The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-07

definitely for a na,dral readtustment
unless we wish to face industrial rev.
olution or risk pauperizing half the
people"
The plans Of the Land Settlement
league seem 10 have provided for all
these exigencies; and the war, accord
ing 20 these plans. will end as pain
leesly as possible incidentally, there
will probably be a new continent on
earth--a continent in population as
well as in area---the continent Of Aus
tralia.
Mr. Easton was fred with a great
enthusiasm on leaving Australia TO
take up the matter as an empire ques-
ton in England. There he found
many OF the biggest men in the en-
pire ready to Join him. and meetings
wehe called by the lord mayor OF Lon
don 10 emphasize it's mportante. He
has now succeeded in consolidating
the efforts of about twenty smaller
organizations, and out OF II all has
grown one great movement which
promises an adequate solution.
Mr. Easton" said his colleague.
was not IN England 10 boost Aus
tralia. Hhe was there TO compel the
British empire to face "A problem of
peace ahead. only second to the prob
lem of war. And il was evident to
all that the only solution lay In the
'same intelligent coordination of gov
eminent and people which would
make victory possible on the firing
line"
Good bye to the old estates of Eng
land. If the policy OF the Land Set
tleincnt league is adopted. they will
he cut mp Immediately into new farms
for ex-scrytce men. England will no
longer he the England of the novels:
for the romantic chase of the fox and
hare will have to give way to the
prosaic feeding Of the population.
That. only incidentally. Cutting up
al, the estates won't go very far to-
ward solving the problem involved.
but it will do lot to- secure popular
support of the Land Settlement
| leagues program.
Paying Nof for Past Mistakes.
In other words. now, when wars
demands have imposed innurerab bic
levies upon the monetary resources
Of every individual In the country. we
are forced to pay for the sins OF the
past and to supply the deficiencies OF
inadequate revenues For a decade
Of railroad batting born OF ignorance
prejudice and political expediency
which, as a people we did not under
stand. and the consequences Of which
we did not anticipate, we are com
PEELED 10 pa now. For gradual but
cure and disastrous undermining OF
railway credit under government reg
ulation during the last ten years or
more we nov suffer.
But one Of the chief factors in pre-.
pairing for the future unquestionabls
is that Of railway extension. for the
carriers will play as important a part
in helping to win the battles of the
prospective international comha ir
trade fields as they are today in speed,
ing our military strength to the bat.
tie line OF freedom in France.
Are these great wea pons In our com.
merCial warfare to be privately o,
publicly owned and operatede WHY
have they not been equal TO the pres
ent crisis. and how can they he made
go? Can preparations for the flu
ture be made in the light of the past
In recent years we have lost sight
~ the great influence which the rail.
roads have exevted in the develop.
ment of this country, and we havs
forgotten that our great resources are
FAR from fully developed But now
rs we face humanity's arch enemy and
as We watch the burdens Of financfrs
our share Of the war mount day h,
day VIC arc coming to understand
that we shall lhave ample use for al
our resources, all our productivity, al
our tsidrihutive facilities We mus
! create new wealth to meet the destruc
ton OF the old
II Is certain, If we are to have pri
Vafe ownership Of transportation. thg
| cornerstone of the foundation ef otn
| tuture IA ABILITIES must he the restora
| tfon of railway credit. The cmpanie!
| must he enabled 10 raise the means 4
develop those much needed facilities