The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1918-04-22

S4.n,.,o.s look back over
M.nkan 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 hoy 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 If 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 Wrongs.
We all remember the outcry against
vested interests Of the capitalists.
There have been great wrongs done
by many orpOrations-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 80, 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 a 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 corporations
for the wrongs Of their predecessors.
In ownership, much al 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 as IL the question OF
whether money could be saved BY
Joining together companies and pro.
viding for economy In purchases and
sales was political. OF course 1t was
a matter Of economics (which is the
science Of commerce). Such matters
call for conference between repre-
sentatives of farmers, laborers, SCI,
entif1c 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-
fit to the public. 4
Future Problems.
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,
intelligent, Industrious European is
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
our problems more carefully than ever
before and cast aside those men who
attempt to lead us away from a
thoughtful, dispassionate view of great
questions.
Graft and neglect in local cOmmuni-
ties Of political duties by the average
citizen are responsible for the misgov-
eminent that breeds disrespect, where
we should have pride because Of the
efficiency OF our people. The first con.
Germ Of the citizen in every community
must be to see that 1t is governed In
way that will assure the approval
Of clean thinking men and women.
The mechanics governing a city re-
quire the same kind Of clear thought
and careful work az. that given to
shop work or farm planning, and every
good American must feel that at this
time there La nothing more worth
while.
II we do these things well, we will
not have to worry about the foreign
born loving America, because living
conditions here will be SO excellent
that they simply cannot help 1t, espe-
cially when they are given not alone |
good government and healthy condi-
lions surrounding home and work
shop, but also education, opportunity
and a charter Of liberties which will
mean happiness to them, If we per-
form our duties as citizens.