Omaha daily bee., 1918-10-29
Peace and Reconstruction


rell university, who has just returned from
Europe, where he visited the French, American
and British fronts, in an authorized interview
in the New YORK Times expresses grave con-
Germ over the inactlon of congress IN tormulat-
ing plans for the reconstruction work which
must follow peace. In England he found tnat
a ministry of reconstruction has been working
for more than two years. He was informed
that Germany was further along than England,
while France is fairly we'll advanced to meet
the problems peace will usher in. In the United
States no preparation has yet been made,
DR.. Schurman says, in part:
The country is now in state OF more or
less artificial activity, caused by the war, which
is likely to be extremely deceptive. large part
of our population, perhaps the larger part, is
enjoying unusual wages and income. OF course
pany, especially the professional men and
women, as we'll as small trades people, have telt
the pinch OF the war, but in the main wages have
been increased and incomes have come up.
Needless to say, this condition cannot always
exist. In fact, the coming of peace is more than
likely to result in a considerable shock The
readjustment that will be necessary may be
violent unless an adequate provision is made
immediately to prevent this. 1t is not impos-
sible that extensive commercial depressions and
consequent unemployment might occur, espe-
cially if one considers that war orders and the
making of munitions may instantly cease, and
that the change of the industries now engaged
in these manufactures from a war to peace
basis may mean temporary dislocatlon OF in
dustry.
The nations of Europe have long considered
officially these grave possibilities, and we are
more than foolish if we longer ignore them.
The mere fact of the return to civil life of the
four or five million soldiers and sailors now
under the colors, will be enough seriously to
disturb all economic conditions unless careful
preparation is made for the transition. Then
there is even larger army than this of civil
war workers, whose readJustment to a peace
basis must be provided for. Aside from the per-
sonnet involved in this problem, there is the
material. What is to happen to all the ship
yards we have so hastily built under the stress
Of war? What is to happen to the vast store
Of supplies we have piled up in France and
England? In sense these may be secondary
problems, but If we postpone their solution I'M
til they full upon us we can never hope to
gain full advantage which is rightly ours in
the situation that will exist Immediately after
the war.
Soon after returned was told that two
bills had been introduced in our congress, aim
ing to cover this problem of reconstruction At
first sight it seemed that therefore the matter
might be amply attended to-. However, found
the other in effect, and that at the present time
both were being held up because each involved
question which must be settled before con-
gress could get at that of reconstruction itself
It appears that the republicans, through Senator
Weeks, have introduced joint resolution call
ing for an appointment of committee on re-
construction while few days later the demo-
Gratis, through Senator Overman. introduced
measure calling for the appointment by the pres
1dent OF commission on reconstruction. Both
bills covered very much the same ground other
wise, embracing the problems that would con-
front labor, the farmer and capital.
1T strikes me as | study these two bills
together with the whole reconstruction problem
that time is the essential element to be con-
sidered We have already lost many months
Every nation in Europe is far ahead of US in
finding out what it can do, what it wishes to
do and what it must do Immediately after a
declaration OF peace in regard to every economic
and industrial problem confronting it. 1t is dill
atory in the extreme for the United States to
longer delay, and it is doubly dilatory to hang
up the question of reconstruction while con-
gress debates the problem of whether or not
the extra constitutional powers granted the
president in time of war, shall be extended and
perhaps intensified in the postwar period.
IF the Overman bill giving the president
power to appoint a commission on reconstruct
ton were passed the sole function of such
commission would be to investigate the subject
and then recommend to the president 1egis1a-
ton which he in turn might recommend to |
congress. 1t would then be necessary for con-
gress to make its own independent investiga- |
ton and decide for itself whether or not it |
desired to accept the recommendation of the |
president. |
Therein lies the opportunity for procrasti- |
nation which the Overman bill, if passed, would
almost inevitably bring about, no matter who
the president appointed on this commission |
There is also deeper danger in this bill Not
only would it permit procrastination and in
fact almost compel it, but also might place |
congress in the position of being compelled |
against its will on the score of expediency to
pass legislation recommended by the president,
but which it had not fully considered.
peace will bring to us vast relief but that
relief will be relief of strained nerves rather
than relief from economic strain. At the CON- |
ing of peace we must face world half de-
stroyed, with whole populations DETECTED from
their wonted ways which they must learn again
to travel.
''This will require the soundest constructive
l do not believe that America
will fall into the abyss which has already swal-
lowed more than one country in Europe, and
which may well swallow others of the warning |
countries, the abyss of extreme radicalism which
means sometimes the commune, sometimes boil
shevikism. sometimes anarchy. At the same
time | have no idea but that we must exper-
fence great change along the line of progress
in our economic and social life. But to avoid
the evils of extremesm only one course is |
open to us-that is to adopt now our policies |
of reconstruction and prepare to avert the perils
of peace
The republican effort in congress at this
time, as take it, is to place the solution of
these problems of reconstruction, forming the |
the hands of joint committee representing
both parties. 1t provides that the best brains
and the best visions of both parties be utilized