Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-04
DANGER Turks IN CATCHY
PHRASES COMMONLY USED
Return OF Peace Finds Different
World From What Is Was
Before War.
FABRIC OF CIVILIZATION TORN
Old Standards Altcrcd-Problcm Of
Employment Of Disabled Soldiers
Presents ItSeif-iSritain Has Min
istry OF Demonstrations.
nY II. y. CUMMINGS.


LONDON. December 3.-Thc British
Ministry OF Reconstruction has made
an opportune publication in the fist
pf series of pamphlets dealing with
the problems and aims OF rccontruction
after the war
There is the danger In these days
tiocracy." the freedom of tho seas"
repatriaiion, and others which have
needs Of the future. sinking by repcti-
ton into nero catchwords recognized
s,Ens OF the peace jarson that never
thciess Involve to many who use them
n,ttie more than the effort Of speech.
tina, is not to accuse Of insinccrity
either politician or journalist from
whose lips they perhaps fall most fire.
nucntiy). but simply To state that ther.
vs. tendency in times like the present
10 toy with ideas and 10 be bcEuiled in
dhe process into thinking that their
development into working plans fol-
lows as natural result
It liz possible to become accustomed
even TO state Of war-.-so much so that
me state Of peace vauiShos into n re-
mote distance where IL appears Il
blessing. beautiful but unattainable.
hut such Il view induces procrasti-
nation fatal to any effort which has
as Its object the formation OF con-
struc,ional plans: and whore AS un-
preparedness for war though IL may
may yet be excused on the score Of the
nirnanitarianism ot the principles
wnich nromnted the delay. 9. similar
peace Is unforgivablc. since it's un-
fortunate effects fan tho hardest on
ihosc who have previously borne the
orunt OF the struggle
Tho future. therefore. demands "a
positive and practical policy equal to
The task that lies anead. and able 10
cope efficiently with the difficulties. the
magnitude OF which a mind even of
the most superficial type cannot fail
70 appreciate For the task that lies
before all the nations At the conclusion
oi this war Is TO face a new world.
IN the beginning. when the call TO
rms souhded nc" ana the prophecy
vas on evcrybody's lips that tho
hShthE could only b" a matter 81
months, the return to peace was anti
cipatcd rs return 10 those conditions
ptcEailihS II IN" moment OF lis
hrcaklhE ihe wish was natural ris-
tnE rom the instinct that seeks the
oln. iainiiia pain before the new. But
~ lts re- ''za,ioh IN I'M. case We're ever
ueslraple. tne experience or the last
TOUT years mas SHOWN IL to be more
man unilkety -iinpossibic.
ne "nllte iabfic not OF statccraft
"loh" nut OF ciFliiZatirn ltscif mas been
,Hfh. Is IltcFaiiS irHe IN ines" days
mat the former Things are passed
aw"H, ahn ihc work thut remains
Tor the worries citizens Is the creation
Q, fresh ana far s"nditi"ns wherein
social ahh inhus'r.ai life may thrive
- i,"se neioFt.
ne GA standards are dehnitely al
Icrcu: Such chahsc Is the inevitable
rcsuI, OF war waScd 10 secure safety
III n'liIci"t.. y man - judged 70.
~. no, ~ Wy iehIth OF MS ancestral
M nor oE me Naiue OF ms banking
account nut py ms record or manly
".cus. ne s,FuGeic OF these years mas
~ "'Snt dca,n 10 that spirit or CON
~ va lon-n"Ner more IMAM polite
-, ,or ',. 1l nay ,nonopoiized
"h -, az 'a,,aSc TOT ~" prl'aicEed rev.
nc 'iue OF sacfihcc, rising higher
pondcni t. no, n,,i, nv now r us..sy h he
on individual effort. and while every
body has been busy doing his bit 10
help win the war" those who have had
,imc during tho process to think as
well have attained TO a new and
broader Viewpoint,
Reconstruction would he simple il it
involved merely the adaptation or en-
}ightoncd and more democratic rules
"f government To world which. in
tho past. has proved too easy of eS-
pioitation 10y the dcspot, the proiitccr
or tho political crank. Unfortunately
there are other and still NOR. Enotty
Problems such - that connected with
the employment Of the Disabled sol
der. which viii Glamour loudly for at
,cntion. effective and swift. and close
Il allied 10 this is the question @. NO.
men aud their position in the economic
plan.
The appointment. then. OF "a special
ministr. 10 consider and advise upon
these matters seems not superiluous.
In the case Of the one in Great Britain
cstahlishe in August 1917. it is purely
IN advisory department whose work
= I" examine the conditions caused by
war and tn" attendant problems, 10
give expert consideration 10 these and
devise plans for their solution.
The task, already approached has
been begun in systematic order by the
division into headings Of The main
Problems and iv This rnnthnd tho ,I;r