Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1918-10-24
E ORIAL
HAYS AND RECONSTRUCTION.

Chairman HAYS OF the republican national committee writes the
editor of the Daily News a personal appeal TO get behind the repuo-
lean party and push The same sort of appeal has been forwarded TO
other editors, no doubt.
Nj. Hays properly says that, aside from the winning Of the war:
the great problem before the American people relates to reconstruc-
ton We quote a part Of his letter:
1.-THE coming congress win be a Reconstruction Congress. The
perns Of peace are $ ocomplex as to bring terror to thinking minds
what may happen unless all foreseeabIe establishments are arranged
for In advance none can measure. Immediately peace comes millions
Of Workmen in war industries may be thrown out of employment by
cancallafian NJ war orders If * nresn,abIe that men in training in
eantonnents here will be mustered out-preparaton must be made
for their employment. Factories which have been converted from
peace 10 war work viii require months to return to peace time pro
duction. A labor panic is thus possible and the farmer is likely tt
find the urban market closed ta him, through lack OF buying power.
All such problems can and should be prepared for Now
Ne quite agree with Brother Hays Aside from the winning o:
the war; fhe great problem pertains to reconstruction. How shall j
he doneg Under what conditions shall it be brought about?
Chairman HAYS and his party associates have declared their pul
pose 10 return to the old order Of things-that is to say, return the
railroads To the pre-War control, return the other public utilities, re
move the restraint from commercial and industrial enterprises, lie
every man look out for himself and the devil take the hindernost.
Theodore Roosevelt is the patron saint Of the republican bosses
Thes are against every form Of naturalization Of public utilities OF
industrial enterprises.
The market gamblers would be restored to their prestine glory
the price manipuators would have full swing; the monopoGsts woul
be restrained only by the sky as the limit if the country is financially
able to withstand the shock.
The producers would be at the mercy 0. the price fxers and the
aa1oring men would be looking for jobs at whatever wage scale til,
profteefs might choose to determine as Equitable,
There IS no hope for an adeauate REIMBURSEMENT Of after-war con
dudons from any suggestion that Chairman Hays, Colonel Roosevelt
Senator Ledge or other republican peddlers have offered.
Chairman Hays has well said that it is the problem before tile
country following the conclusion of the war. 1t is admitted that the
congress Is be elected ii November viii deal with the questions Of
reconstruction for no one now believes the war will continue for
1hree years-and the men chosen to the lower branch Of congress mex
month will serve until March, 1921, and those selected for the senat
until March, 1925.
The need Of choosing men who think right and who will do right
Sln te matter OF reconstruction is the important phase Of the presen
eampalgns# 81 the country Is to retain Its prosperity the old order of
things must go. II is admitted By all students Of economic problems
aK 1hat no country can withstand a cost OF distribution which double
that 81 production.
fe consumers q TIC country have paid twentyseven billion
@ dOllars, on the average, TOR the products OF the farm, for which the
8prouncers received only nine billion, showing that the cost Of distri
AbuhonSha s been eighteen billions as against a gross income Of nne
billions ~ the producers.
Weneed5 men VI the type Of Woodrow Wilson in The White House
eng 4 nfhe4 nails q congress. We care not wether they are republi
N cana, or democrats Pr Nonpartisan Leaguerss Its the man with ths
Understanding of the need of such changes as may BE necessary Il
S8 meet changed conditions the man with the will power to resist TIL
aS maenanaaaons ofs sspeelaLs ialvalge5;N the man Who will stand up fol
@s5oaS anaH country the man who will hew to the line, letting the chips
2fall where they may