Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1918-11-24
Reconstruction and Readjustment

We are hearing great deal about reconstruction
and people are wondering how long period it will
cover and will be the effect Of the process on
business Reconstruction with US is vague and al
most meaningless term. We have in the sTictest
sense nothing reconstruct for part of sruc
lures was destroyed in the late cataclysm No part
Of it was even disturbed. We put up additional
temporary structure called greater executive power
The taking away Of it in due time will probably come
under the head of reconstruction, but that will be
the extent of reconstructive work
The problem of reconstruction, therefore, will be
vastly more simple than that of the rebuilding after
the Civil war, when the political structure of pract-
calIy half the nation destroyed, and the consu
tuition offered most indefinite plan for rebuilding.
1t only specified that there should be guaranteed to
each state d republican form of government. But
who was to furnish the guarantee? Who to
build? The president or congress? The constitution
left us in the dark
Opinion varied as to the status of the states that
had lately been in rebellion. Some believed, among
them President Lincoln, that civil authority could be
easily restored after a brief military government
Others held that these states had placed themselves
entirely outside the provisions of the constitution and
Others that they had forfeited their very existence;
they constituted only dsorganzed territory and
subject to such disposition the American
chose TO make OF them 10 BRING these views
together to select from among them and apply
it to the lately seeded states was the work Of re-
construction.
When speak of reconstruction, really
mean readjustment This problem is for a purely
economic one, although one. It is to be
worked out with reference ourselves and with ref
to the whole world. and in much of the world
there is need of reconstruction We shall not
ssrily have any part in that and will probably not
have important part, but we will have command
ing and unique position in the of readjustng
relations with neighbors. In the turmoil of war
became the creditor of nearly all Europe and for
years must be the chief source of supply to our
debtors
How the work of readjustment will be put
under will depend upon agreement between
the legislative and executive branches of the gov
eminent the plans. The congress will not be
strong enough, if party lines shall be maintained
force its plans upon unwilling executive and the
executive will be unable to find support for his plans
which would not meet the views of the republicans in
congress We may, therefore, see a deadlock in re-
adjustment for two years 1t is regretable that such
important matter should wait politics and we
hope that the time may come when politicians
will become statesmen and that things which vi
tally affect the people shall be sacrificed to par
tisan advantage.
compromise would probably be reached earlier
than two years and tentative plan agreed upon so
that the work of readjusment could be readily put
under way, the plan subject modification
alton either party found itself strong enough to
change it.
This is situation, though, that will not greatly
disturb us as individuals Readjustments of CONNER
cial and industrial conditions at home will take place
not under specific legislation but under the
laws which govern trade and industry.
So that individuals, if keep away
from stock markets, shall be less affected than
imagine by reconstruction after the war" of
which we have heard much