The Washington herald., 1918-02-23

Sometime in the past We attributed
a saying to Gov. Mccall, of Massa-
chusetts, which, we are informed by
a Maine man, really originated with
Gov. Milliken. of that State.
1t is making democracy safe for
the world"
But no matter who originated 1t,
We are here to impress readers of The
Herald with the fact that the process
is a long and arduous one, and that
its significance cannot be dismissed at
the moment
One has to think 1t over a second
moment, and a third. and so on ad
infinitum, and the magnitude grows
enormously as one really delves into it.
Democracy like Russia has now
woud ruin US. We don't want 1t, we
couldn't stand it, and We shouldn't
but the fact remains We must change
some of our standards in this coun-
try or a very disagreeable and un-
warranted brand of Socialism will be
upon us, like Russia'S' in many ways.
This is the statement CT a fact
which several of the deep thinkers
of Congress have recently admitted
among themselves. and some of them
with the greatest reluctance. They
have tried to believe otherwise. and
they have put of the period of ad-
mission a long time. some of them,
but they have finally come to this
conclusion.
We must make our brand of DEM
ocracy SO pure and undefiled that our
country, first, and then the world.
will be helped by 1t, they feel.
American democracy has failed to
appeal to hundreds of thousands of
Russians because of the fact that we
were considered by them to be a COM
mercially mad, profteering nation.
The thought is not a pleasant one.
and the reputation may not be de-
served to the extent We are given it
by some Russians. But the fact re-
mains that some things occurring re-
Gently have but driven this home to
many Russians.
We can avoid the discomfort and the
strife and the trouble of Socialism if
we will But to do it we must wipe
out the profiteer and profiteering. We
must operate our government so dis
tinctly in favor of the people, and
with the utmost fairness to all in
terests, that wealth will not be con-
fiscated and poverty will not be raped.
There is a medium ground so fair
and so well chosen that once occu-
pied will lead on to the sort of DEM
ocracy we must have If we are to be
safe for our own nation, and for the
world.
Democracy is more than the recital
of happy phrases. There must be
substance behind each happy phrase
the recital must be a truthful por-
trayal of conditions. We must be as
democratic as we say we are. In no
other way can we succeed with our
democratization process.
The situation will bear watching
Developments are quite sure to come
quickly during the next few weeks.
Watch both the farmers and the la
borers of the nation, for their attitude
is the one that will reflect the move
ment from its start to its conclusion.
The slogan of Business as usual
is fast dying.
1t was born under ill-advised cir
cumstances. No doubt its parents see
that now. But at the time they were
quite sure that the future of the in
fant was more than rosy and that in
time it would become a lusty youth,
and then after more time had elapsed.
a vigorous adult.
1ne war Is serious business and
business is not quite as usual. IL
is abnormal in some instances, or
course, but even some Of those whose
profits are large are compelled 10 suf-
fer in other directions. II nothing else
they may be quite sure Uncle Sam's
tax men will get them for large
amounts.
In the West, in the heart of the
Agricultural section, some of the OF
timists endeavored to perpetuate the
slogan after its demise had already
been admitted in the East. But event.
ually these men had to give up their
mission. The people simply would
not kear II. Business was not as
usual. Adjustments had to be made
to meet the unusual conditions I'm
posed upon the section by war.
Everybody recognizes the fact out
there now. and things are going on as
they should. The country is settling
down to its task out there with forti-
tude. but with an almost divine hope
that the sacrifice will not be in vain.
And business men who loQk at the