The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1918-10-25
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After the War

Acco' ding to the reconstruction res
clutions before congress, it appears
that no plans have vet been seriously
considered for the decentralization Of
our army and navy after the war,
The problem as to what is to be done
with these men must be solved
Secretary Lane Of the interior de-
partment. appears to be the only cab
met officer who has come forward TO
announce plan OF betterment fer
cur soldiers when they return from
the battle tronts. Nevertheless it is
a fact that practically every depart
ment and bureau CT the government
has been developing ways and means
toward reconstruction, and they win
all be put forward Secretary Lane,
in a letter to the president, recalls
that following the civil war the sol
3iers went upon the homestead land
which was thrown open to entry,
Congress is asked to get busy upon a
plan that has been outlined by him
to prepare government LANDS, to sup
ply drainage and other important and
extensive improvements that will be
necessary before land in great guam
titles can be made available At the
close of the civil war this was an ag
ricultural rather than a manufacture
ing nation, and it is impossible to
forecast the percentage of soldiers
who will go upon farm lands. 1t viii
be necessary to provide employment
for five million men and to transfer
millions of war workers int employ
ment in civil life.
There is in process of completion
war orders amounting to billions of
dollars, and when a declaration of
peace comes most Of these will neces'
sarily be cancelled Immediately. Con
gress is beginning to pay attention to
these problems which will entail
great losses to manufacturers
ming into amounts aggTegating bill,
lions OF dollars, and the adjustment
of which win create a situation Of un-
certainty that win exist for years to
come intimately connected with
the question Of labor is the one relat-
ing to social welfare, declared one
of the senators, who ADDED that the
European countries have taken steps,
nationally, relating to welfare ques-
tons; for example, the provision fog
old age pensions, life insurance and
other similar matters.
New Questions Ahead
The senate proceedings bring out
the fact that at the end of the war
we are likely to have a merchant
fleet larger than that of any other
country in the world-a different rel
alive position than the one we held
at the beginning of the war. This
fleet will be very largely owned by
Tue government, anu IL Is q DEODA6u
that must be decided as to whether
we are going to sell the yards, lease
them, or to operate them under gov,
eminent ownership. Government
ownership crops up in every indus
trial problem.
Another immense problem confront
ing the government and the country
affects the manufacturing plants and
other establishments created for wal
purposes, the machinery for which
may or may not be available for after
war production. 1t is likewise con
sidered a subject for the immediate
present to decide what we are going
to do with the millions Of war work
ers now so busily engaged who will
i find themselves out of employment
when peace is declared. 1t appeari
imperative that the government mus