Evening journal., 1918-08-21
Loyalty is Assumed, But the Next
Congress Will Need Brains Also
(From the indianapolis Star J

The Democrats are trying hard to
create the impression that the war is
The issue in the approaching elections
and that in some unexplained way II
would be an att OF dsloyalty 10 vote
against the Presidents party candi-
dates. The war Is not in any sense an
issue, and never has been from the
moment the United States entered the
conflict. The President, 10 be sure.
went back into power on a "he-kept
up-out-of-war" argument, but even
That has been forgotten since we be-
came a belligerent.
No self-respectng Democrat would
undertake TO tell an audience of intel
llgent voters that the winning Of the
war is in any wise involved in the re-
suit OF the November contests. lie
and they know that Democrats and
Republicans are united in the effort at
bringing early and complete success
TO the allied cause. The Republicans
in Congress and out have worked 10y
ally to support the administration in
its war program. The war VIII be
won regardless Of which party is in
control
The Issue in the campaign Is not the
winning OF the war-that is a point on
which there is no difference Of opinion
but the rehabilitation Of the nation
after the war. At present the United
states Is involved In the greatest
money-spending orgy In the history Of
the world. The situation Is accepted
as inevitable, under existing condl-
lions, but is cannot continue inden-
nitely. There must be an end TO bor-
rowing and the spreading OF treasure
broadcast. The nation must get back
TO normal, and that return era will be
one OF the most trying in the history
Of the country.
The present prospect is that, even
with an early termination of the war,
we shall come out OF the struggle with
public debt in excess OF S2OOOO,OOO.-
600. That will mean an annual IN
terest charge OF si,OOOOO0,0OO or more.
besides money that must be provided
for the amortization OF the debt. The
total for congressional appropriations
for 1916, the year before The war. |
was only S67s,677, $3.50, and that was
higher than the average In the ten
years previous. The normal after-war |
appropriations, exclusive Of interest |
and debt items. will be. OF necessity. /
much higher than IN other years 10 |
take care OF developments resulting
from the war.
The people OF the country must ex-
pect, under most favorable conditions,
10 pay to the support OF the Govern
ment after the war at least three and
more likely four or 1--WE times as mush H
IS they formerly were assessed. That
money must be raised, not for a war
and by selling bonds, but
IS a regular thing and as a business !
proposition. The nation has to gel
'ack from a spending TO an earning
nd saving basis. And all that will in ,
olive a far-roaching economic TeOrgan- +,
zation.
The Democratic Party Is nOtoriously
money waster, whether In control OF d.
State or municipal affairs. 10
as been lamentably weak on con-
tructive business policy. The people
now that. They have watched De-
nocracy perform in New York City.
2 Washington and in scores Of other
'laces where II has gained temporary
'oWer only TO be ousled because Of its
Iwn excess and incompetence.
AsNNh AAA biAI NAklAtultnb OF War the
,ublic has not forgotten that four
Years ago there was widespread unem-
)loyment in the United States; that
industry was slowing down: that we
we're in the thrOes Of a buy-a-bale
movement to save the Southern cotton
lianter from ruin; that the Under d.,
wood tariff law was manifestly fail :
lg to do what the Democrats had said !
would; that Secretary McAdOo was B
juggling the treasury figures TO mini S
lize the importance Of the rapidly In
deficit; that he was "reim-
ursing the treasury" by selling Pan d
ma Canal bonds. 4
The nation four years ago and in Z
me or peace was paying current ex- 2
enses with borrowed money. The Ia
administration was headed straight Z
)r embarrassment and financial con- d
lsion when the world war was pre- h
pitated In Europe Soon war orders :
ON the allies began pouring in and
rlces scared. Exports doubled and
doubled. Wages were advanced, the.
lrmers got higher prices for their
roduce, the manufacturers were del
ged with allied gold and prosperity
as extended to everybody. It was all
ar prosperity.
Then the war came TO us. The bars .
ere thrown down and every restraint y,
M uu.r,u,.,..,.
Il