New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1918-05-18
,=lEs1z

| M.,L., our history ant
| consider how w
have met great prOblems-such a
slavery, by great war; tariff, BY
fourteen bills and like number o.
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 oul
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 al
all times for public schools and for
colleges. When we look back and see
the mistakes we have made, 1t 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 chung to
false gods.
Corporation Wrengs.
We all remember the outcry against
vested interests Of the capitalists.
There have been great wrongs done
by many corpOrations-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 individ-
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 corpora lions
for the wrongs Of their predecessors
in ownership, much as sins Of parents
are visited upon their children.
Demag0gues, 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 Al II the question Of
whether money could be saved by
Joining together companies and pro-
viding for economy in purcha SEES and
sales was political. OF course It was
a matter Of economics (Which is the
science Of commerce). Such matters
call for a conference between repre-
sentatives Of farmers, laborers, SCI
entific students Of world conditions,
and manufacturers and purchasers Of
goods. to consider and determine how
goods can be produced with a fair
wage to the employee. q fair profit to
the employer and the maximum bene-
At to the public.
Future Probisrna
In Europe they have taken these
questions up In this careful way and
the result has been Of great benefit.
Now. and In the future, America will
have TO deal with countries that are
short Of resources through the exhaus-
ton Of war and have, Of necessity, to
get down to rock-bOttom. The thrifty,
industrious European IL
apt to be good merchant, and we are
going TO have hard time competing
with him for commerce and for world |
position. SO we must consider all Of |
,ur problems more carefully than ever |
before and cast aside those men who |
attempt to lead us away from q |
dispassionate view Of great
questions.
Graft and neglect in local commune
les Of political duties by the average
.itizen are responsible for the misgov-
,rnment that breeds disrespect, where
We should have pride because OF the
Of our people The first con.
'ern of the citizen in every community |
must be to see that It Is governed In
| way that will assure the approval
Il clean thinking men and women.
l'he mechanics governing a city re-
luire the same kind Of clear thought
md careful work as that given to
hop work or farm planning. and every
God American must feel that at this
line there II nothing more worth
vhile.
II we do these things well, We win
ot have to worry about the foreign
orn loving America, because living
anditions here win be 90 excellent
hat they simply cannot help II, espe-
tally when they are given not alone II
God government and healthy condi-
ions surrounding home and work
hop but also education. opportunity
nd charter Of liberties which WIN
lean happiness - them, u ~ por.
Drm ooF duties . eltissaA