Evening star., 1919-09-03
AMERICAN UP[|FT
FROM WAR'SEv|LS
Work of Reconstruction and
Adjustment as Seen by Head
of American Bar Association
ROOT ON COST OF LIVING

/ BY the Associated Press.
BOSTON, September 3.-The need
of America nization of the foreign
population of this country, better
education of the native-born residents
in the meaning of government. and
karmonizing of the interests of CAPT
tai and labor was emphasized by
George T. Page of Peoria. ILL.,, pres
dent of the American Bar Association
in his address at the opening session
. of the associations convention here
today.
I'VE must take up intelligently," he
said. and with courage and determi-
nation the seemingly impossible tasks
that are all about us, and reconstruct
and readjust the broken and disturbed
condition of things. produced on the
one hand by war and on the other hand
by what seems to be our utter disre-
gard of some of the fundamentals
necessary to establish and perpetuate
a democratic form of government"
He characterized as "a most dan
gerous difficulty" the fact that lack
of Americanization work had left
most of the gree: body of foreigners
in this country wholly incapable
of even becoming students of our
form OF government"
The Immigrant Question.
Mr.. Page declared that the immi-
grants should he taught that they
have no right TO place America and
American institutions second to any
other nation or proposed nation on
earth, and that an immigrant in
capable Or refusing to become an
American should be driven back to
the country from which he came"
Turning to need of better educa-
tion of the native born in their duties
to society he said: "All our people
should have property instruction as
to the meaning Of the citizens right
to life. liberty and the pursuit of
happiness under our Constitution.
ITO make n real democracy there
must be surrender. compromise and
service by everybody. That condition
never viii exist while we have, as we
do have, large bodies of men who
have and use the power of money to
influence and mold for selfish pur-
poses. TO large extent, the destinies
of our nation either through the gov
ernment or in spite of it,
Capital and Labor Selfish.
MI. Page reviewed the conflict be-
tween capital and labor in this coun-
try and said: 1T is the belief Of the
people OF this country that neither
capital nor labor cares much what
happens TO anybody other than them
selves"
In conclusion he expressed con-
fidence that "the American people
will keep their heads cool and their
feet on the ground, and that wise
counsels will prevail not only through
present difficulties but through every
year yet to come"
A plea for government Of laws.
not of men," was made yesterday by
Elihu Root. former Secretary of State,
speaking as the chairman at a confer
ence of the delegates to the conven-
ton. Mr.. Root coupled in his refer
ences a description of the chaotic con-
dition of Russia and the conditions of
unrest which he said now exist in the
United States.
Cost Of Living and Extravagance.
Contrasting the high cost of living
with the fact that in spite Of it there
was never such extravaganza, the for
mer Secretary added that never previ-
ous1y had there been such difficulty in
getting the ordinarily Industrious peo-
pie of common sense down to work
"One of the conditions the war has
produced" he continued. lis that in
tellectual and moral attitude in which