The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-15

the high cost of living" was one OF
the issues in the campaign OF 1919
and the Democrats told us it waA
due to the Republican tariff. But af-
ter the Democrats got into power and
reduced the tariff. prices of most
articles of consumption continued to
soar upwards because, instead Of
removing the burdens from Industry
and abolishlng thousand useless
commissions created by the Republi-
cans the Democrats created a thou
sand. more DON'T kick at the price,
kick at the reason.
Taxes are necessarily high at che
present time to meet the demands OF
the war. and industry is perfectly
willing 20 bear its legitimate share
of the burden without murmur;
but what we do complain Of are un-
necessary burdens placed upon in
dustry by unwise and unwholesome
laws.
Neither are we opposed to regulat-
ing business in q reasonable way:
but we do say that the government
should stop short of asphyxiatine
gases, liquid FIRE and submarines.
We are opposed to regulating bust
ness like we civilized the Indians, of
the face OF the earth. We are opposed
to regulating business like we regu-
late the railroads-int0 bankruptcy.
Fewer miles Of railroads were built
In 1915 than in any year since the
civil war, and more miles OF rail-
ways were in the hands of receivers
than ever before In the history of
our republic; while great areas Of
undeveloped territory were crying
for transportation facilities.
Attacks On Government.
There are attacks being made all
over our country. more or less open
ly, more or less successfully, on the
structure of our government. Many
Of those who make these attacks are
well meaning but woefully misguided
citizens. They point out the evils
existing under our form OF govern
ment and instead of trying to correct
them along well established and
constitutional lines, they would abs
olish our entire system Of govern
ment or eliminate all constitutional
barriers and restrictions which would
prevent them from taking what Col.
Watterson' describes as "a short cut
to heaven by airship."
once knew a farmer who was a
reformer." Whenever he wanted to
go any place, instead OF driving
down the fence row until he came
to gate. he simply tore down the
fence and took a short cut to the OBJ
jective point. In a short time his
fences were torn to pieces and his
cattle, horses and hogs were run
ming at large all over the farm dew
astating his fields and his crops. IL,
instead Of following along well-defin-
ed paths Of precedent which lead to
the gate that opens into the field OF
sof{nnaI fTsafnTTTa annffV11a ~ FAC "
down our constitutional fences and
take short cuts to reform by new
and untried routes. the day is not
far distant when our land will be as
fearfully devastated by Huns and
vandals as the Roman empire was in
the fifth century; with this differ
ence, that the Huns and vandals who
raVaged the Roman empire came
from without, while our Huns and
vandals will have been engendered
within our own country by our own
folies. #
In the language of Bishop Warren
A. Chandler. OF Atlanta, Georgia, of
the Methodist Episcopal church,
south, would say:
For one, am tired Of the revolu-
tionists who call themselves reform
ers. am weary Of men who would
in order to correct evils which lie
beyond the utmost power OF the wis
est legislators and the most skill
fully framed legislation. cannot
follow men who know no way to get
the rats out of the barn except by
burning it to the ground. What we
need is not more probings, but more
piety; not revolution, but religion.
It is not big business, but bad busi-
ness that we should fear, and we will
have bad business by individuals
and corporations despite congresses
and courts until the nation Is Chris
tian in fact as well as in name"
The Other Fellows View.
We believe that most OF the UNI
reasonable and unnecessary legisla-
ton, regulation and investigation
arises not from an inherent hatred
Of class for class. so much as because
class and the public do not know the
truth about each other. There is
nothing worse than ignorance-un-
less it be half wisdom or one-sided
truth-to breed distrust and discon-
tent, and the setting up OF hostile
barriers of law. If the public-and
the newspapers particularly could
know all the facts; could get the
viewpoint of the other fellow; could
know that he is not such a bad chap
after all; that he is human and
sympathetic and doing the best he
can-and 95 per cent OF the business
men do-there would be an elimina-
ton OF much unnecessary and ex-
pensive legislation, litigation and
destructive animosity.
Instead of the gospel Of discomfort,
which has been preached throughout
the length and breadth OF this land,
what we need is the gospel OF unity
strife, what we need Is industrial
peace Instead Of the rule OF con-
tradiction, what we need Is the rule
Of cooperation. Instead OF laws that
hinder and hamper legitimate bust
ness, what we need are laws that
encourage the highest degree OF In
dustriaI efficiency.
Instead of forty eight state utility
commissions and federal interstate
commerce commission to harass the
railroads Of the country, what we
need is q department in every state
and in the federal government to
encourage the improvement and ex-
tension OF existing railroads and
the construction OF new lines
through undeveioped territory. This,
III my OPINION ~ the only S0iuIoM 70
the problem which is sure TO con-
front the country at the close Of the
war when millions Of men, who have
been called into the military service
OF the government, are returned 10
civil life. and when millions more,
who have been engaged I'm the pro-
duction and manufacture OF war ma
terials and supplies are thrown out
OF employment
Encourage Combination.
Instead OF Remembering and dis
integrating the big industries OF our
country, what we need is to en-
courage the legitimate combination
of capital and the formation OF big
industries, thereby increasing capa-
city and efTicienoy and at the same
time reducing the cost Of production
and dfstrfbDfion This must be