The Washington herald., 1918-01-14

Senator Harding has made the as
founding discovery-or has expressed
himself on what he believed for some
time-that socialism is decidedly in the
ascendancy just now in this country.
Thoughtful men in Congress have
observed the trend for some time to
tell the truth Senator Harding is one
Of those men.
His statement came with reference
to the Smith (Arizona) hill giving the
Federal Trade Commission extensive
powers to take over and operate the
news print paper mills Of the country.
Without question there is a limit to
the Federal operation Of our various
institutions. Our system of govern
ment is not prepared for 1t and will
not be for some time to come-perhaps
never.
As the Ohio man pointed out govern
mental domination of too many fields
OF industry suppresses, in fact dis
courages, individual initiative and en-
deavor. 1t puts them to sleep not only
to the detriment of the industries s
themselves but to the ultimate detri-
ment OF the public as we'll.
So long as power is delegated In this
country to officials through political
work. so long will politics play their
part in all the lines with which the
officials thus chosen, have to do.
This Is not an undesirable condi-
ton. either. so far as domination of
affairs is concerned. But it is unde-
sirable so far as business enterprises
are concerned. 1t brings factors into
the business equation which should not
be there. 1t is bound to make the
problem infinitely harder for the peo-
pie to bear, though to give temporary
alleviation many steps are taken which
look alluring on the surface.
The largest business enterprise which
this sovernment has ever operated,
and which 1t will continue to operate,
has functions which made 1t adapt
able to government operation. 1t is
necessary, in fact, for the enterprise
to be operated by the government.
But the Postoffice Department
whereof we speak, has not been op-
Grated on a strict business basis for
ever so many years. 1t has fulfilled
its aims. in many ways, but the public
has not had the service it wanted,
especially during the highly intensive
times we have had during the past
year.
No one can foretell what the specific
effect would be Of the operation Of all
public utilities by the government, OF
course, but there. are many members
of Congress who believe that they can
now foresee what some of the general
effects would be. This is putting Con-
gress on guard, to be sure. Members
are not going to dash pell-mell into
any government operation scheme for
even the railroads without knowing
what they are doing. Nor are they
going to dash into any other scheme.
They are going to go slowly and think
much.
So far as the corporations themselves
are concerned there Is no denying that
their reign of control Is over. They
cannot run things longer in either poll
tics or business. But seasoned with
common sense. on the part of Con-
gress, and tolerance. on the part of the
public, they may be able to conduct
their affairs in the future with benefit
to themselves and vast oenefit to the
public.
II the public can get ample sery-
ice at reasonable rates that is all the
public wants. The public, moreover,
would rather obtain this from private
operation than from public operation,
too. many members OF Congress sus-
picion.
Virtually every member Of the
Lower House and one-third Of the
membership of the Upper House of
Congress are discussing with rabid
interest the probable lines upon
which political battles are to be
fought during the coming open
season.
In some sections there is no
question but that the fights will
be Of a war and anti-war nature.
In other sections the old line-ups
threaten to maintain themselves
with the war subordinated to a
secondary position especially
where both sets OF candidates in
dorse the war and have done their
bit toward its effective prosecution.
u peace seuss bsSQre the sams