The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-04-23
HENRY CLEWS WEEKLY LETTER

Early war news last week was not encouraging. The German hosts brought unprecedented pressure upon the British army on the Western front, forcing it to give considerable ground. in an effort to sever the line and drive the British back to the sea Fortunately that British line held,
 and though badly bent has not been broken. Hope is now rising owing to arrival of French achievements; and the most critical point since the
 war began is now being faced. The destiny of the world is at stake, and any day decisive results may follow.
 At the same time we must not de- ceive ourselves by overconfdence. Let it be frankly admitted that Ger many has been immensely favored by the breakup of Russia, and the conx4 sequent release of large bodies of German soldiers, which enabled Ger many to draw freely upon Russian labor and food supplies. Should the enemy succeed in making important gains in the present drive it will mean nothing less than a serious prolonga~
 tion of the war. But a final German victory is impossible; because the wQrld and civilization cannot and will not submit to German ideals md domination. In any event 1t will probably fall upon us to gtve'the fin ishing stroke without delay. It is precisely this that Germany intense ly fears; hence this hectic drive, thfs supreme effort to win before America fV Iryffh an As11Of nP- foEts to send men and munitions must beSbacked up generously and prompt ly with funds. The Liberty Loan must be heavily oversabscrfbed as patriotic debt to our country, to the men at the front and even on the common basis of intelligent self. in terest. Of late subscriptions have not been coming in with sufficient promptness. It is difficult to explain this lethargy, which is probably only temporary. The remainder of the campaign must be pushed with grow ing intensity, for success in the war depends upon successful financing. It is either ~bonds oE bondage"
 The war is proving a mighty cen tralizing force in government and in dustry alike. The authority of gov ernment has already expanded to a. degree scarcely realized, except by close observers or those actually at
 tries on both sides of this struggle have in four short years plunged into a degree of socialism far beyond what the most daring idealist dreamed be- fore the war. As an experiment in political and economic theories the movement is likely to prove highly instructive. The strong undercur- rent of socialism in this country and in Europe has already aroused con siderable opposition. The collapse of Russia was largely owing to tha disintegrating influence of socialism. It's sinister influence in France were early discovered and largely efinin- ated. As a binder together of na- tions CT a preventative of war; it en- tirely failed in 1914. In Great Bri- tain there is already reaction against the socialistic drift and both capital and labor are signing for greater freedom in the management of their own affairs. Capital protests against restrictions upon enterprise, while labor has no relish for restraint upon it's right, to secure the most fa- vorable wages and working conditions obtainable Were it not for the ex- igencies of war, there would be a strong reaction in Great Britain against excessive government. con- trol. How far this would go, it is impossible to say, for some of the huge industrial omelets created since the war could not be unscrambled in any event The same is true hers also. Socialism is as strong as evel among the uneducated classes; but labor Is suspicious of a system o! vague and buried promises whicI destroy its freedom of choice, while capital shies at the shadowy theorie! of an impossible Utopia War Ii furthermore creating a series of die tators, not only in military affairs bu in all branches of industry. Tn
 Allies now have a single militar, head. Our own government, tn, greatest Republic in the world, ha placed more power in the hands o -cne man than any other nation il the world We have our dictators big and little, in food, fuel, railroads manufactures. commerce, etc.; an
 the last move, an excellent one by tn way, is to place MT. Schwab in su pneme control of shipbuilding. A
 this is admirable. as a war measure and will bring the needed efficienc in the shortest time. When peac comes and the era of reconstrucdo
 begins, there is no doubt that man of the new methods will be retaine and that not few of the discarde
 ideas win never be restored. Tn United States is destined to yer
 shortly greatly expand its foreig commerce.. Concentration, combir ation and cooperation are the ordt
 of the day in Great Britain and
 Gerpany. They must likewise
 the watchwords of the United State
 though doubtless each country wi
 apply these ideas in different wa.
 and in varying degrees. In all thrC
 countries a period of reconstryctic
 immediately follow the war. In tn
 country g. mass of existing legislatio