The Washington times., 1916-03-24

after the war:
Accept a far lower standard Of living
than heretofore. or
Cancel all war debts and start afresh
with a clean slate,
II In impossible to calculate. for In
stance. 'wha, England's war debt alone
will be, because nobody knows how
much longer the war will last. Certain
~, however, the figure wIllfbe 30 enor-
nous as to stagger the imagination.
Even II the struggle should end be-
fore 1871 the English would have I, pay
annually. in interest. more thar the
total of their governments yearly ante
bellum expenses.
Taxation was high before the war.
How IL the country going to STAND q
burden more than twice as heavy?
For one thipg. economists says, pro-
duction will have to be greatly IN
creased.
p,ished by tho use Of improved ms
chinery, by a higher degree Of efficiency
than in the past and by the employ
ment OF great numbers OF women who
were not Industrial factors before war
broke out.
These economists themselves, how.
ever. do not pretend the difference VIII
be made up thus. Taxes must be much
heavier to cover the deficit.
England will be compelled to work
more than twice As hard as before the
war. for loss pay.
Possibly because they are themselves
heavy investors in the allies war loans.
the english propertied classes. even the
small fry, gonere lily strongly oppose a
wiping out OF the war indebtedness and
Insist that whatever new and harder
conditions may come. should be accept
ed cheerfully.
Room for Doubt.
But will they7 Apparently there II
considerable room for doubt.
The creditor clement. though influ-
entail, is In hopeless minority. or
course.
There are plenty of hints that the
ma Jority will not respond enthusiasm
accept. after the war. even shorter
commons than they had to make the
best OF before the wars outbreak.
1t is fair to say that some enlighten-
ed liberals. including a number OF men
who have subscribed literally to the
war loans, are disposed at least TO con-
slider the idea of canceling these ooliga-
tons.
they do moi use the word "repudia-
ton" They say the country's foreign
Indebtedness. which. however, II small
compared with what Englishmen have
loaned to their own government must De
paid Rut IL may prove expedient. they
admit to regard loans made Hu 70 tn .h. ma
selves as contributions from those best
able 10 afford them.
some take me position that England
loans to her allies should similarly ne
wiped out.
adoption Of such a scheme obviously
would mean the unique situation OF
war burden falling on the rich instead
OF the poor.
a heavy loss for the classes II would
also mean a gain for the masses.
levcling-up process historically unprece-
denied.
Higher taxes!
Before the war the average English
sknled workman made from IS to I'll
weekly. The corresponding workman In
Germany made from IS TO y.
For a man with a family II might
seem as II these figures were pretty near
standard OF living without starving to
death.
As a matter Of fact. the workers in
Spain. Portugal. Russia. and Turkey
Germ ans; and a coolies WAGES In China
amount to about 20 cents. American
money. for a seven-day week.
So. after all. there Is a good deal OF
room for European labor to De worse
The creditor classes suggestion OF "a
Lower standard OF living" isn't by any
means an impossibiiity. II the produce
ing classes will submit to II.
win they? Nobody knows yet.
Land Reform Certain.
In England. land reform appears TO
he q certainty.
II Is not contcnded that the British
Isles would support their population,
| aHriculturally. except perhaps WIFE the
closest pinching. II Ii maintained, how
ever. that a just distribution of land
| would check the tendency toward such
an intense concentration In the cities,
with its consequent Differentiation OF
the labor market and frightful condi-
tons of unemployment which charac-
teIized ante-bellum days.
1t II an old complaint that with mill
lions OF the English on the verge OF
| starvation, huge acres OF Rnd nave
been held as game reservations ana
parks. in as primitive state Of uncul-
| tivation as at the time of the Norman
| conquest.
Stin other vast tracts have been
formed only by tenants who, while do
| ing all the work, were allowed only the
most meager livelihoods. that the land
! lords might get the lions share OF the
country products by virtue OF nothing
| but their monopoly.
In the cities conditions have been and
still are the same as IN the country,
60 with urban life.
Will Have To Be Changed.
All this. II Is generally agreed. will
have to he changed with tile soldiers
return home at the wars end. II Is
recognized that hundreds Of thousai d.
OF men who have had a taste OF a
broader existence than the old cne, will
not tolerate return TO the former
order Of thinEE.
The suggestion most frequently heard
is that the landlords will be forced to
| dispose of their great holdings at fea-
| sUnable prices, on Some such basis as
| the one already prevailing in Ireland
! OthcrC favor more or less close APP
| Proclamation to the single tax.
| Taking into account the relief this
Will AFFECT In labor congestion In tho
| industrial centers, and the fact that
there undoubtedly will be heavy emil
| grafton to the colonies, II seems fGir
| to predict an immense bettcrment IN
| the masses lot in posthellum England.
England inevitably will cease TO DC a
free trade country after the war.
| Reciprocity will prevail between the
mother country and her colonies. 1t
| may include all tho present allies.
| The tariff'S purpose Will be partly
| revenue. More particularly It Will re
| for protection against Germany. The
! English policy Is not, in general for
| protection against neutrals. but Il Is
| hard to see how IL can be avoided In