The Mount Holly news., 1918-08-27

the issue in the approaching elections
and that in some unexplained way it
would be an act of disloyalty to vote
against the Presidents party candi-
dates. The war is not in any sense an
issue, and never has been from the
moment the United States entered the
conflict. The President, to be sure,
went back into power on "he-kept-
us-out-of war" argument, but even
that has BEEN forgotten since we be-
came belligerent.
No self prospecting Democrat would
undertake to tell an audience of intel
ligent voters that the winning of the
war is in any wise involved in the re-
suit of the November contest. He
and they know that Democrats and
Republicans are united in the effort at
bringing early and complete success to
the allied cause. The Republicans in
Congress and out have worked loyalty
to support the administration in its
war program. The war will be won
regardless Of which party is in control.
The issue in the campaign is not the
winning OF the war-that is point on
which there is no difference of opinion
but the rehabilitation Of the nation
after war. At present the United
States is involved lin the greatest
money spending orgy in the history of
the world. The situation is accepted
as inevitable, under existing condi-
tions, but it cannot continue indefi-
nitely. There must be an end to bor-
rowing and the spreading of treasure
broadcast. The nation must get back
to normal. and that return era will be
one Of the most trying in the history
Of the country.
The present prospect is that. even
with an early termination of the war,
we shall come out OF the struggle with
q public debt in excess OF $40, 600, ,0OO,-
600. That will mean an annual in
terest charge of 81. 900. .0OO. 600 or more,
besides money that must be provided
for the amortization of the debt. The
total of congressional appropriations
for 1916. the year before the war. was
only $678, ST., $3.50. and that was
higher. than the average in the ten
years previous. The normal after-war
appropriations, exclusive Of interest
and debt items. will be, OF necessity
much higher than in other years to
take care of developments resulting
from the war.
The people of the country must ex
pect, under most favorable conditions,
70 pay to the support of the Government
after the war at least three and more
likely four or five times as much as
they formerly were assessed. That
money must be raised, not for war
emergency. and by selling bonds, but
rs regular thing and as a business
proposition. The nation has to get
back from spending to an earning
and saving basis. And all that will
involve far-reaching economic reor
ganization and readjustment.
The Democratic party is notoriously
. money -waster, whether in control OF
national, state or municipal affairs. /,
has been lamentably weak on con
structivs business policy. The people
know that. They have watched De-
mocracy perform in New York City, in
and in scores of otheI
places where it has gained temporary
power only to be ousted because of its
own excesses and Incompetence.
Even in the excitement of war th, |
public has not forgotten that four
years ago there was wide spread unem
pIoyment in the United States; thai
industry was slowing down; that we
were in the throes of a buy-a-bale
movement to save the Southern cotton
planter from ruin; that the Under |
wood tariff law was manifestly failing |
to do what the Democrats had said il |
would; that Secretary McAdoo was
juggling the treasury figures to mini |
nize the importance OF the rapidly-in
creasing deficit; that he was "reim-
bursting the treasury by selling Pan
anna Canal bonds.
The nation four years ago and in
time of peace was paying current ex
penses with borrowed money. The |
administration was headed straight for
embarrassment and financial con
fusion when the world war was pre-
cipitated in, Europe. Soon war orders
from the allies began pouring in and |
prices scared. Exports doubled and |
Wages were advanced, the
farmers got higher prices for their pro:
duce the manufacturer were deluged
with allied gold and prosperity was ex
tended to everybody 1t was war