New-York tribune., 1919-03-04
Reconstruction Problems
Largely Hysicria, Is View
Of the Secretary Of Labor
State Reports Optimistic
President Calls Troubles
Minor. Nation IL Immune
10 Germ Of BolsI,c,ism
by Theodore NJ knsppen
New erh Iiibuns
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New Vert Iiib,iNs
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WASllIkGrOA March 4 Opening
the conference Of Governora and
Mayors called to discuss the prohlemB
of unemployment and post hellum re.
adjustment, In the East Room Of the
White House to-day. Secretary of La
bor Wilson declared there had beon
n good deal Of hysterie IN connection
with tho question Of reconstruction
Then President Wilson said that our
problem IN that respect was very minor
compared with that Of The nations Of
Europe.
After That Governor after Governor
arose and said business and employ
ment were ~ excellent ahapc IN their
states, Only two Governors dssented,
MS far down he alphabetical list as
New Hampshire, which was as far as
the reports went to-day.
Psychological View Prevails
About that time spectators began to
wonder what was the reason for the
conference. The general opinion seemed
TO be that It's principal function would
be Ill the nature of a mind cure. The
main trouble with the nation, opinion
runs, is that it thinks it ought to- be
sick after all it has gone through, and
is sure that it is; whereas, according
to the speakers of to-day, 1t ought not
TO he sick, beyond a slight fever, and
really is in robust health All it need,
IS the vigorous exercise OF good, hard
work, the doctors say Let the coun-
try get out and get busy, as it has
great need to be, and It's shadowv
economic troubles Will be over.
Governor Smith. Of New York, did
not attend the conference, but WAS rep
resented by George Foster Peabody.
Mayor Hylan, of New York City, was in
attendance. Ten other New York cities
were represented by their mayors, and
New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts,
and other Eastern states were we'll rep
resented. Even such distant states as
Washington, Oregon and California
sent numbers of mayors
The Bolsheyiki nave been irving to
plant their infection here. but Socro-
tary Wilson said they had not got very
far, because the country had been inoc
ulated against them IN advance and
the infection would have small chance
of spreading with business humming
and work apenty, which he said would
be the normal condition soon. and that
all that was needed was a little tenn
porary cushioning of the situation.
Secretary Wilson did not hesitate to
affirm that the recent strikes at Butte.
Mont; Lawrence. Mass. and paterson
n. -, were part of we'll planned and
deliberate attempt to establish the
soviet system of government in the
United States.
"A deliberate attempt" he said. twas
made to create a social and political
revolution that would establish the So
vet torn of government in the United
states anu put into effect economc
theories of the Bulsheviki of Russia IT
failed because for two wears the De
partmeht OF Labor and other agencies
Of the government have been lighting
that false philosophy not by the utilI
5gatioh Of force. but by appeal to the
Judgment, to the reason. Of our beoplp" /"
The applause that greeted this state
iient was only surpassed by that ac-
corded 10 the ahawer to the protest
from the Central Labor Union At New
York CITY, asserting aliens were being
depofted heeauhe Of their unon lshor
affiliations or heoause Of participation
~ strikes, The conferences anAwer to
THIS proteat was that, aside from the
physically undesirable allena, thoas
who we're being deported were meeting
that fate because they advocated the