The Washington herald., 1918-07-16

without endeavoring to touch
upon the partisan political phases
OF the subject-in fact without
desiring to do so-we want to give
to Herald readers some idea of the
Chicago Tribune's advocacy of the
creation of q reconstruction COM
mission for this country.
The Tribune explains it in this
language:
"A reconstruction commission
such as the Tribune Is advocating
for the United States is surveying
the effects of the war upon the in
terests of the empire and formulat-
ing programs for the adjustment of
commerce and industry, economic
and social conditions to the new
standards that will prevail when
peace comes
THE aims OF the reconstruction
program are not only to restore
normal conditions Of national life
but to expand commerce and in
dustry and develop and protect ma
tional resources as a measure OF
preparedness for the recurrence of
war.
THE program for commerce and
industry after the war has Just
been completed by committe
headed by Lord Balfour of Bur-
leigh. The committee studied par
ticularly these questions:
"(a) What industries are essen
tial to the future safety of the ma
tion and what steps should be
taken to maintain or establish
them; o. what steps should be
taken to recover home and foreign
trade lost during the war and to
secure new markets; (c) to what
extent and by what means the
resources of the empire should and
can be developed; (d) to what ex-
tent and by what means the sources
of supply within the empire can be
prevented from falling under
foreign control"
So far as the question of free
trade is concerned, and its related
public policy, protection, these sub
jects might with perfect propriety
be included in the survey. II there
are reasons for the continuation Of
the free trade policy certaily a
commission could discover them
easily. and make them known to the
nation. Conversely, II protection ap-
pealed to the commission with suffi-
cient strength certainly its mem
bership would not be doing either
the patriotic or desired thing II it
sought to withheld it's approval
merely because of ancient political
bias.
The point we want to make par
ticularly is that in the New Day
that is coming the old political
mesmerism should not be utilized.
If protection seems to be proper
for the country to adopt new rea-
sons should be shown UP for its
adoption and the committeeman
should consider It wholly on ac-
count OF its new relationships and
ew effects. If free trade seems
to be the advisable course to adopt,
the members should be as ready to
accept 1t as to contrive to reach
other proper and natural conclu-
sions with respect to Americas re-
construction period. ..H
New and broader policies will
have to be imposed as time goes on.
Some of them will be worked out
gradually. others will have to be
imposed with some degree of sud-
denness, perhaps. But all should
be administered with care, and IL
either free trade or protection is
made a part of our ultimate, per-
manent course It should be fortified
with the best thought it is possible
to have.
Least of all. should partisan po-
litical effort direct the course. The
future will contain too many seri-
Gus, problems to allow mere po-
litical action to hold sway. The
basic principles of economics should
be clearly delineated and adhered
to with firmness no matter what
ancient rivalries may be revived by
the names applied to the recommen-
dations of our commission.
Great Britian's commission, which
in our. own country may be dupli-
Gated by legislative inquiry and ac-
tion, has a less stupendous problem
to solve because Great Britain has
colonies, and consequently sources
of supply of raw materials, upon
which the sun never sets. Our own
territory is more restricted and we
must be more alert therefore, too
see that our course Is carefully pro-
jecte6.
with the Tribune, we are inclin-
ed to agree, nothing would be lost
and something might be gained IL
a commission were named to make
a preliminary survey of the SUBJ
Ject. Data could be gathered and
Investigations made which would