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
shackles. 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 rs 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 freedom.-Louisville
Post.
Much of our business depression is
wholly mental. 1t 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 no"
asking the American people to buy
bag of her coffee" In a sense, Porto
Rico is a part of our own household. ana
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 II 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 hght any
body about anything. The Government
boats might be without fault and yet
fault might be imputed to them II
II were a matter OF Government duty
nobody would say that 1t should be
shlrked. But it is expressly urged as
matter of Government profit. That in
troduces 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 If a 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 If such pur-
chase were one step toward the re-estab-
lishment of an American merchant ma
rine. But II is not such a step. The
purchase and operation of merchant ves-
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
courage purchase and operation by pri-
vate enterprise.-Outlook
Already the transportation across the
continent is changing to the canal route,
and the railroads. 10 meet the rate, will
meet with a declining revenue. But ono
railroad man says they won't lose, whlcn
is as much to say that the whole country
Is benefited by the benefit to any part OF
it.-Ohio State Journal.
Besides attending to the obvious work
Of organization. investigating foreign de-
mand and advertising We must In minor
details take the hint given by our rivals
only temporarily eclipsed. Germanys
tremendous progress during the past dec
AIDES has been largely due 10 her educa-
tionaI system involving instruction in
trades for her artisans and instruction
in languages for her commercial agents
Washington Times.