The Elbert County tribune., 1918-12-06

Quoted to happy consummation, but
from no quarter have seen any gen
eral scheme OF reconstruction
emerge which ! thought it likely we
could force our spirited business mer
and self-reliant laborers to accept
with due pliancy and obedience.
Restraints Being Rapidly Relaxed.
while the war lasted we set ur
many agencies by which to direct the
Industries OF the country in the sery-
ices II was necessary for them to rem
der. by which to make sure OF an
abundant supply of the materials
needed, by which to check undertake
ings that could for the time be dis.
pensed with and stimulate those that
were most serviceable in war, by
which to gain for the purchasing de
partments of the government a certain
control over the prices of essential
articles and materials, by which to re.
strain trade with alien enemies, make
the most of the available shipping
and systematic financial transac-
tions, both public and private. so that
there would be no unnecessary con
flict or confusion-by which. in short
to put every material energy of the
country in harness to draw the com.
mon load and make Of us one team in
the accomplishment of great task.
But the moment we knew the arm
istice to have been signed we took
the harness of. Raw materials upon
ipb ha ho1 20
hand for fear there should not be
enough for the industries that sup
piled the armies have been released
and put into the general market again.
Great Industrial plants whose whole
output and machinery had been taken
over for the uses of the government
have been set free TO return to the
uses to which they we're put before
the war 1t has not been possible TO
remove so readily or so quickly the
control of foodstuffs and of shipping.
because the world has still TO be fed
from our granaries and the ships are
still needed TO send supplies 10 our
men oversea and to bring the men
back as fast as the disturbed condi-
tions on the other side of the water
permit; but even these restraints are
and more and more as the weeks go
by.
Never before have there been
agencies in existence in this country
which knew so much of the field of
supply, of labor and of industry as the
war industries board, the war trade
board, the labor department, the food
administration and the fuel admins
tration have known since their labors
became thoroughly systematized: and
they have not been isolated agencies;
they have been directed by men VINO
represented the permanent depart
ments of the government and so have
been the centers of unified and coop
erative action. 1t has been the theory
of the executive, therefore. since the
armistice was assured (Which is in eff
feet a complete submission of the en-
emy), to put the knowledge of these
bodies at the disposal of the business
men of the country and to offer their
mediation at every point
sired.
Return to Peace Footing Rapid.
1T is surprising how fast the pro-
cess of return to a peace footing has
moved in the three weeks since the
fighting stopped. 1t promises to out
run any inquiry that may be instituted
and any aid that may be offered. 1t
will not be easy to direct IL any bet
ter than it will direct itself. The
American busines man is of quick in
itiative.
THE ordinary and normal processes
of private initiative will not. however,
provide immediate employment for all
of the men of our returning armies.
Those who are of trained capacity.
those who are skilled workmen, those
who have acquired familiarity with es-
tablished businesses, those who are
ready and willing to go to the farms,
all those whose aptitudes are known or
will be sought out by employers will
find no difficulty, it is safe to say, in
finding place and employment. But
there will be others who will be at a
loss where to gain a livelihood unless
pains are taken to guide them and put
them in the way of work.
There will be large floating re-
siduum of labor which should not be
left wholly to shift for itself. 1t seems
to me important, therefore, that the
development of public works of every
sort should be promptly resumed, in
order that opportunities should be ere
ated for unskilled labor in particular,
and that plans should be made for
such developments of our unused lands
and our natural resources as we have
hitherto lacked stimulation to under
take.
Big Reclamation Program Favored.
,artfonIa ri Iiract upur attention,