down, and the proposal for the elimination of the eleven curves indignantly rejected.

Just before the ballot the Protective League of Carmel-by-the-Sea issued a statement. "We made our escape," it declared, "from cities only to be pursued in this quiet retreat by 'realtors' and 'promoters.' Carmel is a village. The majority of its taxpayers came here, not to promote or even endure commercial or metropolitan enterprises, but to escape them and their attending evils of exorbitant expenses and destruction of privacy and of quiet."

We have nothing but kindly feelings towards "progress," even when spelled with a big "P;" it has much to be said for it. Our sympathies nevertheless are with the Carmelites.

Hoover Warns the States

A

RE the States which once were so touchy about Federal encroachment upon their rights now willing to forego the larger part of those rights in order that they may be able to shift certain burdens over to the Federal Government? The question is raised by the address of Secretary of Commerce Hoover before the meeting, recently held in Washington, of the National Association of Railroad and Public Utilities Commissioners.

Dual government, Secretary Hoover said, is in peril. The local self-government side of it appears about to be sacrificed to paternalism, and it sometimes seems that the States are willing to surrender their rights if they may at the same time shift their responsibilities. The Federal Government is already in large part, he said, a "centralized bureaucracy." "If we do not resist this extension," he asked, "what becomes of that fundamental freedom and independence that can rise only in local selfgovernment?" He undertook to mark, too, the line beyond which the States should not yield or the Federal Government seek to encroach. "Where the States can equally well solve these problems," he said, "there is no remote reason for Federal invasion."

The immediate purpose of Secretary Hoover's address was to express disapproval of proposals to substitute Federal for State and municipal control of electric public utilities, but the danger, he points out, does not lie in that situation. alone. For the time being, the States appear to be not sufficiently jealous of their rights generally. There appears to

be too much grasping for the supposed material benefits of Federal control, with little thought for what the States are giving up.

This attitude will not continue forever. The American people, when they think of it, have no intention of surrendering local government. dering local government. But there is danger that irreparable harm may be done before public attention returns to the safeguards of individual and local freedom.

Rounding Up the British Reds

Ν

IN strict law, the British Government

has doubtless a good case against the eight "Reds" just arrested. It is a crime to foment revolution, and neither in speech nor in writing are Communists careful to avoid incitements to mutiny in the armed forces of the crown. Indeed, so clear is the case on technical grounds, that last year one of the defendants, John H. Campbell, editor of the "Workers' Weekly," was indicted (and released) by the Labor Government itself. The real question is whether the prosecutions are politic. Hitherto Britain has allowed extremists of every kind to blow off steam, and as a forum for faddists Hyde Park has long been famous. In fact, there has been no prosecution of Labor leaders since the year 1885, when, after riots in the West End of London, John Burns, among others, was sent to prison. That later he became the first trade-unionist to enter the Cabinet is perhaps significant.

In the Burns case there was actual violence. But to-day the Communists, however mistaken they may be, are charged only with propaganda. It is not suggested that they have actually caused a mutiny among soldiers, sailors, airmen, and police, or that any damage to life and property has followed their leafleteering. Hence it will be urged on their behalf that they are to be punished for opinion. And we shall hear pointed references to Lords Carson and Birkenhead, both of them judges, who before the war were accused of using language calculated to incite Ulster to resist the authority of Parliament as then expressed in the Home Rule Bill.

What the Government fears is the situation in the coal mines. Early next year a truce of nine months will expire. A royal commission is using the interval to work out a plan of peace. Acting under instructions from Russia, the Com

munists, on their side, are advocating a general strike. As a precaution, many bodies of "Fascisti" are formed. And they have received the blessing of the Home Secretary, Sir William JoynsonHicks. The O. M. S., as it is called, or Organization for the Maintenance of Supplies, is now administering to its members the oath required of special constables. And the danger is that Labor, on its side, may enroll a Workers' Army. The game is one at which two can play.

The position would be simpler if you could definitely segregate the Communists from Socialists and the trade unions. But "red" is a color of many shades. One defendant, Harry Pollitt, is secretary of what Labor calls the National Minority Movement, which is only pink. Yet it carried the Scarborough Congress against MacDonald; and at Liverpool-the Labor Party's Conference -had a solid backing of 100,000 votes by card. Many a worker, while repudiating Communism as a creed, will be angered at prosecutions aimed, as he will think, at freedom of speech among his shopmates. The action of the Government, therefore, is bound to be hotly debated when Parliament meets. The hand of Prime Minister Baldwin has been forced, so it would appear, by DieHards who compiain that, in his dealings with Labor he has not shown a sufficiently robust attitude.

King Rubber

THE

'HE world at large and this country in particular needs more rubber. This need will increase, and at this time the supply is decreasing. The danger of a diminishing supply is not so much because Great Britain has restricted rubber exportation from India as because there has for some years been a reduction there in the planting of rubber trees. Crude rubber has risen in price.

There has naturally been talk of American-grown or American-owned rubber for America. To-day it is said that Great Britain and Holland control over ninety per cent of the output. There are climatic possibilities in the Philippines, but there are also political difficulties. Rubber-growing concessions from Mexico to American capitalists have been discussed. Other plans have been suggested, but with little or no practical result.

Now comes a definite and large scheme under adequate financial backing. Mr.

(Coriolanus, Act V, Scene 3)

The anxious seat!

Harvey S. Firestone, well known to the general public as the friend of Henry Ford and Thomas Edison, is the head of a large tire-manufacturing concern, and is therefore strongly interested in the rubber question. He looks chiefly to Liberia but partly to Mexico for American-controlled rubber. He announces that the Firestone Plantation Company has signed an agreement with the Liberian Government by which it obtains a lease of 1,000,000 acres of land suitable for rubber growing, for ninety-nine years, as well as a plantation of 2,000 acres fully matured and in bearing. In Mexico a lease of 35,000 acres has been taken. Already planting companies have been organized in Liberia, and contracts have been made for shipping facilities, now non-existent, and for roads and plants.

Liberia is not America, but she is a sort of foster-child of America, and there is no danger of interference by bandits or revolutionists—which certainly cannot be said of Mexico. Though the climate

is suited for rubber trees, it is not for white laborers; but it is probable that out of the two million native Liberians laborers in abundance may be supplied.

The undertaking is vast and ambitious, but there is nothing wild about it. It will take years to reach full fruition, but Mr. Firestone is not a Colonel Mulberry Sellers, and when he estimates that full production in Liberia will turn out a third of the present rubber output he is entitled to a respectful hearing.

Honor to an Argentine Hero

IN

N recognition of the presentation to Argentina by citizens of the United States several years ago of a statue of George Washington, the people of that progressive and friendly South American Republic have reciprocated by sending here a handsome monument of their illustrious national hero, General José de San Martin, who led them as well as the neighboring Republics of Chile and Peru in their war of independence against Spain a century ago. The statue, which has been erected almost within a stone's throw of the Capitol in Washington, will be accepted on behalf of the American people by President Coolidge, with the Argentine Ambassador, Dr. Honorio Pueyrredon, making the presentation. The unveiling is to take place on the date of this issue, October 28.

The San Martin statue will be the first

of a foreign hero, aside from a number who fought in the War of the Revolution and Joan of Arc, to stand in the National capital. An artistic work of bronze and granite, it bears the names of the principal battles in which he participated in aiding the South American colonies to throw off the oppressive yoke of Spain, with bronze bas-reliefs along the sides depicting historic scenes from these battles-San Lorenzo, Chacabuco, Maipu, and Lima. Everything about the monument, even the sand used in the foundation, was brought from Argentina, from places connected with the hero; and so it is completely a gift from that sister Republic.

A constant reminder of similar aims and ideals, the San Martin statue, in Judiciary Square in Washington, should aid in the growing friendship between the two nations.

Mexico Again Threatens
Foreign Property Rights

Constitution, relating to the legal capacity to acquire ownership of lands and waters. It is around this article of the Constitution of 1917 that most of the controversy affecting Mexico internationally has raged.

As long as there is no interpretation of the article interfering with validly acquired rights, neither the United States nor any other outside nation has the right to protest; but this Government has made it plain to Mexico time and again during the past few years substantially what former Secretary of State Hughes said; namely, that "when a nation has invited intercourse with other nations, has established laws under which investments have been lawfully made, contracts entered into, and property rights acquired by citizens or other jurisdictions, it is an essential condition of international intercourse that international obligations shall be met and that there shall be no resort to confiscation or repudiation."

The proposed Mexican law, which in some quarters is believed to be merely a "gesture" on the part of the Calles Government to satisfy certain political factions at home, provides that any foreigner having part in a Mexican company which owns or acquires land or water rights outside of a prohibited zone, extending one hundred kilometers from the international border or fifty kilome

Wide World Photos

Arthur Meighen

ters from the seacoast, must agree to consider himself a Mexican citizen as far as the property in question is concerned, and "not to invoke the protection of his Government" in matters relating thereto, under penalty of having his part of the property confiscated. The law provides that unless this is done "it shall not be possible to consider a conveyance retroactively perfect." No company in which more than fifty per cent of the interest is held by foreigners may enjoy the privileges granted to Mexican companies. In addition, as to foreigners who have acquired land or water rights in the prohibited zone, it is required that they dispose of their property or rights within three years, "unless they acquire Mexican nationality in accordance with the legal provisions in force."

Mexico requires foreign capital for her development; there is not enough within her own borders; and yet she constantly throws difficulties in the way of that aid which she needs, without which, in fact, she could not live. Malcontents at home, those who rebel at the thought of any foreign economic invasion and those who are always seeking for a way to acquire through virtual confiscation or otherwise. valuable foreign property rights for a song, make it difficult at times for the Mexican Government in power to avoid a show at least of effort to invalidate these rights. If that is what Calles is doing, the proposed legislation will come to nothing. If he has more serious intentions, he will doubtless have called to his attention the understanding which was

reached with the United States prior to the extension of recognition in August, 1923, to the effect that no retroactive interpretation was to be given to Article 27 of the Mexican Constitution. Mexico has been informed that this Government has nothing to say as to what she does in regard to future acquisition of property and rights in that country, but that the United States intends to safeguard the property of its citizens legally acquired under existing laws.

Canada's Elections

ΟΝ

N October 29 three political parties (Liberal, Conservative, and Progressive) go before the voters of the Dominion of Canada in a general election.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Mackenzie King, dissolved the last Legislature because he felt that the issues raised by tariff, transportation, and immigration problems, combined with the perennial question of Senate reform, should be submitted to the voting public.

It is also understood that political conditions entered into the Prime Minister's decision.

This year the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have

voted by large majorities to return to the Conservative fold. In Parliament the Liberals have been able to rule only by virtue of the votes of the Progressives, while there has been a steady increase of dissatisfaction in the press.

An issue of importance involved in the election relates to the Canadian tariff against this country. The opponent at the polls of Mr. Mackenzie King, Mr. Arthur Meighen, who was formerly himself Prime Minister, is the leader of the Conservative Party, and is committed to a high tariff against America. The Conservatives wish to stop the export of raw materials to us, claiming that their manufacture into finished products in Canada would do much to stem the tide of emigration into this country by raising the standard of living. It is said in reply that the tariff reduction by the Liberals nearly four years ago has operated to secure an increase in the export trade of nearly $250,000,000 during the Liberal régime.

International

Mackenzie King

as the tariff question. The Conservatives want full co-operation between the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Canadian National system in the interests of economy. The Liberals are for a modified co-operation, while the Progressives are running the gauntlet of unpopularity by demanding nationalization of all the Canadian railways.

It seems to depend on the Progressives in the west whether the Liberal Government will be displaced by the Conservatives or not.

Senator Ralston Dies

SAMUEL M. RALSTON, who died at his

home, near Indianapolis, on October 14, was perhaps the last of the Democrats as Democrats were measured by pre-Bryan standards-the last, that is, to bulk large in National party estimation. In many respects he resembled Cleveland. There was not in him very much of brilliance, but he was thoroughly sane, thoroughly sound, completely devoted to a set of political principles which used to guide the Democratic Party.

Ralston's political record was too meager to make of him a figure sufficiently conspicuous to attract the Presidential lightning. He had been most of his life an unpretentious lawyer and farmer. He was for one term Governor of Indiana. He had been for a single year a United States Senator when the Democratic National Convention met in 1924. That was all he had of political The railway problem is almost as large achievement in a long lifetime. Yet that

The Progressive Party, led by Robert Forke, is essentially a farmers' party and stands for cheap agricultural implements and articles necessary to production, together with free trade in all the necessities of life.

Convention probably would have nominated him for President had he not made it plain that he would refuse if nominated.

The swing to Ralston came after the Smith-McAdoo fight had gone to unreasonable length. The Convention, in its exhaustion, had for the moment a vision of old-time Democratic sanity and a longing to return to it. Ralston appeared as the one man who could bridge the gap to the honorable past, and he refused to be nominated on the ground that he was too old and not physically able to do the cause justice in a campaign. Perhaps there was in his mind, too, the fact that the party had already wounded itself beyond hope of recovery in that campaign; but the reason given was sufficient.

Ralston did not have the opportunity to accomplish much as a member of the United States Senate. Had he come to the Senate earlier, in the prime of his life, he would have made a record of substantial service second to that of few men who have served in the upper house of Congress.

The immediate political effect of Senator Ralston's death is that the Republicans will have one more vote in the Senate to count upon during the forthcoming session. Arthur R. Robinson, whom Governor Jackson has appointed to serve during twelve months of the term for which Senator Ralston was elected, has announced that he will "faithfully support President Coolidge."

Lo, the Poor Consumer!

Is

Is hard coal for domestic use to become a luxury available only for the rich?

selling less and keeping the price up. The working miners, too, seem satisfied to take a strike-vacation nearly every year so long as they can maintain or increase wages: a Pennsylvania license law prevents outside miners from getting their jobs.

The number of coal consumers who incline to cut free altogether from hard coal is increasing. Pretty soon the strike method of settling coal controversies will drive the public to put up with substi

Samuel M. Ralston

tutes permanently-such as oil and gas. -rather than to be the buffer between labor and capital.

The Outlook's Anti-Pollution Platform Indorsed

The three anthracite strikes of 1922-5 CNGI

indicate a strong probability that the coal industry is approaching that conclusion. If miners will not arbitrate wages, and operators and selling and carrying agencies will not take lower profits, and Congress will not adopt any of the measures proposed by the Coal Commission, then the householder who now uses hard coal will tire of his struggle to get it in the bin and face the alternative of doing regularly what the other coal-users of the country have done that is, use soft coal.

A feature of the present coal situation is that the hard-coal owners are themselves urging the use of substitutes. The amount of anthracite in the ground is limited and closely held. Its owners and handlers may argue that in the long run the industry will make more money by

ONGRESSMAN CLARENCE MACGREGOR in an address before the New York Waterways Association quoted and indorsed The Outlook's anti-pollution plat

form:

The Nation has an inalienable right to clean waters.

Disposition of the waste of industry is a proper charge against industry, and against industry alone.

No corporations and no communities have any more right to pollute the waters with their waste than have citizens to dump refuse on their neighbors' property.

Congressman MacGregor pointed out the need for immediate action by the States to support the recent legislation by Congress. He said:

Congress is limited in its powers. It can only legislate as to navigation. It

has gone to the extent of curbing the discharge of oil into coastal waters, but much further it cannot go. The power rests with the States. Some progress has been made by the States. Most of them have laws upon their statutebooks, but in the main poorly enforced. I do not say that there should be an immediate ruthless enforcement, but the enforcement should be more rapid. Methods of disposal should be adopted to rapidly lessen the dangers of industrial waste and the communities should be required more rapidly to discontinue the making of their sewage a source of danger and disgust.

He is not an alarmist when he says:

Civilization must not be allowed to destroy itself. We must not be blind to the fact that the destruction of natural resources is suicide. Our civilization is too ruthless. We dry up our streams by failing to protect our forests. We kill the bird life by taking away their dwelling-places and leave the fields open for the pests that destroy our agriculture. We kill off our fish by destroying their home. We create cesspools from which to extract our drinking water. We fill our graveyards with the victims of our barbarity. We are more than foolish. We are absolutely stupid.

Let's send more men to Congress and to our State Legislatures who are equally alive to the menace of water pollution.

Hostilities ceased on November 11, 1918; but the belligerents remained belligerents. Peace nominally was restored when the Treaty of Versailles went into effect; but there was no real peace. The will of Germany was still kept subordinate to the will of the Allies by means of the open display of force, and for months afterward the conflict continued with Germany vainly resisting. When at last Germany abandoned her futile so-called passive resistance, peace came within sight; but it has now appeared to be definitely settling upon Europe only with the conclusion of the Conference just held at Locarno.

If a state of war has been really replaced by a state of peace, it is not because of any particular machinery that has been erected for preserving peace; it is because the nations involved have now a will to peace. Nevertheless the ma