Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-09
DEMOCRACY AND EFFICIENCY
Whom q natioj

When a nation is at peace its need for efficiency in
operation is less apprectable than under the stress of
war. With industries proceeding in their normal way a
nation can live through a process Of "muddling through"
There is waste in private and public enterprises; plumbers
are made: costly experiments are undertaken; and, in
one way or another. the people get along, and the need
for the most effective methods is not aoutsly felt.
In time of war all this 10 changed. The nation must
concentrate all its energies on q tremendous effort. The
autocraoy has the machinery for this concentration. The
democracy has not. And the ability Of the democracy TO
create and operate that machinery depends on the con-
ceptton Of democracy entertained by the people them
selves.
In France ana in Great Britain We have two con-
1picuous illustrations Of the manner in which a people
trained in real democracy can adjust themselves to the
emergencies growing out Of q great war. In each Of
these nations there has been created an efnoient war ma
chine, and such q machine can exist only when some OF
the methods Of autocracy are adopted. The individual
must be subordinated. and power almost absolute must
be concentrated on a few hands. There can be no such
thing as direct popular government Of a great army.
Nor, when there 10 need for the activities Of the army.
can there be any sudh thing as private control in almost
any of the ordinary activities Of the people. The manu-
facture and distribution, not only Of the things directly
needed by the army. but Of those things which are need
ed In civil life. must be controlled by some government
agency with practically unlimited powers.
The British and French democracies have given re-
markable proof Of their adaptabilty to these needs. The
people rule. They are conscious of that fact. And. be-
ing conscious Of II, and secure in the possession Of theis
rights. they have been willing to take tho only step which
could be taken effectively, and have cheerfully placed
themselves and all of their activities in the hands OF
ASASAAy VAk~~ SNSy ~
al authority still rests with the people. but the .immedi-
ate direction Of all affairs is in the hands Of a single man
or q few mon chosen for their supposed fitness for the
work.
The development Of that attitude is not brought
about in a day. The French revolution dethroned tyr
ants, but in destroying the existing government 1t left
tho country in the hands Of people who did not know
how to govern themselves. We have read of the excsssea
of that period. Tho result was natural. There WA q re-
action, and a new empire was erected on the ruins Of
the old Commune. France had to learn q good many
lessons before she could establish a real republic.
Russia has stepped in a day from autocraoy to de-
mocracy. That change is one Of form. But the spirit OF
a nation Is not changed in a day. The permanency OF
the Russian republic depends on the readiness Of the
Russian people to rule themselves moderately and effect
lively. The evidences are not all reassuring. In their
enthusiasm for popular government, the soldiers In some
of the russian armies have undertaken to operate the
army on the basis of q town meeting. Old commanders
have been deposed. New ones have been chosen by the
men themselves. There has been q leveling of rank, and
as a necessary sequence. a relaxation of diciplins.
II that sort Of thing continues. Russia may be dis
missed from consideration as a factor in this war. If her
armies are not slaughtered or captured by the Germana
and Austrians they will diaintesrate because of their lack
of the elements necessary to hold them together as erect
I've forces. And, II this is the case. the Russian republic
is duo for some dark and bloody days.