Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-01

SENATOR JOHN w. WEEKS.
Copyright, Harris 4 Ewing.)
much of the material required as pos
sible in this country
'Great Britain. as a wise nation. you
see. has Its business mind projected
into the future. British soldiers have
fought calamity fighting in France, the
British navy waited to sink the feet of
the kaiser and the whole empire battled
unreservedly against the Prussians. but
its men Of business and Its political
leaders did not forget that the war some
whatever else may be said OF It. has
much to do with the practical question
of ones bread and butter.
Il have mentioned some OF tho
questions that we as q people must
consider" Senator Weeks continued.
ferred to our trade with foreign coun.
tries. Before the war we produced
more than we could consume. Tho sur.
plus was sold elsewhere. In the sur.
plus SO disposed Of were such items
as cotton. steel. meat. oil and ma
'The manufacturing capacity, indeed
the whole productive capacity Of the
United States, has been enormously
increased since 1914. With the sol.
diers at home again and with the mill
lions Of munition makers released to
plus over consumption will be Inn
menseiy enlarged: What are We to do
This question is Of frst Importance
to the American people-to the own
4ers Of factories and the men in the
miners and mono the less to our farm
ers. Markets must be found for this
surplus production and they must be
foreign markets. II the markets are
not fonnd. then there will be a re-.
duction Of production On all industries.
followed by unemployment and hard
"Also. In this connection ana bear.
Ing on the matter Of work for our
own workers., Ia the subject Of Inn
migration. Perhaps Congress may
desire to defer this question until
my. view It should DO taken up now.
IT my conclusion Is correct az to the
surplusage OF labor in this country
after the war, We should place UNI
usual restrictions on the Germans
and on all other nationalists who
almost Of the world itself.
Il 4
Social welfare likewise must be
taken up, old-age, pensions and life
insurance have been discussed and
adopted by some of the countries In
Europe. How have such ideas worked
out?,.. Have they been beneficial or
injurious? We do not know The
facts should be obtained before we
take any action ourselves. Z
again. millions Of women are do.
ing work that was formerly done by
mon. Are they to, return to their for-
mer employments or to their unem-
in what were once the exclusive pur-
suits OF men? ~ ~ : , Il
."And should permanent employment
agencies be- established by the gov
eminent SO that thoss out of work
may obtain IT without cost or effort
have been periods when the labor de-
mands Of one community were over
supplied and when tho demands of
otheEScommunitiesh have been under
sHppliad.4~$Should the national gov
.erR weRts:Nndertake the function Of
LIAuSLSEFlHBs OChSES ITOT reg IONS
where they are not needed to regions
whereAhey are needed?
."War"cannot be- carried on slowly
or economically. Necessarily, there
is waste. The stimulation Of produce
ton. a nation. being at war. results
in high prices. Men who fight cannot
grow. wheat, mine coal or make iron.
All things are greatly increased in
cost. Money IL no object. Victory is
the first thought In the minds Of the
people.
Now. however. there should be
economy Of the strictest sort. We
shall have an immense debt and q
very large bill for yearly interest.
My hope is that, Congress Will take
steps 80 that we shall at once be
ready to readjust our civil govern
mental system to a peace basis which
Will BIO both economical and efficient.
'There are other subjects. that Con-
gress should investigate. that we may
pc ready In meeting the conditions OF
peace. Such questions. for example,
AS the conciliation and arbitration OF
labor disputes; the employment Of
surplus labor on unfinished public
works; trusts and combinations; gov
eminent loans to private enterprises
and to farmers: government super
vision Of the issues Of stocks and
bonds: the fixing Of prices for food /;
tho distribution OF food products; the
. allotment of lands to returned sol.
diers and sailors, and the repeal. ex-
tension or amendment Of the laws
that Upra enacted IN GARRY IN tho