Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-06-15
Peace With Such An In.
Scrupu!Oas and Immoral
POwe- Jnthinkable"

weeks the enemy has recovered terri
tory that required the allies some time
to win. This il must be acknowledged.
was accomplished by superior force. But
what is the net resultl The three prob
able objeetives Of the German army
division of the French and British
crushing either army, or taking Paris
have all completely failed, and the po-
sition of the German forces today is
less secure than when the drive began
What the next move will be is not yet
divulged, and in the interim the enemy
will be fully occupied consolidating
his lines, bringing up big guns, sup,
plies, etc, aud improving transportation
facilities. Possibly the mll following
these successes will be utilized for fresh
peace talk; but all such camouflage is
useless; because Germany will not be
likely at present to offer terms salts
factory to the allies, and a German
peace with its potentialities for another
war is impossible. We must not forget
that Germany has no thought of retir-
ing within her original boundaries; 10
willingness to give reparatic'n for the
ravishing Of small nations, and absO-
lutely no repentance whatever for either
the colossal crimes against justice and
humanity or the wholesale violation of
the entire moral code. Peace with such
an INSCRIPTIONS and immoral power a
Prussian .militarism is unthinkable, and
cannot he even seriously considered, un-
til that power has been crushed, and in
its place one established upon ideal
more eonsOnant with modern civiliza-
ton. Nothing can compel such change
as this in the Prussian mind, or de-
stroy its lust for world power, except a
decisive allied victory, the outlook for
which improves daily, British aud
French forces seem quite able to hold
on, and the Americans are happily now
being rushed across in surprising num-
bers. Already our boys have shown their
mettle and given the enemy taste of
what to expect; and very shortly they
will prove an important factor in the
war. As for recent piratical submar-
inc attacks on defenseless American
vessels in home waters, they will accom-
plish nothing except stimulating our
energies To still keener pitch, and III
this respect they will prove more SER
viceable to us than to the enemy.
There are two very encouraging fac
tors in home business affairs; the out
look for a big cotton crop and also fol-
a large wheat crop, both of which at
this period promise to be record break
ers. These are two of the most impor
tant crops raised in the United States,
and their promise or abundance is aG
encouraging to our allies as to ourselves,
In other respects the crop situation is
favorable and if present expectations
are realized they will tend to- check
high prices and profiteering; for while
the Food Administration has accom-
pished wonders in the latter direction.
the law of supply and demand cannot
be ignored and the task Of regulating
prices will be much easier under abund
anee than under scarcity. In all indus
tries pertaining to the war there is in
tense activity, and effort is being stead
ily shifted from the unnecessary to the
necessary products. One source of un-
certainty has been removed and that is
labor which is displaying high degree
Of patriotism and steadily increasing its
output; thus offsetting to some extent
the losses through drafting into the
army. British labIr has doubled its out
put since The war began by means Of
intense effort and better methods. Such
an increase Of product here, however, is
hardly to be expected, for the reasor
thai American labor has long been re-
garded as more efficient than British
and less inclined 10 unfair restrictions
Our industries are still moving in the
direction of more absolute government
control, The steel industry will probably
be entirely regulated at Washington
within a very short time; and now the
textile manufacturers are looking in the
same direction, preferring the uniform
ity of government control to the con
fusion and uncertainties of part gov.
erument and part private control with
at the same time widely fluetuating
margins of profit and labor problems
to contend against. In all industrial
affairs the prospects are for stricter
government direction of both production
and distribution during the war. Such
efforts were at first restricted to the
supplies of raw materials, but are now
being direeed to not a few semi-manu-
featured products. Whether government
intervention will extend into retail dis
tributiOn cannot be foretold.
More attention is now being paid to
railroad shares as the Importance of
government backing becomes more gem
orally recognized. Their profits on the
basis Of the last three years are as.
sured FOR a considerable period; rates
are e. be literally advanced in order
to meet increased wages and other ex-
penses; the government will provide
funds for necessary improvements and
rehabilitation; labor troubles under
government control will be at mini
mum, while simpler operation, reduc-
tion Of expenses and cessation Of state
interferenee will add to the general re-
lief of American railroads. Our indus
triasl face a somewhat more complex
situation, as illustrated by reduction in
several copper dividends. The outlook
for necessary industries is still encour-
aging, especially steel production
which for obvious reasons is literally
treated by the government. Thus far the
diversion from the unnecessary to the
necessary has caused relatively little
hardship because Of the urgency of the