East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1919-04-16
The Problem Solvent
BY ROBERT EDWARD GoRNALL

BY ROBERT EDWARD GoRNALI
tPastor NJ F.. Church.)
IN LLOYD GEORGE recently viewing
III the war devastated regions
= doubtless meditating upon the
| unspeakabie atrocities, the destruc-
ton of Approximately 100000 com.
batants and 1000, 600 on-combatants
the insuperable energy needed to re.
habilitate the region. the fact that in
dustrial Europe will be mortgaged for
centuries etc, shuddered as he said
rs this what we have after 1000 years
of Christian protest?"
The war is practically ended Its. re-
sumption on any large scale seems out
of the question. Now greater and
more completing questions face the
world. A Norwegian cartoonist re-
Gently depicted the War God saying
to the Demon Of Unemployment.
Take my place for awhile. I'm going
into the church to rest" God pity the
church which presents nothing but
protest, and in which any individual
or group of individuals exploiting hui
man kind and bringing social chaos
into the world, may rest easy. and ap-
pease their consciences.
In sentence the central thought of
the social problem is the abolition OF
the old relaxation of master and ser
want in industrialism. In the 18th
century guild master and servant
worked together. The following CEN
tury the capitalistic class emerged
hiring labor. One hundred years ago
the industrial revolution with its in
ventioD of machinery and consequent
factory system began to specialize
and mechanicalize humanity. Each
rapid change nndustrially added pow
er to the capitalists. The shackling
of the host. making life more pro-
hibitive, was increased by monopolis-
tic and capitalistie co-ojeration. Matt
urally trade unions came into being
which have wonderfully grown in
number and power.
In the present crisis these organiza-
tions of laborers are asserting Them
selves These two classes, the mf-
nority rich and the majority poor. are
deperately struggling for material ad-
vantage.
There are capitalists who are sim
cereiy conciliatory. They build model
homes for employees, study welfare.
give better wages. and in prosperous
yeaAs grant bonuses. Yet these good
things, though appreciated, do not
satisfy the working class. The condi-
tion els paternalistic. They have Re-
Gently died by the millions for the de-
struction of paternalism. and will
have none of it. Labor does not want
to be petted. but desires and demands
liberty and power. Some scheme of
equita BILE .co-operation must be work
ed out.
The solving of our problems is to
some degree a question of leadership.
The best leadership cannot be obtain
ed from men of doubtful livs. A cor-
rupt, warped mind does not think
straight There can be no real pro-
gress where leaders practice neutral
ity in matters of right or wrong.
Tn world is not languishing for lack
Of private virtues and morals Pen
dIeton-s moral standard is below its
best citizenships and amove its poor
est Every man should act publicly
worthy of his character.
Capitalists of unauestione,f private
integrity and honesty. who with dig
nifty can carry collection plate in the
sanctuary. can the following day cor
ner wheat and thus rob the poor of
bread; or legally steal n railroad: OF
jew a fraction Of conress down TO a
lower selling figure. Unfortunately
this is no exceptional attitude.
The Turks, cruel people. are said
to he individually kindly. People IN
Berlin gleefulIy iaughted at the'sink-
ing of the Ihsitania who privately
would sympathetieally weep at the
destruction OF a child. we are pTf-
vately good folk. but tolerate condi-
tions whereby Thousands unnecessar-
ily die. and where the feeble-minded