The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-03-12
A War of Wits anG Wills


wv we put engineers not whips II the 1ocorno-
tves. The gas business was not developed by
gamblers.
Electrical engineer rapid transit and sky
Scrapers neceSsitated the creation of specialists.
New conditions demand men colntctens to
deal with them.
Forces. have obtruded themselves upon the
country, for the handling Of which numbers of
Cur public officers are outright n1isfits.
There are insistent problems facing america
which cannot be solved by insular or inexpert
legislation.
The schooling and experience which quail
fled many men at the last elections are now in
adequate for the responsibilities which neither
we nor they anticipated.
The world was at peace. The extension of
military strength was not an issue. The tariff
question wore different complexion. There
were no closed markets to our products or for
our necessities. immigration was steadily in
creasing Our factories were busy producing
standard merchandise The ships of all nations
were at our disposal
Our chief concerns were internal Our attention
centered upon currency REFORM trust administers
ton, railroad regulation Then suddenly Europe ran
universe.
For the first time, we were brought to realize the
many ways in which our fortunes are involved with
those Of every civilized power. Now we know that
the two hemispheres are Siamese twins, bound by a
stretch Of ocean, 1t is impossible to cut ourselves off
even if we wished it. We are learning tremendous
and rnomentous lessons-lessons which others arc
teaching us at CHASTITY price in lives and billions.
We will never think again as we thought be as we
were We cannot return to old ways because, in the
light of recent developments, they will not serve the
future. Our ideals permanently altered; We are
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 arms prove it. Logic can't debate with light
ming. The New Diplomacy is 42-centimetre shell.
Whether we become martial republic or con-
tinue in the paths of fathers must prepare for
probabilities
We have witnessed miracles of efficiency over
there for which we have no equivalent The Brob-
dingnagan machine which today is making sausage
of civilization will eventually be dismantled re-
assembled and devoted to the task of recreation
Their wits sharpened upon such necessity as ,wo
have never met these people already habituated to
super-human endeavors, will soon begin to battle as
vaiantly and unitedy to restore and repensh their
empires.
Grim and logged communities will emerge re-
tempered from the ordeal of the crucible.
They are accustomed to economics we will
not consider-to regulations we deem hateful Con-
sodated for generations to come, welded by common
cause of grief and penury, they will labor without
clocks without diversion political differences racial
hates or religious prejudices and divert to their occu
pations the omnous efficiency they demonstrating
on tue battlefield.
While they grow hard and sturdy under the Spar
tanning, we keep increasing our scale Of expenditure
and welcome ndul5ences. We can as litts oppose
their inevitable competition with present careless
wasteful costly methods We are equipped to repel
their battalions
Before long, wen be fighting for industrial sur
vival against armies of workers directed by statesmen
scientists, engineers an3 acalelnclans merchants.
manufacturers, farmers aud transportation czperts.
Who will be making our rIsns then?
There is more than one form of ratona, defense
and we can't forego any OF them.
We may not draw the sword but we NC fa1
w.r-a war of wits and wills.
by tsrb.r Ka.fmsn.