Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-10-06
SOCIAL PROGRESS DURING WAR

search, which is doing a wonder
full work in the promotion of ei
hcient and scientific management c
municipal business, has just issued
leaflet urging the people not to pei
NIT the clouds of war to obscur
their vision as to the needs an
happenings of their own home com
munities. Among other things tn
Bureau says:
1t used to be taught in school
histories that kings and emper-
ors and potentateS usually met de-
mands for social reforms at home
by provoking foreign wars. In
the excitement of battle, abuses at
home We're lost sight of and for
a while the attention of the peo-
pie was distracted by the more
thrllllng contests between ma
tlonal groups. We We're led to be-
heye that this sort of coup was
part of the stock in trade of the
European politician. There are
now few people in this country
who would care to connect this
idea with the events of the last
few years, and 1t is probable that
the subjects of the kings and
emperors Were also unconscious
OF any such motive on the part of
would hardly have lent them
selves so freely to carrying out
the scheme. This raises the
question of how we can be sure
that our high motives and ideal
ism may not, in the light of later
times, appear as sordid and selfish
as do those of the warmakers of
other days. There is apparently
but one way to make sure that
history will not fall into that err
TOT. and that fg hN kin L
representation during the war era
or better government. more real
service, more social justice. more
local democracy, more humanity.
lie administration. If we fail in
doing that, we run grave risks of
confirming the theory that a for
eign war arrests social progress,
and instead of making the world
safe for democracy, we may
spread the belief that war makes
the world safe for bad govern
ment.
Coming on the eve of a municipal
election in Harrisburg. this advice is
-imely indeed. and of much local in
crest. Never has there been so quiet
campaign for local offices. Since
he primaries it has been almost i'm
possible to precipitate a political
argument" The war. the going away
If the soldiers. the high cost of Iiv-
ng, the Red Cross. Liberty Bonds
md a thousand matters of national
md international moment, coupled
With the beginning of the very real
md severe personal hardships the
var is bringing to each of us. occupy
our attention and shut out of our
minds to very large extent what may
De transpiring of local public interest
light here under our very noses. I'm
Ter such conditions the will of the
people is often not clearly registered
It an election. They are not inter
.sted, and the result sometimes is
hat unfit men get into office.
If we are good citizens we will not
ct democracy, in its best sense, suf-
'er at home while our sons and
'rothers are rislling their lives for its
abroad. We Will see to
t that while we are insisting that
Germany clean house. our own home
S in order.
In short, we must strive as earn
,stly at home for the best. that a
democratic form of government can
sive us as our soldiers in France
will be doing shortly in behalf of
democracy as world-force. AS DR..
3agnell and Otto Kahn told Harris
,urg audiences last week. each un-
voicing the thought of
he other-"Democracy must be
made safe for the world. as we'll as
he world safe for democracy"