The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-12-02

we can do as their legislative and exc
cutive servants Is to mediate process
of change here there and elsewhere
as we may. l have heard such coun
ell as to plans that should be formed
and personally conducted to happy
consumation but from no quarter have
seen any general scheme OF recon
struction" emerge which l thought i
likely we could force our spirited
business and self reliant laborers tt
accept with due plaincy and obedi
snce.
Industry in Motion.
While war lasted we set up many
.gencies by which to direct industries
country in services it was neces
lry for them to render, by which tt
lake sure of an abundant supply Of
laterials needed; by which to check
ldertakings that could for time be
spensed with and stimulate those
lat were most serviceable in war by
hich to gain for purchasing depart
ents of government a certain cou
d over prices OF essential articles
I'd materials by which to restrain
ade with alien enemies make most
the available shipping and sys-
natize financial transactions both
bile and private SO that there would
no unnecessary conflict or confus.
| by which in short to put every
lterial energy Of country in har-
SIS to draw common load and make
us one team in accomplishment of
at task But the moment we
ow armistice to have ben signed
took harness off. Raw materials
n which the government had kept
hand for fear there should not be
3ugh for industries that supplied
armies have been released and put in
to general market again. Great indus
trial whose whole output and machin-
cry had been taken over for uses of
the government have been set free to
return to uses to which they were
put before the war.
It has not been possible to remove
so readily or SO quickly control of
food stuffs and of shipping, because
world has still to be fed from our
granaries and ships are needed to send
supplies to our men overseas and to
bring men back as fast as disturbed
on other side of water per.
mits, but even there restraints are be-
ing relaxed as much as possible and
more and more as the weeks go by.
Never before have there been agen-
cies in existence in this country which
know so much of field of supply of la.
Dor and of industry as war industries
board, war trade board, labor depart
ment, food administration and fuel
have known since their
Iabors became thoroughly systematic
ed. And they have not been isola ted
agencies; they have been directed by
men who represented permanent de.
partments of government and so have
been centers of unified and cooper.
alive action.
Labor Presents Problem.
1t has been polity OF executives, there
fore since arnfstice was assured.
(Which Is in effect complete submis-
sion of enemy to put knowledge of
-hese bodies at disposal of business
men Of the country and to offer their
intelligent mediation at every point
and every matter where it was needed.
1t is surprising how fast process of
return to peace footing has moved in
,hree weeks since fighting stopped. 1t
promises to outrun any inquiry that
nay be Instituted and any aid that
nay be offered. 1t will not be easy to
lirect 1t any better than it will direct
tself. American business man is Of
luick initiative. Ordinary and normal
process of private initiative will. not,
however, provide immediate employ
nent for all Of men of our returning
armies those who are of trained ca
,acity, those who are skilled work.
men, those who have acquired famil-
arity with established businesses
hose who are ready and willing to go
o farms all those whose aptitudes
ire known or will be sought out by
employers will find no difficulty. it is
;afe to say in finding place and en-
)loyment. But there will be others
Who will be at loss where to gain livi-
hood unless pains are taken to guard
hem and put them in way of work.
There will be large floating residue
# labor which should not be left
Wholly to shift for itself. 1t seems to
ne important therefore that develop.
nent Of public works of every sort
hould be promptly resumed in order
hat opportunities should be created
or unskilled labor in particular and
hat plans should be made for such
developments of our unused lands
md our natural resource as we have
lacked stimulation to under
AXE.
he Observation-Disclosures
l particularly direct your attention
o the very practical plans which the
ecretary Of the interior has developed
n his annual report and before your
for reclamation of arid,
wamp. and cut over lands which
night if states were willing and able
o cooperate redeem some three hun
lred million acres of land for cult
alton. There are said to be fifteen
II twenty million acres of land in the
vest at present arid for whise reclama-
ion water is available if properly con-
erved. There are about two hundred
md thirty million acres from which
orests have been cut but which have
lever yet been cleared for pillow and
which lie waste and desolate. These
lie scattered all over the union. And
here are nearly eighty million acres
# land that lie under swamps or sub
ect to periodical overflow or too wet
or anything but grazing which 1t Is
perfectly feasible to drain and pro-