The Washington times., 1919-01-09
LEAGUE DISCUSSES
POSTWAR PLANS

Bolshevism will sweep like a wave
Of pestilence through this country.
unless a system Of employment for
soldiers and war workers Is soon de-
veloped. in the opinion. of Dr. Harold
G. Moulton, of the War Labor Board,
who spoke before the Reconstruction
Conference today. ~
"The railroads cannot furnish work
for the soldiers. nor can public utili-
ties" said DR.. Moulton. state and
Federal and municipal employment
Is the only apparent solution Of the
problem In order to solve the vari-
Gus conflicting questions bound to
arise. a Federal board of public
works. should be appointed. And this
board should be permanent. Such
board would be the most important
at this time, of any Government
agency. second only to Congress and
the President.
We American people, in our easy
going. comfortable way, are inclined
!, to fold out hands in our. laps, and
wait. until the soldiers have returned
from Europe. until the war workers
In Government End Industrial posi-
tions have been demobiIized, before
we act. Nothing could be more fa-
taliy. errOueOus.
Seeds Being Sewn.
Il am no alarmist." continued DR..
Moulton. "but let me voice a warning
The seeds of Bolshevism which. uIti-
mately bear the red flag and the
spirit OF anarchy as their fruit are
being sown in this country. The spirit
OF social unrest Is rearing its ghastly
head like q creature Of repulsion,
You doubt, perhaps, some OF you!
Then let figures speak for themselves.
Reports covering labor conditions in
10 representative cities Of the Upi-
ted States, received recently by the
War Labor Policies Board, show that
serious unemployment exists in forty
six; conditions are but slightly better
In an even greater number; conditions
are bright in but few.
"Do\yeu wish to see this country in
the same condition Of social and eco
nomic turmoil as Russia is TODAY: in
the same condition which has gained
foothold in Germany? No? Then
each of you appoint yourself as pa.
triottc crusaders in the war OF peace
and work, work, work, for the solu.
ton of the impending, omniprcsent
difficulties. The red flag must not
supplant our flag in the affections
or the American people.
"Buffer' Employment.
In urging the adoption of buffer"
employment during the period of
transition, DR.. Moulton declared that
drastic steps soon must be taken by
Federal, State and municipal govern
ments, even to the extent of revising
state constitutions to hasten eco
nomic advancement
During the past year public i'm
provements costing $500, 600 900 were
postponed" he said. "If this work is
carried out this year, together with
developments costing $500, ZOO 900 and
improvements amounting to $500.
100000 as an added precaution, en-
ployment may be given to 100000
persons.
This will aid in solving the labor
question. These improvements would
consist mainly in bettering highways,
waterways, land, etc"
Prof. Lewis J. johnson. OF the enci-
neering department, Harvard Uni
versity. spoke on Land for Produc-
tion," while Charles H. Whitaker, edi-
tor Of the American Journal Df the
Society of Architects, discussed "The
Housing Issue"
Among the prominent men who will
speak are Secretary of the Interior
Lane, William Kent, of California:
William B. Colver. chairman of the
Federal Trade Commission; Senator
Lenroot of Wisconsin,; F:ank P.
Walsh. former joint chairman of the
War Labor Board; Secretary of Labor
Wilson, Herbert Quick: Norman Han
good, president of the League Of Free
Nations Associations; Charles Edward
Russell, chairman of the Social Demo
cratic League of America, and Secre-
tary of the Navy Daniels.
The problems of disposal of the
railroads. shipping. telephone and
disposal of land, good roads, labor and
the suffrage question, farmers. the
cost of living. education and public
information. popular government, and
international relations will all be dis
cussed.
Purposes Practical.
THE purposes of the conference are
extremely practical" states an an
nouncement by the conference com
mittee. headed by William Kent, to-
day.
"The people, the announcement
states. "have made temporary gains
out of the war; fundamental defects
in our system have been demon
strated.
shall the people. after careful
counsel. insist upon going ahead on
the road Of democracy, or will they
permit chaos to come from reaction?
Clearly a great ma jority of our
people desire orderly progress toward
equality of opportunity. They desire
to save what has been. gained A
powerful. minority are making a de-
termined attempt to return to a by
oope sfaffls of nrivile pe-b 4ft.--.e--- --%.