The Detroit times., 1917-03-27
InternatiOnalism
and Commerce
BY Or. FRANK CRANE
copyright 1915. by Frank Crane)

Inc one prime curse Of the world is
militant nationalism.
When each nation pursues the policy
Of Keeping up its own army and navy,
adjusting its own rights, and maintain
ing its own honor" the world is pre-
cisely in the condition of western min
ing camp where every man carries his
own gun.
Sooner or later comes disaster.
Ihe root cause Of the present world
crisis is the presence in each nation of
an armed force, and the sentiments of
national vanity that gather around such
center.
The only cure of the present world
disease will be an international armed
force which will compel the national
armed forces to disband, just as the min
ing camp becomes a civilized town only
when a court of law is established and
gentlemen are forbidden TO carry weap-
ons
over and over again must this plain
common sense be reiterated, because IL Is
the only possible way out, whether we
adopt 1t now or wait until we kill few
million more folks.
AS you cannot have national peace un-
I'll sectional pride is submerged in patri-
otism, so you cannot have world peace
until patriotism gives place to the larger,
deeper, more ethical and rational senti-
ment of humanity.
Commerce Is an international fabric.
II pertains to humanity, not TO Ameri-
cans, Germans or English.
When the Central Power started this
war they threw a monkey-wrench into
the delicate machinery of world BUSH
ness.
You cannot withdraw millions of men
from constructive labor and set them to
destroying without upsetting the entire
world
The war is the cause Of the high cost
of living. Average prices in America are
25 per cent higher than they were a
year ago, a. per cent higher than two
years ago. and 81 per cent higher than
three years ago
According to W. w. Erwin & Co.'S mar
ket letter the English Board Of Trade
Gazette estimates that, on Jan. l. 1917,
food prices were 81 per cent above those
of July, 1914. During the same period
food prices in Norway sdEanced 80 per
cent. Retail prices in Berlin advanced
1lO15 per cent from July, 1914, TO No
vember. 1916. In Vienna they rose
about 1T per cent during the same pc
Rod
II is because we haven't sense enough
to establish world government that there
are bread riots in New York.
1t is the same lack of sense that Is
crucifying the railroads. Golfers Week
" calls the railroad ''the sick man of the
American business family" Why? The
reason is simple The cost of materials
and of operation is going right up on
account Of the war waste, and there is
nothing to stop it, while the government
regulation prevents the roads from IN.
creasinQ their rates. You've only got
TO go far enough in that line to come
at last TO bankruptcy or government own
ership.
II the business men Of the world had
anv vision they would all work for the
League TO Enforce Peace. II statesmen
and pubfcists could see beyond their
noses they would cease endeavorng 70
stir up national pride and turn their en-
for+ toward organizing this anarchic
World so that the national bad men,
snch "a the German army or the Eng
lish navy, should be compelled 10 give
mn their guns to the world police.
Europe certainly has its bellyful OF
patriotism. and look at i'll Let us cult
vate humanity