New Britain herald., 1917-03-10
Henry .CLews Weekly Letter
Special to the Herald. )

Especial to the Herald.)
 New York, March 1O,-Such un- certain and strenuous times as we are now passing through have, not been experienced at any period since the Civil war; and there are no indications of the end. On the contrary they promise to continue some months longer at least. and the more calmly and courageously they are accepted, the better and the quicker their set clement. Worldwise upheaval is at work here. as elsewhere; and impor. tant readjustments, international and domestic. must be anticipated before normal stability is restored. The war. of course, Is the first object of anx-
 iety. President Wilson is steadfast- ly pursuing a conservative course in the hope of avoiding conflict with Germany. At the same time he Is determined to protect American rights
 at sea, though still undecided whether
 he will arm or convoy American mer :.
 chant vessels Meanwhile the gov.
 sr,a srnment l. ta,o : asAFssntaEe s of theI
 The disgraceful episode in the senate
 at the close of congress had one ex-
 ceilent result: 1t demonstrated that
 
 hind the president and 1t also kx-
 posed the sources of disaffection. For
 several days there has been . com
 parative absence of irrating events,
 especially as the submarine campaign,
 proved not. as serious as threatened.
 In consequence there has been a par
 tial subsidence of the warlike feeling so pronounced at the close of last
 month. Growing strength of the AL
 lies and declining resistance among the Central Powers also encouraged
 hopes of an early end of the war. It
 would not be prudent. however, to
 indulge such expectations too freely;
 the German fighting spirit keing far
 from exhausted, even if resources are Impaired. A sense of relief is felt at the adjournment, of congress. With
 public feeling in such an infiammatory state as now exists. open discussion of international relations seems high
 ly undesirable and dangerous. In such a situation the country Is in bet. ter hands than of congress, so long as only the latter body can declare war. Unfortunately a large amount of necessary legislation was left un- done, and an extra session will doubt less be necessary to tide over affairs between now and next December.
 A great deal of discussion is cur rent, especially among the politicians concerning high prices and the high costs of living. Circumstances con- sidered, this agitation is both natural and proper. Unhappily the issue Is befogged as usual with misinforma- ton and prejudice. The condition must be admitted, but the remedies offered are confusing and impracti- cal. All sorts of paternaiistic nos- trun1s are projected, many of them Of ] 3 highly socialistic nature. These in- | clude government price fixing. and ownership or control in l some form or another. This socialistic I, tendency has Received a etremendous l! push from the wide extension of gov ernment activities in Europe melted | by war necessities. Great Britain. for | instance, the home of industrial free l iom, assumed control of shipping, l railroads, distribution of wheat, sugar. 1 cotton, wool, rubber, copper, coal and many other necessities. These move | ments were distinctly socialistic. and | there has been considerable fear of | their continuance after the war: but | while Justified as solely a war measure. | they are working unsatisfactorily and | proving the government does not | equal private enterprise in either ef- 1 aciency or economy! Following for eign examples. our government is | making many ventures into the same | field; and should we be drawn into war, government control. if not own | ership. will certainly be exercised upon a1arger scale than now. Thus lar noAe of the foreign governments, not eveh the British. has succeeded In preventing high prices by these means; and in spite of strenuous. sven harsh preventive methods. food prices and all other commodity prices nave scared to extraordinary heights. The failure of foreign governments in his respect should provide a much needed lesson in economies, for they l prove to the hilt that prices are still governed by the unalterable law of supply and, demand, and more, that the most powerful governments in the world are unable to prevent, though they may modify, its operation for the time being only. The real cause For high prices, whether of food or other products, is war. Some twelve million men have turned their ener- gies from production to destruction. k and many millions more are employed n making destructive munitions in- stead Of tilling the soil and providing the ordinary necessities of life. The resultant scarcity ot labor and com r lnodities inevitably forCe1 higher. wages and higher pricet in every di- rection. Iu some. instances this has been intensified" by short crops. by derangement of transporta. ton. by speculation and by the hugh waste which. war induces. No gen. nine relief can be expected until the war ends or until industry resumes It's normal state. Partial relief is possible by several means. High prices should and will stimulate pro- iuction. especially of food products. Waste should he enerRetically stopped