Norwich bulletin., 1919-09-05

Written Specially for The Bulletin. Forty years ago far-sighted statesman wrote in influential | magazine his forecast of an approach ing Moral Interregnum
 It needs no statesman today to see portents of an approaching aH-round 'bust-up,' not only in morals but in economies. in politics in all forms of public management
 When threa tening clouds heave over the horizon rim we farmers are ac- customed to give them keen attention. Sometimes they are just empty threats, full of wind and nothing worse some times they portend thunder and hail and deluges and tornadoes- and cloud bursts. We try to forecast which it will be, so far as possible, and make preparation accordingly.
 Whether the clouds now looming over our national horizon are just scary-1ooking but harmless; or whether they are charged with real danger. is quite as much a matter of concern to us as the character of the physical clouds which come up of summer day.
 Within the past week I've read two articles, from widely different sources and far removed portions of the coun- try, which have impressed me very strongly. So strongly that l am moved to summarize them as briefly as l can and ask such of my fellow farmers as do me the honor to read these Talks"
 
 One is from a western paper which quotes the words of recently resign ed railroad executive. This man, be- ginning as a telegrapher. rose by his own energy and ability to become the head of great transportation system. He was known to all his subordinates as an absolutely Square" boss. No man ever went to him in vain with a he. himself, began at the bottom. Why. then, did he abandon the position he had earned and surrender the rank he had won? Here is his answer:
 'T have quit because I can't swing the job alone Whenever I look over my army Of workers. inside or outside, q the desk, the lathe or the switch post, I seem to see but the ghosts of their former selves. Once they were as proud of their road as of anything they owned. Once they seemed to ask; How much can we do?
 NOW the great system that gives them bread and butter means nothing to them. and they seem to ask: How little can we do?'"
 Truly. those are sad and orninous words. Truly, the situation must have become intolerable to wiring them from such a man. The western editor, com menting on them adds:
 With the word Ia b0r' bristlin- on every printed naGe today. there seems no one left to sing it's joys. but only to bernoan it's pains; no one to Iaud it as an anodyne of hun1anity's i'll.
 Does anybody work any more for works sweet sake. for the pleasure of the finished task. the pride of handt- craft, the solid reward of duty done?"
 Some years ago, wrote a Talk on zeal for accom- pIishment as a test of true character. was not only much fattered but somewhat surprised al the letters of appreciation which that hastily written Talk brought me. Flattered, because 1t showed that I in f111T and tolerably intelligent men; sur prised because Of the attention which !: so tr;te a treatment of so obvious a ! theme attracted.
 silaped tEeInseIves that I have been : compelled to see that the old feeling Of pleasure in the finished task the 0Id ''pride of handiworll." the old joy Tn "duty dore' Lave ceased to operate IS they once cid.
 The change is not on1y ominous: 1t s alarming: it is prophetic of disaster.
 The second article which has so i'm pressed me is one by Speaker Gillett of he national house of presentatiyes. himself representative from the Mass district. He takes he ground that we've reached a mighty dangerous point in our na- ionaI progress One where the signs 9 the right and left and straight ahead re all marked Dangerous Road.'" { rom which he deduces the conclusion hat our only safe route to a better . merica is to. go back-go back along he steep. hard track we've been mbing for two Or three years till we onne to the one which is safe He avs:
 we want to progress. but progress g dangerous Unless one knows where me progresses. We can in the end Q further forward by first going back
 step. or a rod or a mile. sometimes. when we find that we've verstepped- ourselves and that we're n a dangerous locality 1 He goes on:
 "I'm thinking of a class of citizens I sed to know They lived in Spring