The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-01-22
THE INDUSTRIAL SITUATION.


Because Of the lack Of comprehensive national policy
the economic and industrial situation in the United States
is unsatisfactory and gives signs Of becoming dangerous
Whenever the peoples of Europe find consistent with
their welfare to release President Wilson, we hope they
will permit him to return Congress has contracted the
habit Of relying upon him to furnish all the thought all
the initiative and all the motive power necessary to meet
and master any situation Doubtless Mr. Wilson thinks
Congress should do some original thinking and acting on
domestic AFFAIRS AT least he strongly hinted in his fare
well address, that Congress would do well to look after
home affairs while he was absent He even outlined
few problems which might be proftably discussed and
solved Nothing could have been more complete than his
transfer of the railroad problem from the executive to
the legislative branch Yet Congress has done nothing
to relieve the economic and industrial situation and APP
parently it intends to do nothing until Mr.. Wilson re-
turns and tells it what to do
In the meantime the government as whole works with
out any comprehensive plan. Men who are needed to
stand guard while the nations asen the shaces of peace
the enemy being brought home by tens Of thOus
and while other tens of thousands are released from
cantonents thus preventing the organization of suf
fcent forces to relieve the boys in Europe These dis
charged soldiers suddenly added to the numbers of
who have been let Of factories on account Of stop
page of war work Unemployment is looming up as an
ugly danger in than one particular and yet Con-
gressmen strain to increase the danger by
demand. e0release of men from military service be-
fore there is peace These legislators responsible for the
welfare of the United States listen to the pleadngs Of
individuals for the return of the soldier boys rather than
to the admonition Of caution and wisdom The ind
vduas are not unpatrotc they have already Proved
but they look at the situation from personal standpoint
and do not realize that other millions Of individuals are
like themselves tearing down the military structure and
enfeebng the nation at hour when it is peculiarly
essary to keep it strong,
The industrial world do much to ease the situation
however, without waiting for the government to formu
late proper policy Business men can analyze for them
selves the inherent strength of the United States the rate
of growth of population and the consequent needs of the
people in shelter, food raiment transportation amuse
ment and on Business would thrive if business men
would go ahead without paying too much attention to
world problems" The people need more houses, more
food more clothing railroad accommodations more
diversion and expansion generally of all their convent
ences There than 100 900 individuals con
shutting the richest market in the world There is plenty
Of money locked upthe banks have greater deposits than
ever before The people wealthy and are willing to
pay fair price for what they want
Too much talk is wasted the problems or recon
structon" Strictly speaking there no reconstruction
to be done All there is needed is resumption and the
way to resume is to resume Each business man knows
what he would like to do in expanding his business Let
him join his BUSINESS associates in going ahead The
United States is victorious not defeated It is richer
than before the It has not lost territory or
fleets or prestige It has merchant ships than ever
before and better chances for foreign commerce than ever
before 1t has friends among the nations than ever
before It's manufacturers more expert than ever
and know how to quickly in adjusting their plants
to the making of patterns Labor is more available
now than it has been since the started High prices
take care Of high wages High prices must prevail
throughout the world until production can begin to fill
up the enormous vacuum caused by war consumption
The world is short Of everything that makes for comfort
It is mistake for American business men to hesitate now
they cannot tell what prices are to be- They may
rest assured that demand will keep prices high-Washing
ton Post.