The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-19
big WAR PROBLEMS
BEFORE CIVIC BODY
National Federation to Take In
Government Control at
Meeting Here.
NATIONS DEFENCE A TOPIC

The question OF how far goverrr7on,a
action shall be substituted for pr'vs,.
enterprise, as a result Of the indus.rtl
problems in this country caused bv the
war. will be one OF the chief subject, q,
discussion at the annual meeting Of IN.
National Civic Federation. 70 be heId A,
the Hotel Aston on December ,. 4 and
Ralph NJ. Easley, chairman of the exec
utive council. in a statement % tho scon.
OF the meeting which has been sen, 10
members. says
"The frightful cataclysm in Europe IA,
brought this country face to face With
tremendous and perpleXing proh.cms-.
commercial. political and industrial Soma
OF the commercial questions hay" for year,
been mulled over and Qu1rr"liou over
hut they have been treated from selfish
commercial or selfish political s'tuGpu.a,s
Under the present strain our people are
rising TO the occasion ana dealing y4n
them In a more intelligent aud patriot,
spirit.
Resides distinctly commercial matter.
there are others whose consideration call.
for craftsmanship OF a high ordor The,
concern not only the banker. tho mcrrnlr,
and the manufacture but also TIE
farmer, the wage Garner, the publ,e
and the humanitarian.
larger question How far shall We sub.
stitute governmental action for private
enterprise" Under the pressure ~ a sud.
den rise in the cost Of many ~ Che
necessares OF life have come proposals
10 have the Government take over Goa.
mines packing houses and Hour mills 90
purchase ships for transportation pur.
poses. to establish food depots and TO con.
struct municipal dwellings and enter mo
| a large programme of road building and
| reclamation schemes to furnish employ.
/ ment for the idle.
"a new stimulus has been given 90 those
who advocate the idea OF the Government
taking over the railroad. telegraph and
telephone systems, and already Govern.
ment war risk marine insurance is an ac.
complished fact. Proposals for the ya,or-
ization OF silver. cotton. wheat, tobacco
and even canned salmon and naval stores
| appearcd suddenly in Congress
MANY advocates OF these measures were
| thinking only OF the present crisis. hut
| others seized this opportunity - pro.
| mote their special philosophy winch calls
| for tha Government taking oVg and
doing about everything that Is done TO.
day BY private capital Couceding tha,
! there may be emergencies which private
| enterprises cannot meet and which call
| for action by the Government. the qu's-
| ton ~: Where should the line b
| drawn
The serious attention that has been
directed toward national defence Will also
he considered under the heading Of:
| What does the war teach IA a. 10
| our future foreign policy Tho STAFF
| ment says
| should we be prepared for war or
not? In view of what has happened TO Ed-
rope 1t Is clear that preparation does not
| guarantee peace. but II Is also Just a.
ain that international agreements backed
loy moral sentiment alone do not insure
| freedom from strife"
1t is the belief OF Mr.. Easlcy that th'
problems OF international relations are
complicated in the United States by th'
| composite makeup Of our population one
| third OF which IS foreign born, aud IS
600 900 the offspring OF nations now a
war Although. he says, I'VE can ASSUME
THAT racial differences Will dlappea'
in a common patriotism, these condition.
impose upon US the utmost circumspec
ton in our international relations.