corn raiser shares In it di- rectly. On the other hand 20 per cent of our wheat crop is surplus which must be disposed of abroad and in this tnstance abroad means Europe.” “The farmers séem to think specu- lation on the exchanges is partly ‘re- sponsible at ieast for the price situ- ation,” I suggested. Many New Laws to Plug ~ In Dry Enforcement Foresegn An increased appropriation for the enforcement of prohibition and many legislative proposals to tighten up the Volstead law will be made during the approaching session of Congress. Conversely, the dry forces are gird- ing their loins to solidly oppose any ang all attempts to “liberalize” the prohibition law. Because the people throughout the country—“wets,” “drys” and inactive onlookers—are interested in whate ever moves are made by either camp, especially with a far look toward the presidential campaign which will be developing, Wayne B. Wheeler, gen- eral counsel and legislative superin- tendent of the Anti-Saloon League of America, and the one man.in this country who has kept in closest touch with the prohibition, question, asked pohig lank, “What prohibition | logislation is” cooking?" snd: here is ‘his answer: et 4 #+:*No one can tell in detall just what (legislation will’ be_introduced. in the ‘mext. spesion of Congress. ; There iz . general unanimity:of ‘opinion, hows ever, about certain measures. #The first is to.increase the penal- ties . under. the national prohibition lact. The penalty for sale is & money fine, with no minimum lmit.- In many instances this results in fines being imposed which are no more than license f There is a general de- mand that there should be a fine with possible imprisonment attached even for & first joffense. In the meantime in aggravated cases we are using the provisions, of the revenue laws and the conspiracy laws, which carry.very as an exporter, and particularly of wheat. If Russia, Rumania and the other wheat-producing ocountries of |Europe come into the world market sgain will not that added competi- That kind of talk has resulted in the | tion increase the difficulties of the Capper-Tincher bill, which unfor-| American farmer? tunately adds to the idea that all|. Pt R AR nd tends to s i Bt Mr. Barnes shook his head. “T ut a stigma on every man who en- Rages In It The trath 1a, of course,|have seen the kind of storles you " he. sald, Ybut once again that the kind of speculation known n of Fushing to co the trade as "hed 1s not onl. S in the trade a: ging” 1s not only on, insuffcient evidence. As “Rudsia 18 concerned her lack of transportatign facilities will pre- vent her exporting wheat In any im- portant-quantities.for. = long time The other countries are producing practically to their capac- ity now. German soil is almbst e: hausted.” France cannot do more than she is doing and Italy would need ‘extensive irrigation plants to utilize her vacant soil. Such plants are fipddsible In &’ country where earthquakes have to be figured on. Otitalde’ of Russis T'do not think all Burepe ocould increase her present ‘wheat more than 5 or at best 10 per cent. To offset that you have to con- sider the improved standards of living, which are one of the few good Fgtiite of the war, #Standards.of living are rising all [aver Europe and the experience of all history shows that as people advance .In civilization they become wheat eaters. That is happening today in the more backward coun- tries of Europe and the same thing time to the Orient. ithe Chinese and the {will some day become ? That day may off,i'but in any event “Yes,” sald Mr. Barnes reflectively, “There is a great deal of unwar- ranted talk about speculation and most of it is based on ignorance. Gaps have been convicted of violating the narcotic or prohibition laws after & hearing before the Department of Labor has proved that they are un- desirable citizens, has been adopted by the House pf Repressntatives by a vote of 222 to 73. In some places more than three-fourths of these GZ- fenders are aliens and there is very strong sentiment In faver of the measure. for their deportation, “A_ resolution to.put_the. fade prohibition agents under,olvil-senvice doubtless will be introduped and re3 celve support of most &f the: temper- ance people and soms .others who favor civil service, but are not es- pecially interested in, prohibition. Cost ‘of Sterage. other property, ia. and 8 - S sibility. of theft ‘great. - - _; 7 i . | - “The'Americanifarmer has no need “There is an urgent demard siso for | LOSTREF" the’futire. It grows steadily legislation that will authorize ‘seized R, A4 thg't he requires 1is automobiles or boats or other veNicles [ 5table “coruitions “in Europe. Aay- Which have no claimants to be used | thjaf’ that terids toward that end is by the enforcement offfers in their |0 His direct sdvantage,-as every- work. The law as now construed | thing that tends to keep Europe in prevents such use and it requires | tUtmail-1s;to -bis direct Injury. the agents to employ boats and auto- Editors N mobiles at a large cost. states have legislation sutho: the appropriation of such’ "hl'cl‘.:‘ m b ‘When no claimant puts’in 3 appesrs) m‘:". ued on Third Page) German nationalism, which woufd in- dictate rather a return to monarchial [forms, if not separation of various German states, rather than general acceptance of bolshevist theories and their application. During the past week it has been revealed that out- side of Thuringia and, possibly_Sax- ony, the bolshevists can hope for lit- tle ‘success, With ‘the backing, tacit if not open, of the relchswehr, the n: tionalistic elements of Germany have cp-ordinated-thelr forces so well that a red upheaval would have little chance of success. Possible Explanations. If the red leaders in Moscow have not been mislead §y their emissaries within Germany, this must be plain- ly apparent, which would inspire two conclusions— Either the reds of Russia are bluff- ing in thelr troop mobllization— Else, by creating a diversion, by military action, they hope to draw the fire of the reichswehr in the hope of stablishing behind the fighting lines the bolshevistic system. Most certainly any diversion of Germany's meager military strength at the mgment In nationalist attempts to prevent in- oursions from Russia would permit the soviet leaders freer hand to crys- tallise their policies within Germany. But even with such eventuality there must be considered another factor, Le— The -German workmen are slow thinking and loath to act precipitate- ly :when {t comes to participation in anything that tends to undermine the methodical 1ife he so loves. He is prone to discuss revolution and far- reaching Marxlan theories in their theoretical applicatipn to everyday endeavor, but from all indications of the past, he is not likely to go so far 289 to_attempt to overthrow such gov- ernment as may exist for the entire reich. However, Thuringlan and Baxon governmenats, particularly the former, always offer nesting places for seditious scheming, and if Ger- many hungers this winter, as it is reported on reliable authority, she must hunger by virtue of the ex- tremely chaotio economic conditions, the unexpeoted might happen and the reds make some progress. On the other hand, the Germans, of whatever class, has been quick to respond to the cause of unity in the face of national danger and if it should ap- pear -that Germany was to be com- pletely disrupted by bolshevistic con- trol, with Russia’s lesson still fresh in their minds, it is extremely doubt- ful that bolshevist leaders could stay the rally to the side of the govern- ment whether it be merely socfalistic or nationlist in character. Oapitals Showing Alarm.. ‘Whatever the hypothetical features of the situation, the fact that the Russians actually are asembling their armies on the eastern frontiers is not & thing that can be discounted. At least all the smaller powers of east- ern Europe are taking it very much to heart and there are indications ef, alarm in the larger capitals. “Contact with German bolshevists is the attributed motive. ““To ‘gain thls the Russian armies must through Latvia or Poland. Becausé of the meager forces which would oppose them in Latvia their progress would bs much more rapld in this direction than through Poland, ‘where every modern sinew of war ‘would r striined o resistance. Even : ~ should the Russians start through Latvia, Poland immediately would Spring to arms and another great tost of strength would come to pass. In this case there is extreme doubt that even the Poles could stay the march of the Russians as they did in their war of three years ago, In- asmuch as Russian armies are of tougher texture than the disorgan- ized masses that initiated a vainglo- rlous march upon Warsaw, only to Dbe turned to fgnominious retreat un- der co-ordinated Polish attacks. The Russian army {s said to number 600,- 000. There is more likelthood that through reglonal organization Trot- sky can command another millfon in case war actually is ushered In, Russia has millfons of men who served In the armles Quring the world war, and through military training and propaganda work at home a vast number have been converted to soviet ideas. As a consequence they could be marshaled Into soviet armfes withuot fear of treachery — some- thing that did not exist a few years back, when old-time czarist leaders laid plans for the army and were spled upon constantly by civillan “comrades.” Ready for Mobile Warfare. The present soviet army is well officered, well disciplined, and, dis- patches Indicate, ready for any con- tingenay, preferably a hard fight. The one weakness of the army is its lack of artillery and airplanes, but 4n every other respect it is sufficlent to answer present purposes, there being at least 250,000 Cossack troops, giv- Ing red forces a degres of mobility. Owing to the extremely long fron- tier over which they might be forcea to operate the soviet army is in good position to wage this brand of open warfare, it not being belleved under any contingency that it would settle down into & test of strength along given lines as along the western front during the world war. It fs known that with the ald of German interests thousands of alrplanes have been bullt and are buflding in Russia and in case of conflict this branch of the service might offer a surprise. Poland, the logical buffer of any soviet move, has been strengthened through the instrumentality of the French, who are offensively and de- fensively allied with Warsaw. If the Russ strike the Poles it is tatamount to striking the French. The Poles have been organized and are strong in every branch of military sclence, thanks to the large loans made to the Poles by the French and the use of French equipment which has been supplied In tremendous quantities. The Poles are ready for any conting- ency or any kind of warfare, but it is believed that the force of sheer num-~ bers which the soviet, through per- fected organization could muster, might counterbalance the Poles’ ad- vantage {n modern implements of de- struction. Any Confilct Would Spread. But at no juncture can it be sur- mised that any conflict along the east- ern frontiers of Europe would be con- fined to the Russians and the Poles. It possibly would include the small states of Latvia, Lithuania and Es- thonia. The instant the Russ strike— it they do strike—messages will go poste-haste from Warsaw, to the cap!- tals of the little entente and possibly from Paris also, demanding that the smaller powers to the south of Po- land act in the defense of the French interests to the east. Rumania, Czechoslovakia and Jugoslavia, fear- ing at all times Russian incursion, the former country particularly, un- doubtedly would heed the request of France and strike possibly at the Ukraine through Bessarabla. In which case the soviet would become involved along the whole eastern European front. It is not believed that Russian leaders Iin Moscow, knowing the danger of such eventual- ity, would dare initiate any quarrel! unless they are adequately prepared to meet the resistance of all of France's allies. The brunt of the fighting, however, is very likely to occur, if conflict comes, on the Pol- ish frontier, for the soviet purpose is purported to be a quick blow through Poland to gain junction with Ger- manic “comrades” reported ready tc show their hands once Russians push ahead. One Link in Campaign. In some circles, however, there is less inclination to belleve that the viet armies are in earnest. It s thought, possibly, present maneuvers art:'but bluff in order to influence France in the German reparations sit- uation. Knowing the French desiré to see complete. German disintegra- tion, a thing not desired by the Ru: sians as long as Germany can be pri served for potential soviet control the Russians may belleve that fhirea eped military operation would caus the ‘French to desist in’ éfforts de- signed to separate Germayy, a thing which England has insisted wou heighten the chances of soviet contre! in Germany. This line of reasoning however, is considered far-fetched by close students of the situation, who believe that if the soviet actually f: massing troops on the eastern frent it is but a link in a well planned cam- paign to seize the first advantage fr spreading the gospel of bolshevism into central Europe. : Peach Borer Feels It. - . What is paradichlorobenzene? About 500,000 pounds of it are b ing used this year to save peach tren from the peach borer, according & reports recelved by the United State; Department of Agriculture. This twice the quantity that was last year, 4 X