The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1917-10-04
THE NEW AMERICA.
SUBORDINATION TO PUBLIC
GOOD BY ALL GLASSES
MARKS SOCIAL REVOLUTION.
From The Chicago Tribune.

that in the quich conversion OF
an individuallStic competitive
system into cooperative sy-
stem the readjustment will be
precise. 1t may be unfair. De-
cisions which subordinate cor
poration privileges to national
good may suffer from lack OF
sufficient knowledge. Margins
OF profit may be too small or
too large
The experimental character OF
the fixing of prices for steel is
conceded. 1t contributes to the
Willingness of the steel manu-
facturcrs to submit to the large
reductions ordered by the gov
crnment. Submission was reces-
sary under the new system OF
war government which now pre-
walls, but the government needs
more than submission. 1t needs
Willingness on the part of tie
steel makers to keep production
at its greatest possible volume.
This Willingness has been ex-
pressed.
The conscription of national
power proceeds with a facility
which might be disturbing to
the enemy of the United States.
When America was regarded as
negligible-as, unhappily for
the peace of the world, it was
the unfortunate presumption
was that the stupid, inert giant
could not coordinate its muscles.
Mind, legs, and arms would not
work; would not perceive and
act; could not register impulses
and convert them into action.
Misguided opinion, unhappily
misguided to really tragic CON
sequences, conceived the Unit
ed States as a futilcly witch
ing giant, sprawled out i'll help
less confusion, a confusion ag-
gravatcd by attempts to bring
form out of it.
This opinion prevailed and
may yet prevail i'll Germany
may yet prevail in spite of the
fact that American procedure
since the United States entered
the war has squared with Ger
man ideas of autocratic direc-
ton and efficiency.
The mobilization Of forces. OF
men and machinery. money and
raw materials, foods ard all ne
cesSitics, proceeds upon a prin
"iple Of general subordination
10 public good, and there has
been no successful opposition to
the adoption OF the principle
and little important cutlery
against it.
The application of the select
i've draft, the fixing of prices.
the coordination of producing
and transporting factors in mill
tary and civil life all go ahead.
with whatever mistakes. at
least with no confusing uncer-
tainty and no disturbing resist
ance.
The American social revolu
ton IS an astonishing one. II
IS touching the habits, money.
liberty, and personal freedom of
the American people in the most
intimate fashion. and there is
no protest and no complaining
which IS worthy of note.
The people seem eager for
direction and advice willing to
submit to control, uuquestion-
ng IN their acceptance of gov.
ernment orders and restrictions.
hey give what they are asked
10 give, in both men and money.
hey accept new conditions
and adhere to new principles
which are necessary for the sue
ceSstul conduct of war.
It is this cooperation. sub
mlSsion,and coordination. height
cned by courageous spirit and
'oughened by determination.
which will make the United
States. when fully equipped. as
formidable in fact as il has been
known to be in possibility.
The muscles of America will
move in coordinated harmony
at the direction of a will devot-
ed to one purpose. The powers
of the United States will all
Ne brought into working re-
lation 10 each other for the ac-
compliShmeut of this purpose.
and the certain result will be ac-
cOmnliShment.
ANY doubt that the United
States viii be able TO use what
It has may be set out of con-
Sidcratjon The new America is
what its fondest patriots hoped
- ,,....1I IL