The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-13
HENRY CLEWS
WEEKLY letter

WEEKLY LETTER
s>aeh uncertain and strenuous times
A. wa are now passing through nave
naf been experienced at any perloo
s&nce the Civil War; and there are
10 indications of the end. On the
contrary, they promise to continue
noxne months longer at least, ana the
more calmly and courageously they
are accepted, the better and the qulck-
their settlement. Worldwide upheav-
al is> at work here as elsewhere; and
important readjustments, interna-
tional and domestic, must be antlc1-
mated before normal stability is re-
stored. The war, Of course, is the
first object of anxiety. president
Wilson is steadfastly pursuing con-
servative course in the hope or avolo-
ing conflict with Germany AT the
I Same time he Is determined to pro-
tect American rights at sea- Mean
while the government is taking al
vantage Of the delay to prepare for
all eventualities. The disgraceful cpl
sode in the Senate at the close or
Congress- had one excellent result; it
demonstrated that the country was
overwhelming behind the President
and it also exposed the sources OF
7isaffection. For several days there
has been a comparative absence OF IT.
ritating events, especially as the sub
marine campaign proved not as serl-
ous as threatened. In consequence
there has been partial subsistence
Of the warlike feeling so pronounced
i at the close Of last month. Growing
strength of the Allies and declining
resistance among the Central Powers
also encouraged hopes Of an early
end Of the war. It would not be pru-
dent, however to indulge such ex-
psctations too freely; the German
fighting spirit being far from ex-
hausted, even il resources are i'm
paired A sense OF relief Is felt as
the adjournment Of Congress. With
public feeling in such an inflamma-
tory state as now exists, open discus
sion OF international relations seems
hixhly 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 UNI
done, and 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 impractical
All sorts Of paternalistio nostrums are
projected, many of them Of a highly
socialistic nature. These include gov
Z eminent price fixing, and government
ownership or control in some form
or another. This socialistic tendency
has received a tremenduos push from
the wide extension Of government ac-
tivities in Europe melted by war me-
cessities. Great Britain, for instance,
the home Of Industrial freedom, as
sumed control of shipping, railroads,
distribution Of wheat, sugar, cotton.
wool, rubber, copper, coal and many
other necessities. These movements
were distinctly socialistic. and there
has been Considerable fear of their
continuance after the war; but while
justified an solely war measure they
are working enthusiastically and prov
ing that the government does not
equal private enterprise in either eff
cheney 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 up
on a much larger scale than now.
20 ~ u
ments, not even the British, has sue
ceeded In preventing high prices by
these means: and in spite Of strenu-
GUS, even harsh preventive methods,
food prices and all other commodity
prices have scared to extraordinary
heights. The failures Of foreign gov
ernments in this respect should pro-
vide much needed lesson IN econo-
mics, for they prove to the hilt that
prices are still governed by the unal-
terable law Of supply and demand.
aand 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, wheth-
err Of food or other products. is war.
Some twelve million men have turned
their energies from production to de-
DI4 0LtAOA1s 01A0 AAAo41y AlAAllOlAS 1ACIS
are employed in making destructive
munitions instead OF tilling the. soil
and providing the ordinary necessities
OF life. The resultant scarcity OF Ia
Dor and u commodities, inevitably
forces higher wages and higher prices
in every direction. In some instances
this scarcity has been intensified by
short crops, by arrangement of trans
portation, by speculation and by the
huge waste which war induces. No
genuine relief can be expected until
the war ends, or until industry re-
sumes It's normal state. Partial relief
Is possible by several means High
prices should and will stimulate pro-
ductfon, especially Of food products
Waste should be theoretically stop
ped In all directions; efficiency should
be increased wherever possible, and
output stimulated by every legiti-
mate meansA The world is under
sentence to consume less and work
harder. such being the economic
penalty for the awful crime and
tragedy which has devastated Eu-
rope. Whether we like it or not, the