Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 234, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 September 1919 — WASHINGTON NEWS IN BRIEF. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON NEWS IN BRIEF.

Washington, D. C., Sept. 26. Wholesale dischages and resignations from the navy and slackness of recruiting have seriously disorganized and reduced effectiveness of the nation’s sea defense. Inadequacy of navy pay has driven thousands of- enlisted men back to civil life, and officers are clamoring to get out. Both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets are undermanned and neither could fight a "battle as they stand equipped today. President Wilson is urging congress to give him authority to send troops to Armenia to maintain peace there, being convinced that it is-of “immediate humane necessity” for the United States to send troops there to prevent extermination of the Armenian race. Tomorrow the senate foreign relations committee will begin consideration of Senator Williams’ resolution authorizing the president to use troops for this purpose, and also to consider America’s policy relative to accepting a mandate for Armenia. In a letter to former Governor Stubbs of Kansas, Attorney General Palmer said that complaints of livestock men had served to confirm his judgment that the “big five” packers were combined in a restraint of trade. If permitted to continue, he declared, the packers would obtain such a grip on production and distribution as to cause serious losses to all the people. ; '

Senator Johnson, in a forensic clash with Senator John Sharp Williams, who suggested that the Californian was going home to “mend his political fences,” declared he was going not only to California but to every state he possibly could ‘to preach the gospel of Americanism. The Californian said it would be a good thing for the senate- to adjourn for a while and get out to the country to learn what the people think about the league of nations.