Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-26
LEAGUE HACKERS LEAD

strength out of this character the Civil
War arose. Its element of strength lay
rather In the fact that whatever of loss
to the individual citizen may have been
involved in his states giving up certain
or ltS sovereign powers was more than
regained by him by the share in the ma
tional sovereignty that became his by
virtue of the fact that he was given an
equal share in making the decisions for
the larger organization. He who was a
qualified voter within the state also pos
; sessed the franchise in the nation.
Now the application of this principle
to the world situation is of course not
without its difficulties, but, if it could
be realized, then each Individual might
come to realize that whatever he loses in
the shape of a share in the national
sovereignty is more than compensated
| for by his new share in world SOW
ereignty. The fear might arise that the
less educated and the presumably infer
ior races would outvote the more en-
lightened in. the determination of world
policies. But in any event, it would
seem that a workable league of ma
tions can only be attained by the ma
tions assuming analogous position
with reference to the league that the
states now assume toward the nation.
He uOeS llOL uedl "IlH
the states, but it rests upon and oper-
ates upon the individual citizen. There
is no Pennsylvania decision on national
issues save in the matter of constitu-
tional amendments. Minorlties and ma
jorities within each state may reach
their maximum effectiveness in the set
tlement of national issues.
The successful world organization
must not only embody sound principles
Of social organization universally appl-
cable to all lesser social wholes, but
it must recognize the material basis of
life. For each member Of the nations
who now finds his security and economic
opportunity in the resources of the ma
ton, he must find a greater satisfaction
Of these basic needs in the resources of
the whole earth. The whole world must
become our country, recognized as such
by each individual and embodied in the
organization of the life Of humanity.
This again demands that the resources
of the earth shall be used in accordance
with a social purpose as broad as the
needs of mankind.
And If the people were free to come
into agreement on such social purpose
what would be the probable nature Of
the primary policy which would be
adopted? Perhaps any answer to this
question can be little else than specu-
latiVe, but judging by the motives that
now actuate the great majority of man
kind, 1t would probably have to do with
this same need of the individual for Sc
curity and economic opportunity. If free
to do so, the unprvileged masses would
unquestionably demand that the re-
sources of the earth shall be SO used
that no human creatures shall hence-
forth stand in need of the essentials oil
food, clothing and shelter. What Ameri-
can would not be proud to join forces
with his fellows to remove forever the
chasm of poverty which now exists at
the very center of our civilization? 1t
, , would not require half Of the productive
forces of the earth to accomplish such
a purpose. In America it is said that
We now use mechanical energy that is
the equivalent of what thirty slaves fol-
each inhabitant would be able to do. We
should have an abundant surplus o1
energy both corporeal and non-corporea
to realize many of the higher interests
Of education, art and luxury.
. The machinery for such a free world
co operation could well make use Of the
national organizations now existing. The
worlds needs can be quickly focused
and the worlds forces can reach out fol
relief where needed. With our moderr
instruments of rapid transportation ant
II insta ntaneous communication, why neet
1--WE seek a separate success either as
individuals or as peoples? IT looks to me
as II the privileged who draw their in
, comes from the sweat of other mems
: brows are the only obstacles in the way
of such a realization Of economic justice
r.. w. G. GREESEN.
Philadelphia. March 22.