Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-11-04

We are now in the midst of a great
presidential campaign and the air is
filed with what DIR. Holmes would call
mutual undervaluations" and it seems
to me that this mutual undervalua-
tion" is what is blocking our progress.
We, as nation, have never been
charged with undue modesty. We
proclaim our greatness only too will
ingly, and possibly without first fully
informing ourselves as to the strength
and ability of other nations. We want
to blaze our own trails. We make
laws which we think are for the good
of all because they are meant to pre-
vent wrongdoing. In other words. we
are searching for error and trying to
correct possible evil rather than
consider what we can best do to build
up. We all know that it is much
easier to sit on the side of the table
and criticise. but the dreamer of
dreams and those who see visions and
then crystallize them into action pro-
ducing great industries are those who
must sit at the head of the table.
Oh! If those who make our laws
would only realize how much too far
this undervaluation has gone. The
fact that a corporation has the power
to do evil does not differentiate it from
the genus homo. This should not be
crime. The daily press is pointing
with pride to our stupendous exports,
and some people even are taking
credit for more than their share in
producing them. We must not forget
that we of almost all the world are
the present financial beneficiaries of
this great and terrible war. We who
are now experiencing unparalleled
prosperity must recall that all things
come to an end, and while the sun is
in the zenith we should remember we
have no Joshua to make the sun stand
still and that as the shadows begin to
point to the east we should give
thought to what will happen when the
war ends.
hold no brief to speak for anyone.
MY thoughts are only those of an
ordinary businessman based on his
| reading. travel and observation.
The newspapers almost forget the
price of paper when they gloat over
the mass of gold possessed by this
country, which seems to grow all the
time larger and larger. This gold re-
minds me of an historic sword which
adorned the walls of an office of a
friend of mine. One day O client no.
ticed it and asked for it's history.
THAT" said he. sit the sword that
Balaam used to slay the ass" You're
wrong, Ed" said the visitor. "Balaam
had no sword; he only wished for
one" Then" said he. this is the
sword he wished fort
Now don't let us suppose that our
commercial rivals will content them
selves with simply wishing for ,this
gold. They are now laying their plans
TO get 1t through the game of inter-
national trade. Money is always liquid,
| but it is most liquid when 1t is leaving
u.s. and it is against such time that
we should prepare.
In preparation the first thing to do
| is to stop thinking in parishes and
think in nations. We must forget state
| lines-we must take thought of what
/ Is best for the nation and not any sec
ton. And how arc we to continue this
prosperity unless commerce is encour-
aged, sustained and protected? I tell
you, gentlemen. If this nation is ever
| toNtake its rightful place in the nations
| of the world we must have the un-
grudging and heartfelt cooperation OF
the government. the banks and big
business. and withhold criticism OF
business solely because 1t is big.
Those who against fierce competition
have built up our great industries
must be q part and a welcomed part
in nlans to meet the changed con-
ditions that the ending of the war will
bring. There must be no sneers at
dollar diplomacy. No matter who Is
elected,in November next, the incom-
ing President should bring to his aid
as Secretary of Commerce one of the
giants of industrial life. This govern
ment should now call together the
unquestioned leaders in every one of
the great lines os business and counsel
with them. They should be asked to