Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-10
COMMENT ON
BUSINESS PROBLEMS
Editorial Suggestions Concerning
Some of the Difficulties in the
Business World.

What we need Is to free the energies OF
| the American mind from governmental
| shackes. What we need Is to give free
course to American activity and ingenu-
ity and let the American merchant find
his markets or make them What We
need of government Is a return to its
original functions, when we would have
better order and fewer laws and greater
safety and less injustice and the true
prosperity best built on the highest de-
gree of personal reedom.-Louisville
Post.
Much of our business depression is
wholly mental. It is caused by paralysis
of the mind. 1t is pure panic which in
duces confusion and inertia. Americans
should set an example to the world of
initiative. ingenuity and energy in meet
ing the business crisis not only for our
own benefit. but for the benefit of the
millions abroad who are dependent upon
us for supplies. Present prosperity and
future rewards rest upon prompt, useful
and efficient service in all lines of indus
trial and commercial activity Let us do
business and quit talking war.-St. Louis
Post-Dispatch.
The cotton planters are not the only
producers who are entreating us to buy
something. Porto Rico Is cut off from
her European markets and she is now
asking the American people to buy
bag of her coffee" In sense, Porto
Rico Is a part of our own household, and
we should not incur the reproach of
heathenism by Withholding consideration
from her.-Boston Transcript.
As a man of peace the President can
not wish to make unnecessary trouble
for himself. II it is not certain, at least
1t is as sure as shooting that Gov
ernment freighters will get into trouble
with one or another of the bakers dozen
of nations now of temper to fight any
body about anything. The Government
boats might be without fault, and yet
fault might be imputed to them. II
1t were q matter of Government duty
nobody would say that it should be
shirked. But 1t is. expressly urged as a
matter of Government profit. That in
PRODUCES an element of calculation and
of delusion-New York Times.
Why does the Administration continue
Its support of the ship purchase measure
after the only possible excuse for gov
ernmental participation in the shipping
business has been removed? Belief is
growing that there would be great danger
of international complications II Gov
ernment-owned fleet attempted to carry
grain to Europe 1t is practically certain |
that adoption of the plan favored by the /
President would prevent the establish |
ment of a permanent merchant marine |
Rochester Post-EXpress.
The proposal to have the Government |
buy own and operate merchant ships !
might perhaps be defended II such pur- |
chase were one step toward the re-estab- |
lishment of an American merchant ma
rine. But IL IS not such a step. The |
purchase and operation of merchant yes
sells by the United States Government |
would do nothing to encourage private |
capital to purchase and operate merchant |
vessels. on the contrary, II would dis
purchase and operation by pri-
Yate enterprise.-Outlook.
Already the transportation across the
is changing 10 the canal route
and the railroads, 10 meet the rate, will
meet with declining revenue. But one
railroad man SAYS they won't lose, which
Is as much 10 say that the whole country
IS benefited by the benefit 10 any part of
t,-Ohio State Journal
Besides attending TO the obvious work
Df organization, investigating foreign de-
nand and advertising We must in minor
ietails take the hint given by our rivals
lnly temporarily eclipsed. Germany's
progress during the past dec
ldes has been largely due to her educa-
ional system involving instruction in
rades for her artisans and instruction
n languages for her commercial agents