The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-11-20

THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM
with the idea that fall in price should auto
maticaly accompany the conclusion of hostilities
Merchants. furthermore, will be forced to wrestle
with the uncertain factor Of whether there will
be continuance of high wholesale prices or a
drop, as the industries manufacturing commodi-
ties accommodate themselves to the changes OF
the after-the-war period.
The Federal Reserve Board and the banking
system, which were vitality interested in fin
ancing the war, meeting the emergency with un-
paralleled success, will be called on to handle any
industrial and commercial expansion that may be
imminent. The probability of increased foreign
trade and the positive knowledge that they must
handle another War Loan within few months,
are immediate tasks confronting them The
Liberty Loan drives have produced millions OF
small investors and taught them the value OF
thrift. Whether the banking institutions will be
able to continue to convince the American people
of the value and necessity of saving not only for
the direct personal benefit of the saver but also
for the accumulation of money that can be used
for the purposes Of trade and industrial expansion
is problematical Here is an after-the-war prob
lem of great magnitude.
Government control of the railroads, tele-
SCSoesIAoiA ~
rail expansion and the stopping of improvements
on all lines, and the question OF the return OF
these properties to their owners or the retention
by the government is of fundamental Importance.
The development of the United States, in fact of
any great country, has been so intimately bound
up with the expansion of the railroads that the
problem strikes at the very roots of our indus
trial prosperity. Usually great industrial ex-
hoe foJ1o Of
tories by railroads. Adverse and restrictive leg
islation in the past has hampered their develop
ment Wise legislation will be necessary to
avoid a paralysis of the highly important problem
of transportation.
The development of the mercantile marine,
closely associated with the mastery of foreign
trade, cannot be overlooked. The European
countries will demand our raw materials and fin
ished products. The physical restoration OF
France and Belgium is gigantic task. If we
can furnish the material and transport it in our
own ships, we will be successful bidder for this
trade.
Our educational system will come in for a
revamping. The war has exalted the value of
vocational training and proved the necessity of
supplying the industries with boys who have
been schooled adequately for places in that
sphere. A sharp line must hereafter be drawn
between cultural and vocational education and
the training for either not only must begin at an
early date in the boys education, but be carried
out in thorough and systematic manner. Edu-
Gators have before them problem of national
Importance. Of equal Importance is the duty
of Americanizng the aliens within our bound
aries so that they will become not only citizens
in name but loyal patriots in spirit also. This
work must be preceded by attention to the immi-
grafton problem which will become pressing as
soon as thousands of Europeans seek admission
to country-a matter of legislation for our
national congress.
| Many of the boards and bureaus established by
the federal government during the war; their
task now completed or partially so, will dsband
Congress and the president must decide whether
they should be replaced with commissions to
handle the after-the-war problems.
| Food and fuel conservation must be main
tanned for some time These questions have only
transitory interest, for the good will and common
sense of the American people will solve them.
During the whole era of reconstruction, good
common sense and patience will accelerate the
solution. Forbearance and patience are cardinal
virtues to be remembered in this era Hysteria
and denunciation will delay the evolution.