New-York tribune., 1914-11-30
American Policies Among
Questions Scheduled
for Discussion.
FEDERAL OWNERSHIP
ANOTHER PROBLEM
Unemployment to Get Serious
C0nsideration-RevOlution-
ary Mutterings Needed.

Problems growing out of the war
will be discussed at the fifteenth an
nual meeting o. the National Civic
Federation next Thursday, Friday and
Saturday. The first day will be de-
voted to the woman's department, with
sessions at the Colony Club, 100 Madi-
son av. The Hotel Astor will be the
headquarters of the federation on Fri
day and Saturday.
The opening meeting will be held at
10 o'clock on Friday morning, with
Seth Low. the president, in the chair.
Other speakers will be August Bel
mont, John Hays Hammond, Alton b.
Parker, Vincent Astor, William r.
Wilcox, Roland P. Falkner and Miss
Maude Wetmore, chairman of the wom-
ans department.
How far shall government effort sup
plant private enterprise? What should
be the American policy on prepared
ness for war? Shall America now take
the lead in social and industrial well
fare plans? What is the extent Of un-
employment facing the country this
winter? These and other questions
federation. Describing the scope OF
the programme. Ralph NJ. Easley. chair
man Of the executive council, In q
statement, says in parti
"Under the pressure Of sudden
rise In the cost Of many OF the neces-
saries of life came proposals 20 have
the government take over coal mines,
packing houses and -four mills. to pur-
chase ships for transportation pur-
poses, to establish depots where the
city could sell food to the people at
cost and to construct municipal dwell
ings and enter into large programme
of road building and reclamation
schemes to furnish employment for the
idle.
MANY advocates of these measures
were thinking only of the present
crisis, but others seized this opportu-
nifty to promote their special philoso-
ply which calls for the governments
taking over and doing about every
thing that is done to-day by private
capital. Conceding that there may be
emergencies which private capital can
not meet and which call for action by
the government, the question Is,
Where shall the line be drawn
"This will be one of the principal
subjects to be discussed at the forth
coming meeting Oh Nut AthtidNlOAs
Mr. Easley refers to the lessons 10
be derived from the war. He asserts
preparedness does not guarantee peace.
and calls attention 10 the difference OF
opinion on the subject. The duty OF
the United States as neutral nation
Is another ramifcation of the sub
ject.
OF the 100000 either foreign born
l.: 8 fl~oaxr, narapfQ Mr.
Easley saws % 900 900 spring from the
nations at war. He believes some OF
their hatreds and prejudices naturally
must have been transferred TO this
country.
"Not only has this war in Europe."
Mr.. Easley goes on, deprived TINS
country of many commercial products,
hut it has just as suddenly Jared our
plans for social welfare. The experi-
ehees of foreign countries, especially
of England and Germany, assisted In
giving light to our lawmakers in es-
tablshing workmen's compensation
End with further legislation in view
American social workers have been
studying European systems OF unem.
ployment and sickness insurance, old
age pensions and municipal better
ments."
Foods and drugs will be discussed
also in report. The woman's depart-
ment will show what has been done
during the year through its coun-
try life, vacation and war relief com
mittees. Unemployment. Mr.. Easlev
fears. may develop into a serious prob
lem this coming winter.
"On this point" he adds. "the fed
Grafton has sent an inquiry 70 manu-.
facturers. bankers, trade journals and
commercial. charity and labor organi-
cations. It is exrected that the re-
plies will be Of service. In this mat
Ter II must not be forgotten that those
forces OF destruction which have al
ready given US q taste of their revolu-
tionary methods will seek this oppor..
tunity to preach their doctrines Of
class hatred in furthering their props-
ganda.'