New-York tribune., 1917-08-31
4 Moratorium for Drafted Men
By Robert Netter

men in the country holding long leases az
extremely high rentals and who are anxiously
awaiting the determination Of these quessoho'
Another very important question which is
hound "A arise. and which should be solved
IN some vav as soon as possible in order 70
avoid the inevitable chaos and confusion
which otherwise would be bound 20 follow lS
this: Is a drafted business man, owing tnou'
aands of dollars to creditors, who would De
found perfectly solvent if given suineleh'
time TO carry out contracts which ne mas on
hand but who cannot carry out these con
tracts because of his having been drafted INTO
service, expected to find no other remedy tnah
bankruptey? of course, as matters now stand
he is bound to fail in business unless ms
creditors hold back from motives Of patriot
lem or Of generosity. Is it then to be ex-
peeted that our business men are to De
forced to the wall through no fault Of their
own? Cannot something be done to avoid
such illogical and unjust consequences!
II is clear that this situation can be cured
onlv by moratorium in favor OF drafted
men. At the present writing | am unaware
that any steps have been taken in this direc-
ton. 1t is very clear, and do not feel my
self presumptuous in suggesting, that the
sooner this matter is taken up the better for
US all.
The Question Of Mortgages
Then we have the question as to real estate
mortgages on property owned by drafted men.
Certainly, where the property owner was
formerly earning q substantial salary, or was
in receipt of a substantial income, which
salary or income is now superseded by a
soldiers salary Of $50 per month, he cannot
be expected to keep up the payment OF IN
,2v,rs ttWaAn ia
mortgage In attempting to answer this, 1t
might be argued that the income Of the prop
erty should be sufficient to carry the mort
gage But suppose the property brings no
income Suppose it is unimproved property
Suppose it. is residential property upon which
the drafted property owner himself resided,
and for which he can And no lessee while he
is away. Such cases are bound to arise in
innumerabls quantity. Is the drafted property
owner then to lose his property? Is it posi-
BILE that there are no steps contemplated to
protect those who are serving our country
Is it TO be expected that our drafted property
owners, having come into possession OF prop
erty through years Of conscientious labor, are
to return from service in the army only tc
find themselves in ruination and with nc
other course TO pursue than once again tf
commence at the bottom Of the ladder?
OF course, there are numerous kindred
questions which are bound to arise. But they
are all branches Of the same broad general
proposition: "How shall we protect and con-
serve the property and affairs of those whc
are serving 50" Il would certainly be
manifest absurdity to say, in answer to th'
above, "No man is going to force drafted
soldier to the wall"; or, patriotism viii
solve ali these questions" The fact remains
that something should be done Immediately
Every possibility Of the otherwise inevitable
! njustces above outlined should be entirely
eliminated. Positive and definite legislation
covering every possible situation having Il
40 with the property or affairs ct drafted
soldier should be taken up at once.