The Robesonian., 1918-05-13
@6ss


look back over
H--.. our history and
consider how we
have met, great problems-such as
slavery. by great war; tariff. by
fourteen bills and a like number OF
panics; conservation, currency, bank
ing, antitrust and railroad questions,
by making the same matters Of poll !
ticS-it may be doubted whether we |
are quite as great as we think we are.
In considering how we exercise our
judgment, we should remember the
extent to which we have devoted our
selves to the education Of the young |
and the large sums we have spent at
all times for public schools and for
colleges. When we look back and see
the mistakes we have made, it would
almost appear as II we had failed to
apply much that had been taught us in
school and college, or that perhaps the
school and college had not taught us
how to solve great political measures.
Then, again, the thought comes to Us
OF whether or not we have not had
false leaders, and have not clung to
false gods
Cooperation Wrongs.
We all remember the outcry against
vested interests Of the capitalists
There have been great wrongs done
by many c0rpOratiOns-some Of their
franchises have been obtained by cor
ruption and theft and great injuries
have often been done to the rights Of
the people; and so, when we found
times hard and things going wrong,
we have vented our anger upon cor.
porations and upon the capitalists who
controlled them. In many cases we
allowed ourselves to become angry
with class or With certain individA
uals and expended our strength on
our temper, rather than upon a study
Of the cure Of the conditions about
which we complained; and in many
instances we punished corporations
for the wrongs Of their predecessors
\ In ownership, much as sins of parents
are visited upon their children.
Demagogues, knowing the public
mood, appealed to prejudice and ig-
norance in discussing public matters
and made issues like currency, anti
trust laws and the railroads political
footballs. Just a. II the question Of
whether money could. be saved by
Joining together companies and pro-
vidlna toy economy In purchases and
Aa 1A& political. OF course It was
a matter az economies (which b the
science OF somtnerce). Such matters
call for Tonference between repre-
sentatives of farmers, laborers, SCI
entifc students Of world conditions,
and manufacturers and purchasers OF
goods, to conadef and determine how
goods can be produced with a fan
wage to the employee, fair profit to
the employer and the maximum bene
fit to the public.
Future Problems.
In Europe they have taken these
questions up in this careful way anc
the result has been Of great benefit
Now, and in the future, America will
have to deal with countries that arr
short Of resources through the exhaus
tion Of war and have, of necessity, tt
get down to rock-bottom. The thrifty
intelligent, Industrious European i
apt to be a good merchant, and we ar
going to have a hard time competin,
with him for commerce and for worl'
position. so we must consider all o
our problems more carefully than eve
before and cast aside those men VIII
attempt to lead us away from
thoughtful, dispassionate view of grea
questions.
Graft and neglect In local commun
ties Of political duties by the averag
citizen are responsible for the misgo,
ernment that breeds disrespect, wher
we should have pride because Of til
efficiency of our people. The first co
cern Of the citizen in every cOmmuni,
must be to see that it Is governed
way that will assure the approv
Of clean thinking men and wome
The mechanics governing a city r
Quire the same kind Of clear theugy
and careful work as that given
shop work or farm planning, and eve,
good American must feel that at til
time there is nothing more wor
while.
II we do these things well, we "
not have to worry about the foreig
born loving America, because 1iv;l
conditions here will be so excelle
that they simply cannot, help it, esq
cially when they are given not alo
good government and healthy con-
tions surrounding home and wo
shop, but also education. cpportunl
and .Skarter Of liberties which "
mean happiness to them, il We D,
form our duties az cit;zenA