The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1912-1921, 1918-11-20
DEMOCRACY AND EFFICIENCY

notion that was very prevalent On
both sides of the Atlantic, even within
the current year, has since suffered
irreparable damage--the notion that
real democracy cannot be really eff.
Gent.
-Four years ago it was widely and
truly said that Prussia challenged all
democracy by putting to conclusive
test the question whether nation Of
self-governing people, bound to con.
suit public opinion, to regard indiyi.
dual rights and even preferences
consequently bound to advertise Its
purposes and compelled to move In any
new direction with comparative slow.
ness-7could resist a tightly organized
autocratic, state, whose regimented
powers could be swiftly set in motion,
in any direction, at the will of few
men, ss SIS sac. ....
IS We know the answer now The
most autocratic state was the first to
go to wreck. The most democratic
states have shown the greatest stay
ing powers. Germany, in her last
straits did not seek relief by becoming
more autocratie, but decisiveiy by be-
coming more democratic. Whatever
else anyone may say of the war, it
sanctions the Western Worlds faith
in democratic form of government.
1t was the most democratic state Of
all that most COMPOUNDED Prussian
calculations
An American army Of two millions
on French soil, composed Of men who
had mostly never seen a weapon of
modern warfare until about a year be-
fore, was impossible according to Ber'
lin arithmetic.
We know now that real democracy
can be. really efficient Hundreds Of
familiar facts attest it. We know how
we did it---by lettering our industrial
organization. as practical, expediency
dictated: by. a, new relationships
tween government. and industry, a re-
lationship in which governments first
interest was to increase production
by working with greater energy; by
much more intensive practice of thrift
by composing our differences through
arbitration, or through mutual conces.
ssions, without stopping production
Broadly, that is how-while raising
training, equipping an army of three
millions-we have helped feed the al
lies, built the ships, bought the bonds
and blocked the Kaiser. We can do all
those things in peace as we'll as in war
We know that we can be tremendously
Efficient The only question concerns
our will to be.-Saturday Evening
Post.
I Soldiers in the hospitals tire OF VS.
itors' questions, and give startling an
swers some times when the reason Is
asked for their presence in the hoS
pital.
"a piece of shell went through my
arm was the reply of one, ana
caught cold through the draft AM
other retorted, "Sheer carelessneSs'
mum; / caught cold through drinking
out of wet glass" And still anotne'
with an injured optic, grayely explain
ed, st appended in the subway l d"
my eye on an empty seat and fat man
came along and sat on il"
Kerensky called frequently OIL nv
czar. after he was deposed, and trea'e"
him with consideration. One DAY 'H'
emperor said:
"Kerensky, you have made sia''
intake"
Howl" asked the dictator
I'm abolishing the death penalN'
replied the car. 1A
but did that to save you" hs''
ensky replied. r
"You were wrong all the same
would willingly have given my lie w.
Russia" the car asserted.