Evening journal., 1918-10-24
THE SHOCK OF PEACE
AND
REPUBLICAN
GREss WILL AVERT POSSIBLE PANIC.

the farmer when he looks for a market
for his crops and finds that the bank,
having contracted its credit, has con-
tracted every phase OF industry so that
no one is able to buy to the extent he
once did the food the farmer grows?
What happens to the farmer when the
prices Of the foOdstuffs fall lower and
lower and there is no desirable market
even for the little which he half-heart-
edly grows
That which happens to the farmer, to
the laborer, to the business man, to the
clerk, TO the professional man and TO
the flnancier is that which happens TO
the entire complicated structure OF the
nation.
1t is panic. II happened In 1898, in
Democratic administration, and the ef-
fects OF 1t were felt in this country for
four years until constructive Republi-
can administration came into power
and again filled the American dlnner-pall
and again set the American nation on its
feet.
IL is not the purpose here TO frighten.
IL may be necessary first TO frighten so
that we may realize that the situation
this country may face is imminently
dangerous. But, unless this fright pro-
duces a constructive action nothing is
accomplished II we are not frightened
that we may be prepared, then we con-
tinue in idle dreams OF the automatic
prosperity OF peace, until stern reality
overtakes us.
Now is the time TO prepare for recon-
struction. For practical purposes we
can read the lesson for tomorrow in the
pages Of yesterday.
The Republican party, always con-
structive, possessing the ablest brains In
America, rescued the nation from the
consequences Of the panic Of 1898, and
established the broad, deep, sound foun-
dations OF the national prosperity which
has in this present time made us the
first nation in the world. Now again
this same Republican party must be
brought to this commanding service
that is required for the terrific era that
shortly will be upon us.
The Republican party always has been
the preparedness party. For years il
advocated and agtsted for war prepar-
edness. II is now strenuously advocat-
ing peace preparedness.
The Republican party realizes that the
problem Of peace will outmaster the
problems OF war. II realizes that the
war is merely the preliminary era from
which this nation is to be projected into
the flercest economic strife Of all time.
We have had panics in the past. 1t is
not necessary that any OF them should
be repeated in the era that is coming.
It is better to present their possibility
now and to provide against them than
il is to say nothing and TO do nothing
until it is too late. The dinner-pail need
never be empty. The markets need not
be depressed.
That industry should not be paralyzed
by peace il Is vitality necessary that the
proper provision be made at the present
time for these exceedingly grave prob
lens OF reconstruction. Il will be fatal
to wait until they are actually upon us.
The Republican party, true to its his
tory OF constructive craftsmanship, for
it has been called upon always TO rescue
the nation from financial panic and
from the imminence OF financial panic,
already has laid the ground work by
presenting in Congress the Weeks Reso-
luton calling for the appointment OF
committee on reconstruction. II this
bill passes the present Congress and II
the next Congress is Republican. then
its provisions may be carried out imme-
diately and the necessary legislative
steps will have been taken 10 avert the
perils OF peace.
The United States today stands on the
threshold Of the open door. Beyond lies
the smiling plain Of peace. But that
plain will prove to be a mirage, un-
less experienced, competent guides are