Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-06-23
Grating Advisers.

Americans should not lose heart
when they learn that men high IN the
business life of the nation are seeking
10 take unfair advantage Of their gov
eminent in contracts that are neces-
sarily hastily entered into because of
the confusion attending the rush OF
the country getting into the war.
There was grating in connection
with previous American wars, there
Will be grating now, and there viii be
more Of the same kind il the United
States becomes involved IN armed con
hict in future years. II is never pos
sibIe to eliminate It entirely. Men
must place some confidence in men.
President Wilson, aside from his Cabi~
net has called to his assistance a
number of the big men to act in an
advisory capacity Ia perfecting war
arrangements He is discovering that
not in all cases are they acting ia the
Interest Of their government He is
discovering instances where they are
looking after their individual fortunes
instead Of those Of the United States.
They are attempting to fatteu their
Own purses through increased prices
of supplies required by the govern
ment in The prosecution of the war
purchased from concerns IN which
they hold extensive proprietary inter
ests How far they Will be able TO go
with their practices is p question that
has aroused official Washington TO
point where the president makes no
concealment of his disgust al the IN
patriotic attitude of men whose honor
and loyalty he implicitly trusted when
he summoned them 10 cooperate with
him in the handling of the greatest
crisis ever faced by the nation
Every European country engaged in
the present war has suffered how
much no one knows. through impOsi-
tons similar 10 those that are being
attempted today in the American cap
ftal, but on the other side these irreE-
ularjtles have been accepted as a mat
ter Of course, and while there has been
a perCepubie curbinE of activities.
they admittedly continue on an ex-
1ensfve scale But the people of Amer
ica, while ahashed by the spectacle of
their felIow-cOuntrymen seeking for
personal gain through violation Of a
trust placed in them by the head Of
their nation, nevertheless can he COM
forted by the knowledge that the con
tract padding viii not pass unchecked
IL this country; that they have a
representative in the White house who
will guard their interests so far as il
is IN his power and vision 10 do So
The president has declared that the
nulctng OF the government by the
big interests shall cease. IF &c does
not it is his purpose to commander
every plant and agency requisite TO the
carrying on Of the war and of the feed
ing Of the people Of America and Of
our allies IN Europe. This looks like
a huge task, but it's not too much for
an executive unshaclzled and uucom-
promised by the elements of our com
mercial life that would run the risk Of
national humiliation I'm war that their
personal fortunes might be enhanced
The American people want the pres
ident to spare nobody or no interest
that attempts TO stand in the way Of
an energetic and successful pushing Of
the var and adjustment of living con
ditions in this country so that the
average man can exist on his wage en-
yelope.