The Raymer enterprise., 1918-12-05

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eral schema Of .reconstruction'
emerge which I thought It likely We
could force our spirited business men
and sslfrsliant laborers to accept
with due pliancy and obedience.
RsstraInts Being Rapidly RELAXED.
while the war lasted we bet UP \
many agencies by which to direct the /
industries Of the country In the serv.
Ices II was necessary for them to rem
der. by which to make sure Of an
abundant supply Of the materials
needed. by which to check undertak.
ings that could for the time be dis
Densed with and stimulate those that
were most serviceable In war, by
which to gain for the purchasing de-
partments Of the government certain
control over the prices OF essential,
articles and materials. by which to re-
strain trade with alien enemies. make
the most Of the available shipping.
and systematixe financial transac-
tions, both public and private, 30 that
there would be NO unnecessary con-
flict or confusion-by which. In short.
to put every material energy Of the
country in harness to draw the COM
mon load and make OF us one team In
the accomplishment Of a great task.
But the moment we knew the arm
istice to have been signed we took
the harness Of. Raw materials upon
which the government had kept its
hand for fear there should not be
enough for the industries that sup
piled the armies have been released
and put into the general market again.
Great Industrial plants whose whole
output and machinery had been taken
over for the uses Of the government
have been set free to return to the
uses to which they were put before
the war. 1t has not been possible to
remove SO readily or 80 quickly the
control Of foodstuffs and Of shipping.
because the world has still to be fed
from our granaries and the ships are
still needed to send supplies to our
men oversee and to bring the men
back as fast as the disturbed condi-
tions on the other side OF the water
permit; but even these restraints are
being relaxed as much as possible
and more and more as the weeks go
by.
Never before have there been
agencies In existence in this country
which knew so much of the field Of
supply, Of labor and Of industry as the
war industries board, the war trade
board, the labor department, the food
administration and the fuel admins.
tration have known since their labors
became thoroughly systematized; and
they have not been islolated agencies;
they have been directed by men who
represented the permanent depart
ments Of the government and SO have
been the centers Of unified and coop
eratlve action. 1t has been the theory
Of the executive. therefore, since the
armistice was assured (Which Is in ef.
feet complete submission Of the en-.
emy). to put the knowledge Of these
bodies at the disposal Of the business
men Of the country and to offer their
intelligent mediation at every point
and In every matter where 1t was de-
sired.
Return to Peace Footing Rapid.
1T Is surprising how fast the pro-
cess Of return>to a peace footing has
moved in the three weeks since the
fighting stopped. 1t promises to out.
run any inquiry that may be instituted
and any aid that may be offered. 1t
will not be easy to direct IL any bet
ter than 1t will direct itself. The
American busines man Is OF quick in
itiative.
"The ordinary and normal processes
of private initiative viii not, however.
provide immediate employment for all
of the men of our returning armies.
Those who are. OF trained capacity.
those who are skilled workmen, those
who have acquired familiarity with es.
tablished businesses, those who are
ready and willing to go to the farms,
all those whose aptitudes are known or
will be sought out by employers will
find no difficulty, 1t Is safe to say, In
finding place and employment. But
there will be others who will be at a
loss where to gain livelihood unless
pains are taken to guide them and put
them in the way OF work.
There will be a large floating re-
siduum Of labor which should not be
left wholly to shift for itself. It seems
to me important. therefore, that the
development of public works Of every
sort should be promptly resumed, in
order that opportunities should be cre-
ated for unskilled labor In particular.
and that plans should be made for
such developments Of our unused lands
and our natural resources az we have
hitherto lacked stimulation to under
take.
Big Reclamation Program Favored.
Il particularly direct your attention
to the very practical plans which the
secretary Of the interior has devel-
oped in his annual report and before
your committee for the reclamation Of
q rid awamn and ciIfnuar lnnda which