Evening star., 1916-03-19
A War of Wits and Wills

Electrical engineering rapid transit and sky
scrapers necessitated the creation Of specialists.
New conditions demand men competent to deal
with them.
Forces have obtruded themselves upon the coun-
try, for the handling of which numbers of our public
officers are outright misfts.
There are insistent problems facing America
which cannot be solved by insular or nexpert legs
lation.
The schooling and experience which qualified
many at the last elections inadequate for
the responsibilities which neither we nor they antici
pated.
The world was at peace. The extension of mill
tary strength not issue. The tariff question
wore different complexion. There were no closed
markets to products for our necessities. I'm
migration steadily increasing. Our factories
we're busy producing standard merchandise The
ships OF all nations were at our disposal
Our chief concerns internal. Our attention
was centered upon currency reform, trust admins
tration, railroad regulation. Then suddenly Europe
amuck and upset every plan and calculation the
universe
For the first time we were brought to realize the
many ways in which our fortunes involved with
those of every civilized power. Now, we know that
the two hemispheres are Siamese twins bound by
stretch OF ocean. 1t is impossible to cut ourselves off
it wished it. We are learning tremendous
and momentous lessons-lessons which others are
teaching us at CHASTITY price in lives and billions.
We will never think again we thought, be
we were. We cannot return to old ways because, in
the light OF recent developments they will not
the future. Our ideals permanently altered;
not certain what we must do tomorrow but we
are sure of many things it will be inexpedient to
repeat.
Reason does not rule the earth-twenty million
men in prove it. Logic can't debate with
lightning. The New Diplomacy is 42-centimetre
she'll
Whether we become martial republic or con
tnue IN the paths OF ou fathers must prepare for
probabilities.
We have witnessed miracles of efficiency over
there for which we have no equivalent. The Brob-
dlngnagian machine which today is making sau-
sage Of civilization, will eventually be dsmantled re-
assembled and devoted to the task of recreation.
Their wits sharpened upon such necessity as we
have never met, these people, already habtuated to
superhuman endeavOrS, will begin to battle as
vaiantly and unitedy to restore and replensh their
empires.
Grim and dogged communities will emerge re-
tempered from the ordeal Of the crucible.
They are accustomed to economies we will not
consider-to regulations deem hateful. Consoli-
dated for generations to come, welded by a common
cause Of grief and penury, they will labor without
clocks without diversion, political differences racial
hates religious preudices and divert to their occ1
patons, the ominous efficiency they are demonstrate
ing on the battlefield
While they grow hard and sturdy under the Spar
tanning, we keep increasing scale of expenditure
and welcome ndulgences We can as little op-
pose their inevitable competition. with our present
careless, wasteful costly methods are equipped
to repel their battalions
Before long, We'll be fighting for industrial sur
vval against armies of workers directed by statesmen
scientists, engineers and academcians, merchants
manufacturers farmers and transportation experts
Who will be making plans thenf
There is more than one form of national defense
and we can't forego any Of them.
We may not draw the sword, but In for
war-a of wits and wills.