The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-12-21
Especial 10 The Messenger.

Especial 10 The M~eSSenger.)
Washington, December 1S.-In sew
eral striking ways during the past few
days attention has been called to the
fact that this country is rushing fJr-
ward under a full head OF steam, with
the safety valve tied down. Among
those who have sounded warnings are
Secretary Of the Treasury Shaw, Mr.
Justice Brewer of the United State SUI
preme court; Senator H~ansbOrough, Oh
North Dakota, and Martin Knapp,
chairman of the interstate commerce
commission.
President Roosevelt has set an ex-
ample Of strenuosity tina the entire
nation, apparently, is trying to follow;
and the trouble is that the nation as
a whole is not 50 we'll equipped to
stand the pace as is the president.
I'VE are working too hard, and too
rapidly, and too many hours" says
Senator Hansborough. He was discuss
ing the railroads and their needs when
he made the statement, but he added:
This is not peculiar to the railroads
alone. It extends into nearly every
line of American business life. The
pace is too swift. We must let up, ii
ervou proStratiOn viii become dis
tinctly an American rnalady. Nor is
the condition confined wholly to busi-
ness activity. We find it here in
Washington; it exists in the
departments, at the capitol and in q
marked degree at the White House
Commenting on Senator Hans
borough's observations, Chairman
Knapp said the suggestion opened up
a very interesting field fer investiga-
ton lin which, | think, it would De
we'll worth while to make a careful
study"
THE whole country is in a state OF
more CT less congestion, in the individ-
ual case as we'll as in the organized or
corporate case continued Mr.. Knapp
There is a condition of ineffciency.
resulting from demands which exceed
present capacity. but if required to fur
niSh 25 per CEN mOr service than it
is prepared for, its whole work is car
ried On at disadvantage with increased
expenses per unit, and with more Or
less decentralization.
Similarly the individual who is tram
ing and fitted fer a given output OF
work will perform his accustomed task
with entire satisfaction. But if IN
tinuously pressed with a considerable
excess beyond what he is habitually
required to meet, he, like the railroad,
gets into a state Of diminished ener-
gy and encouragement. and SO oes
his work per unit with great friction
and loco c9fiCfa pfiN, that yln6af nor
NAL circumstances.
The average employee who sees ut
tie prospect of advancement finds NJ
sufficient incentive to determined eP-
fort, but yields to the temptation to do
no more than enough to hold his place
That temptatin is very powerful when,
in times like the present. there is q
lack of capable labor in every activity,
so that the risk Of being thrown out OF
employment because he does not &C
cOmpliSh more is reduced TO the mini
mum
Mr.. Justice Brewers warning was
sounded Sunday in a speech before
the Peoples Forum at New Rochelle.
After speaking of the marvellous
growth and development OF the ma
ton, the learned jurist asked: (which
way is this country looking? What
are the ideals and the inspiration OF
the nation? Is this republic seeking
only material development. Ostenta-
ton and parade, or is it striving for
the higher life, which shall benefit both
the people and the nation? We are
building up a big navy; We are now
the fourth naval power. In all our
cities we vie in Ostentation. We buy
libraries by the cubic yard and CALLER
les by the job lot. We want TO have
the biggest and finest yachts. the most
gorgeous private castles What does
all this signify?" .
Justice Brewer answered this. ques-
ton by pointing out what he believed
to be the growth of extravaganza in the
Individual, the municipality and the
nation. More than half of the states
are in debt, he said. 4 New York
city owes 1921, 900. 600. The nation is
running deeper into debt each year.