Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-16
BEST THOUGHTS IN AMERICA
DIGEST OF THE MAGAZINES

attempt to transform this war of defsns. tai.
war or conquest which would only prens,,
ne" ConHicts and create new abuses" PIo,.
are under way to hold a great internatIonsI
labor congress at the same time and niacs :,
the peace congress that is expected TO ba b,I1
by the plenipotentaries of the warning coun
tfles when the time comes for the cessation 4,
the struggle. At the end of this month an a.
ternatlonal congress of women is to be held IN
holland, to voice the demands of women In An
countries for peace, and we are told by Ian.
Aodams that women of the belllgerent coun.
tries VIII also be there even If 10 do so ~,
must defy their husbands and fathers" m,
spirit OF nternationalism is, i'm other words
once more raising its head in opposition 10 n,
spirit OF nationalism. with determination 10
limit the war it could not prevent and 10 inan.
ehce the final terms of settlement
Autocratic VS.. Free Efficiency
Dr. Charles w. Eliot, president emertu,
or Harvard, compares the contrasting types
or governments opposed to each other in this
war in the Atlantic Monthly (3). He con.
cludes that free governments are more
favorable to the development of efficiency,
in spite of Germany's reputation to the con.
trary:
More and more, as time goes on this war
develops into conflict between free institution,
and autocratc institutions. OF course hs
position OF Russia as an ally of France and
England somewhat shrouds Compllcates this
fact. Ambition and some stirrines TO-
ward liberty may have put Russia in its excep.
tional position by the side of two free countries
If now we take it for granted that the Quss.
tlon between free and autocratic institutions In
Europe, the question of more public liberty OF
civilization developing under the forms of free
government rather than under the forms Of
autocratic government, is the real issue this war
is TO decide 1t becomes a very interesting study
for all the freer peoples how German efficiency
is going to turn in wifi Rfeh
efhciency as the freer nations develop Ger
man efficiency has been an object OF great
admiration but it is of a peculiar type
1t Is an efficiency of administration 1t Is an
efficiency which takes hold of every child in
Germany at its birth, and follows every youth
and man and woman through life until death
1t is that very efficiency which has prevented
the last two generations of Germans from
knowing anything about liberty It is In the
highest degree an autocratc efficiency
The freer nations say, I'VE believe man
or nation will develop greater mental capacity
and moral force with freedom than without Il
Our philosophy of life teaches that doctrine
our history illustrates It, our practice and et-
perence prove it." A brief review OF the
sources of the important discoveries and in
ventions which have made the industries OF the
civilized world vastly more effective ance 1850
VIII convince any impartial person that the
means of improvement have come from the free
countries and not from the countries that are
despotically governed.
A brief paragraph in the Forum U) sus-
gests similar thought to that developed BY
Mr.. Schoonmaker in his Century article;
Not without amusement, 1t may be noted
that the war has produced some remarkable
examples of the possibilities OF collectlyism
apart from the armies and navies OF the nr
tions, and the practical naturalization OF the
railroads, the different governments in matters
of food finance, commerce and even labor have
shown that the possibilities of collectvism are
collected. II the people will learn their lesson.
they may be able TO teach lessons in the fumA