Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 246, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1919 — WASHINGTON NEWS IN BRIEF. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON NEWS IN BRIEF.

i-——Washington, D. C., Oct. 10. With sugar already a scarce article and congress wrestling with the problem, the country is also confronted with a coffee shortage. The senate is preparing to rush through a sugar control bill and house members, led by Representative Fordney, of Michigan, are urging the dispatch of idle government ships for Brazilian coffee to relieve the shortage and bring down the price. The industrial conference which striSk ne< deadlock n over proposal to arbitrate the steel strike; Employers do not relish the Gompers proposal that the conference arbitrate the strike, feeling that mere adoption of the proposal would be recognition of the strikers as against the steel corporation. There will be some more thinking about it next week before any action is taken. Senator Norris struck a blow at President Wilson’s defense of the Shantung agreement in the peace treaty when he read a telegram from Mr Wilson thankng him for correcting an “unintentional inaccuracy m one of my speeches.” The Pjesident has. repeatedly stated that he was forced into the Shantung settlement because of secret engagements entered into by Japan, Great Britain, France, and Italy before the United States declared war, agreements made to draw Japan into the war. The fact is, as Senator Norns disclosed, that Japan entered the war August 23, 1914, and the secret agreements were not made until March 27, 191 V. passed the house finally today and now goes to the president for approval. The wets have no hope for disapproval.