Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-11-05
America Alone Does Not Prepare.
ALL EURoPEAN NATIONS HAVE TAKEN
STEPS TO MEET AFTER-wAs CRISIS.

Washington, D. C.-Recopstructior
looms up bigger day BY day a. com
manding problem before Congress
While pressing phases of the military
situation and the possibility of peace en-
gage the immediate attention, all con
structive thinkers are turning seriously
to the after-war scene of action.
Congressmen are more willing today
than they were four or five years ago to
be told what Europe has done. When
they are told that Germany 10 as ready to
enter peace as she was to enter the war,
when they arc told that England for two
years has had Reconstruction Ministry
with innumerable committees ct work,
when they are told that France and
Italy are not 90 absorbed In the war that
they cannot officially make complete
plans for reorganizing their industries
on peace basis when the proper
moment arrives, then they think 1t Is
time for the United States to approach
these problems as II they actually exist
ed, and not as II they were figments of
the Imagination.
The Republican members of Congress
for the past six months have been cast.
ing about for some way in which, al.
though in the minority, they might &C.
cure the passage Of legislation that
would enable the United States to enter
the coming era Of peace In more pre-
pared manner than they entered the
present era of war. Handicapped by
lack of control of either branch of the
Government, they nevertheless felt 1t
their duty as Americans at least to
formulate q project of Reconstruction,
whicb, II they win the next Congress,
they can solidify into practical legislation.
With this object In view, the Weeks
Resolution, calling for Committee on
Reconstruction, was introduced Jointly
into both Houses late in September.
1t is not partisan measure, as 1t calls
for a committee equally divided between
Republicans and Democrats. Thus the
problems of Reconstruction would be
considered from q truly non partisan
point of view and their solution would
be bipartisan.
GIGANTIC PROBLEM INVOLVED.
This measure, which has the backing
of practically all the Republicans and of
q certain number of Democrats, covers
all the obvious problems, and makes .
general provision for those not now fore
seen but which may arise In the near
future. Among these problems are:
Labor with Its possible unemployment
that may come about on the cancellation
of war contracts; capital, with its pos
sible shortage of fcredit that may occur
In the shifting of industry from war to
Q peace basis; provision for the soldiefs
and sailors who will return to civil life
by the million; rehabilitation of war
civil workers; the adequate protection Of
our foreign markets with the necessary
changes required in our banking facilities
for cooperation in the new international
trade we desire and expect, protection of
the young, new industries begun In. the
United States during the war and their
sblishment on peace basis; the
protection Of the farmer either through
price fixing of food products, the regu-
latiop of their distribution, the guarantee
ing OF credits, or combination of these;
the establishment and regulation of the
newly built shipyards and provision for
their future operation; the housing
problem and the congestion In large
cities which has come about to large
extent through the conditions Of war in
dustry.