The Washington times., 1917-12-11
By W. V. BYARS.

By W.
Yeterday the Senate began think
ing of the hereafter on taking up
the Webb bill. The Webb bill is de-
voted to a very considerable part of
the hereafter. 1t has partly in it,
but still more back Of it, the ques-
ton Of bread and butter, meat and
meal, clothing, lights, and fuel for
every family in the country.
Another question in it is one Of the
greatest questions Of the hereafter
for the country and the world.
1t is of what effect the war has
had already on political economy"
as the science of providing bread
and butter, clothing, and everything
else to the largest possible number
Of people at fair profits for all con-
cerned.
1t may seem to some that the eff
feet the war has already had on all
we thought we knew about political
economy is to leave a few fra9-
ments scattered around a shell hole.
One thing is left. Fair trade is
no robbery" Adam Smith said that.
II there is to be a new political
economy" after the war, it will have
to begin there, unless it is to end
nowhere.
"Mr. President, the war will close
some time" said Senator Kellogg of
Minnesota in the Senate yesterday.
This introduced the question Of the
hereafter as he was reviewing it in
his speech on the Webb bill. He
added that "God knows" the SINGER
ity Of his hope that the end may
come as soon as justice will permit.
When it does come, he had been ex-
planning that in our Capitol we must
take up the economic future Of the
world"
To some, the economic future"
means more or less money. To near
ly all it means more or less bread
and meat The speech Of Senator
Kellogg, which was the feature of
the Senates' session, was also the
opening OF this question of the
future of the necessaries of life for
the United States and the world after
the war, as 1t must come up, time and
again, during this session of Con-
gress.
Senator Kellogg spoke with great
ability. His presentation OF the side
OF the exporters was SO forcible that
It seemed to leave little room for op-
position. This was a result Of logic
and skill in handling any question.
Senator Kellogg has these. Senators
on the other side have them also.
So, after Senator Kellogg had opened
the question, 1t was really left wide
open" on points outside the bill
rather than in It.
The question OF the bill itself. as
he made it clear, is Of giving Ameri-
can manufacturers who help to feed
and clothe other peoples as well as
their own, the best possible chance
to do more business at better ad-
vantage than is done after the war
" NhC APOA AtA VI A@AASloAht Il eAhSof
Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary, and
other countries which, whether now
friends or foes, will try to sell more
after the war at better profits than
our exporters. In all these countries,
Senator Kellogg showed a strong
movement to "co-ordinate export
business" with Government help, SO
as to make the whole body Of ex-
porters solid against outsiders, with
their own governments behind them.
Under the Webb bill. our exporters
would establish foreign selling
agencies and coordinate" for this
solidarity.
No one in Congress wishes to deny
them all help they can have from
the Government in selling abroad.
As the debate on the bill has been
opened from the other side by SEN
ator Cummins of Iowa. Senator Reed
Of Missouri, and others, it is a
question of the meaninO of language.
For more than a quarter of a CEN
tury some men now in Congress
have been fighting combinations in
restraint of trade" The short of
that is Monopoly"
It seems that they are trying now
to md out the difference between
"co-ordination" in promoting trade
and combination in monOpolizing it.
1t is a great question Of language.
1t may not be settled for ten years
after the war. But the debate on the
Webb bill is helpinO to bring it be-
fore the country for the benefit of
those to whom wealth" means, first
Of all, bread and butter.
On all questions Of language we
ought always to remember the name
of Horne Tooke. He was a great
fighter in the Dolitics of England.
He fought for the liberties of Amer
il ms as well as of Englishmen. He
did not stop when he was threatened
with Jail. As he had time to spare
in Jail and otherwise, he wrote "The
Diversions of Purley," which our
Senators probably read when they
wish to be diverted with bitches"
in language.
Horne TOoke said that the hitch