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Show NEWS REVIEW OF CUR RENTE V E N TS Germany's Election to the League of Nations Is Postponed. By EDWARD W. PICKARD THE League of Nations assembly on March 17 voted to adjourn the question of Germany's election to the league until the September session. The vote came after announcement by Afranlo Mello Franco, Brazilian representative, repre-sentative, that the decision of his country not to vote a permanent council coun-cil seat for Germany unless Brazil was given one at the same time, was Irrevocable. Irre-vocable. Then Sir Austen Chamberlain Chamber-lain gave notice that it would be impossible im-possible for him to propose the admission admis-sion of Germany into the league at this time. He concluded a long speech by expressing the conviction that the September assembly would see "that great nation, Germany, assume her rightful place within the League of Nations." As a result of this action there is profound disappointment among well-wishers well-wishers for the League of Nations throughout Europe over the breakdown break-down of the session of the league called to elect Germany to membership. member-ship. In some countries the hope of an agreement at Geneva tending toward general peace and security is regarded as indefinitely deferred, and fears are expressed that there will arise political recriminations In their domestic politics which may add to the difficulties. Such recriminations already have been strongly manifested in England, where the anti-government press is making every effort to bring about the political downfall of Sir Austen Chamberlain, the foreign secretary, who, with Premier Briand of France, Is declared to' be the author of the Geneva collapse. Chamberlain's mission mis-sion will be discussed next week In the house of commons, and a vote of censure cen-sure may be moved against him. In such a case the present Indications are that he would be saved by the big conservative majority. There are some reports, apparently based on speculation, that he will forestall an attack by resigning. It remains to be seen whether Premier Pre-mier Briand can inject his optimism regarding the future of the league into his countrymen. Dispatches from France reflect the disappointment over the failure at Geneva as are expressed elsewhere. Briand must resume his difficult task of restoring the financial situation of his country to normal. With the failure of the league to elect Germany to membership, his "security" "secur-ity" ambition failed of accomplishment, accomplish-ment, as the Locarno pact cannot become be-come effective until Germany Is a league member. Chancellor Luther and Foregin Minister Min-ister Stresemann of Germany must face parliamentary fire, particularly on the part of the Communists and Nationalists, who will endeavor to unseat un-seat them. THE Prince of Wales and Stanley Baldwin, the prime minister, figured fig-ured in a "bombing" scare on St. Patrick's Pat-rick's day which still is a source of mystery. While the prince was attending attend-ing the St. Patrick's day banquet of the Irish club in London someone in a passing taxi threw into the entrance of the restaurant where the dinner was held a cardboard box from which acetylene fumes were escaping. An examination showed the contents included in-cluded among other things moistened calcium carbide and a piece of tarred rope. No damage was done. A similar "bomb" which blazed fiercely and emitted clouds of smoke was flung from the gallery of the Hotel Cecil where Mr. Baldwin was attending attend-ing a St. Patrick's day banquet. It fell on the table not far from Mr. Baldwin, Bald-win, rolled on the floor, and set lire to the carpet. Consternation was caused among the guests. A woman at a table near Mr. Baldwin fainted and was carried out. The prime minister, min-ister, however, remained calm and the fireworks and burning carpet were soon extinguished. There was nothing to show whether the missiles were mischievous pranks, or the manifestation of anger by persons per-sons with grievances or a political protest pro-test of some Irish irreconcilables against their countrymen's hobnobbing with British royalty and British ministers. min-isters. OENATOR SMITH BROOKHAItT (Rep., Iowa) will lose his seat in the upper house in favor of his Democratic Demo-cratic opponent, Daniel F. Steck, If the senate elections committee upholds the report submitted by a subcommittee subcommit-tee which holds that Steck was elected by a majority of 1,420 votes. The subcommittee report was presented by Senator Caraway (Dem., Ark). It was unanimous, the other members being Senator Ernst (Rep., Ky.), who Is chairman of the full elections committee com-mittee and the subcommittee ; Senator Watson (Rep., Ind.), and Senator George (Dem., Ga.). In holding that Steck Is entitled to the seat the subcommittee took the position that the intent of the voters in the November, 1924, election should be recognized. Iowa election authorities authori-ties threw out hundreds of ballots which were marked by arrows which were designed to make It clear that the voters desired to vote for President Presi-dent Coolldge and at the same time vote for the Democratic senatorial nominee. Arrows of this sort had appeared ap-peared In newspaper ballots, and many voters, not being aware that such action ac-tion might invalidate their votes, copied the marked ballots, arrows and all. Senator Brookhart Is one of the four members of the La Follette group read out of the party by action of the Republican Re-publican senate caucus. If he Is unseated un-seated he will be free to enter the primaries as a candidate against Senator Sen-ator Cummins (Rep., Iowa) and it Is regarded as certain that he will make the race. THE United States and other powers pow-ers delivered an ultimatum to Chinese factions demanding that blockade block-ade of the port of Tientsin be ended and all impediments to harbor and river traffic be removed. The ultimatum, ulti-matum, signed by signatories of the protocol of 1901, was handed to the commanders of the forts at Taku and Chinese vessels outside of Tientsin. The United States, Great Britain, Japan and Italy have a dozen or more naval craft in these waters. The protocol pro-tocol of 1901 made stipulation concerning concern-ing the disarmament of forts at the mouth of the Pel river, on which Tientsin Tien-tsin is located, and also guaranteed an open way to the sea. The blockade has been preventing access to Peking from the sea and recently resulted in Chinese troops firing upon two Japanese destroyers. EVIDENCE that the law has not yet caught up with the radio is shown by a peculiar case of "radio slander" that has occurred in Chicago. State's Attorney Robert E. Crowe was sitting at home the other night, listening to a radio program broadcast from a downtown down-town cabaret. He was startled to hear the station's announcer tell the world that Mr. Crowe and some of his friends at that moment were seated at a conspicuous table at the cabaret, enjoying the entertainment. Mr. Crowe ordered the arrest of the announcer, who was held in jail for twelve hours before he was formally charged with disorderly conduct. Mr. Crowe's assistants spent much of the Intervening time trying to find some more serious charge to place against the prisoner, but there were none. The law has not yet caught up with radio. Mr. Crowe can sue the announcer for damages, but presumably cannot indict him. If, instead of telling thousands of listeners that Mr. Crowe was having hav-ing a night out, the announcer had published a handbill to the same effect, he could have been charged with the crime of libel. The law makes that distinction between the spoken and the printed word. To defame a man by word of mouth Is slander and no crime : to defame him by means of the printed word may he criminal libel. Prosecution of the case against five defendants has been set for April 24 and the decision of the court may sot an important precedent in bringing the laws of slander and libel up to date in this radio age. ANOTHER important event In the radio world was the passage In the house of representatives by a vote of 21S to 124 of the White bill designed de-signed to create a federal radio com- i mission of five members to co-operate with Secretary Hoover in keeping or- der in the air, where broadcasting and other forms of wireless in the past have operated in some Instances with' great confusion. The bill provides for the Issuance of station and operators' oper-ators' licenses by the secretary of commerce. com-merce. Opposition to It centered about the contentions of some members mem-bers that no machinery was provided that would Insure against radio monopoly and that it gave the secretary secre-tary too much power. Only one major amendment was added to the committee draft of the bill. This change, proposed by Representative Repre-sentative Davis (Dem., Tenn.), struck out a provision to give the Commerce department the power to remit fines Imposed for Infraction of radio regulations. regula-tions. The five members of the radio commission would be appointed from five zones to be established. Operators Opera-tors who were refused licenses would have the right to appeal to the District Dis-trict of Columbia Court of Appeals. It was stipulated that the President should have power to close any station sta-tion during war "or other emergency." UNDER a suspension of the rules, hotly contested by a minority group, the house of representatives passed the Porter bill, authorizing the appropriation of $10,000,000 for the purchase or construction of adequate embassy and consular buildings In foreign capitals. Under the terms of the bill, which was approved by the President, the budget bureau and the State department, depart-ment, expenditure of the money will be limited to $2,000,000 a year for five years, under the direction of a building build-ing commission, which will include three members of the house and representatives rep-resentatives of the State department. The bill Is designed to permit the concentration con-centration In one building of all government gov-ernment activities in a particular foreign for-eign capital. MANUFACTURERS In the Middle West were rallying for a final fight against passage of the Gooding bill, pending in congress. If enacted, the bill would have the practical effect of preventing permanently the Interstate Inter-state commerce commission from rescinding re-scinding Its ruling against establishment establish-ment of cheaper rail rates on certain commodities from Middle West points to Pacific coast cities. Mid-West shippers take the position that without the cheaper "long haul" rates they cannot hope to compete with their rivals on the Atlantic seaboard sea-board on account of low rate water transportation via the Panama canal. Manufacturers say Important industries indus-tries are likely to desert Chicago for more favorable locations adjacent to water routes. Refusal of the commission commis-sion to grant the request of Industrial leaders of this section and of the transcontinental trans-continental railroads, that the through rates be lowered, spurred to a greater activity opponents of the Gooding bill. Many believe the commission's ruling may weaken opposition to the bill In congress. SECOND LIEUT. JOHN S. THOMPSON THOMP-SON of the United States army was hanged for the murder of his seventeen-year-old fiancee, whom he said he could not live without or marry because of his insufficient salary. sal-ary. He was the first American officer to be executed in peace time. Thompson killed Miss Audrey Bur-llgh Bur-llgh at Manila In the early morning of April 5, 1925. She was the stepdaughter step-daughter of Capt. Hamilton P. Calmes, medical corps, and they were engaged to be married. THE annual circus season this year will lack one of its greatest thrills for the children, according to word coming from headquarters of the big circuses at Peru, Ind. The circus parade, it has been decided de-cided by showmen there. Is to he abandoned. aban-doned. The high-priced performers, especially the Europeans, will not parade. pa-rade. The big circuses now visit only the larger cities, It Is explained, and noonday traffic problems and the growing grow-ing distance of the circus lot from the rallroud make the parade physically impossible. Ten years ago there were 20 circuses cir-cuses with trains of ten or more railroad rail-road cars. Now there are only a dozen, but these have expanded until the largest circus In the country travels trav-els with 1.500 persons, and the smaller ones carry about 600. |
