Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-03
THE PRESIDENT ON LABOR DAY
Politicians Who Call Mr.. Wilson Visionary
Have Something to Ponder


~ son has been addressing himself for
the most part to invisible audiences in
Europe-to Foreign Offices, to the battle
fields. Many of the things he has said
have seemed remote from the immediate
worries of the everyday citizen. Yester-
day the President turned to his own
country with sweeping summary of its
concerns, as he perceives them. And the
Labor Day proclamation issued from the
White House probably will rank as che
of the most important utterances ever
directed to the heart and mind of
America.
As a conception of national destiny,
as a profession of faith in free govern
ment, Mr.. Wilson's Labor Day address
is so splendid that men will speak of it,
in the familiar manner, as visionary
1t is reminiscent of the 81 believe, be-
lieper' that lonely mystics have always
cried, against contrary evidence, in times
when faith was not.
What the President perceives in the
America of the future is nothing less
than the Happy Republic, mans greatest
hope for this world, realized through the
goodness, the intelligence and the sim
cerity of men themselves. To him the
future is a task at which all people must
Join equally. The Labor Day proclama-
tion is so filled with ardent faith, so
supremely assured, that it will pro-
foundy touch the heart of every one
who loves his own land.
It is America, we are told, that is to
flight the ady for men to the places
Wke,e justice is done and men hUe 1Cith
lifted heads and en,ancipated spirits"
We are fighting that "men cvery,vhere
may hare the right TO determine their
own fortunes, to insist upon justice and
to oblige Governments to act for them
and not for the private and selfish inter
ests of goUcrning class" And "We
may depend upon one another"
This is not remote. Plainly a refer
ence to the autocratic tendency in
America is linked with the indictment
of the autocratic tendency in Europe.
There is an answer here for all that the
dissatisfied and the unfortunate clamor
about. There is promise for the
future which issue makers and slate
makers and party makers will be wise to
keep in mind.
There is hint here for any special
inf &c oII hat
now and how far away!-that are seek
ing political vehicle for the future and
there is even broader hint for parties
and politicians that hope to be the
vehicle of special interests-of any sort.
Mr.. Wilson is SIRE to be a power in
the land until he dies. And his Labor
Day address is reminiscent of some of
the speeches of his first campaign in
New Jersey. Mr.. Wilson warned the
special interests and the privileged per-
sons in his own State in terms equally
sweeping.
"Vague," they said. "Pretty, but in
the ARP
And yet there are politicians still alive
in New Jersey who will recall the deadly
certainty with which the new Governor
applied abstract theories. Jim Nugent
and the one-time Senator Jim Smith are
among those who paid with much of
tLeir happiness as well as their political
lives because they 1oere not accustomed
to beieve that ideulsm could aCork in
government. And there are sure to be
other fatalities in the larger field of
politics among those who actively oppose
theory of the Presidents which, to
them, seems beyond realization.
Could the President give greater
assurance of his faith in mass judgment
By keeping his hands ont of politics.?
What are his reasons for an interference
in localized political campaigns? 1t may
be unfair to ask questions like this. The
time may be inopportune. 1t may prove
that extraordinary ends justify entraor-
dinary means. Let as at least hope so.
The better aUay, When the President can
challenge so splendidly the united spirit
of America, is to do our best to forget
Ford and some other hand-picked candi-
dates.
Meanwhile, it is apparent that the
President believes in miracles - and
miracles sometimes happen for those
who believe in them. They do not hap
pen otherwise. Mr.. Wilson is not mis-
taken in assuming that he has a grow
ing audience capable of understanding
his meanings. In America, now, the
Government has but to express a wish
and any one who refuses or forgets to
grant that wish is likely to be hooted in
the streets. A Sunday-one of the most