The Washington times., 1919-09-01
b. BOERSIANER

Of the conviction.
Latterly, there were widespread
fears the President would initiate
practical Socialism by using the
American Federation Of Labor as the
innovator. The first relieving dis
iIlusionment was the Presidents pub
licly announced recommendation that
the railways be returned TO their
owners as soon. as possible. Here IL
may be noted the President had sane
toned a plan. OF revision effective
stances have impelled q postpone
ment
The second surprise was the Presi-
dents proclamation on the railway
wage question, wherein he anunci-
ated economic principles the reverse
or what finance was sure he had en-
tertained. The third agreeable dis
appointment came from Mr.. Gompers
when he denounced BOlshevism and
suggested an accommodation in the
current wage controversies.
Evidently finances premise (that
Mr.. Wilson and Mr.. Gompers-other-
wise the American Federation OF
LabOr-haye been conferring conf
dehtiallyJ was correct, but the con-
clusion was incorrect Both, mani
testify, have shared the apprehension
OF finance itself; namely, that Boil.
shevism is, or has been, a menace;
therefore, it must be forefended by
reconciling capital and labor speedily
as possible And to one, the Presi-
dent, ,Dost-bellum history is slgnih-
cant
In the mediate, when not-in the inn
mediate, wake OF every great war,
there have been want and misry. In
countries pTonouncedly impoverished.
the distress came sooner than in ma
tfOns~ less Impoverished. But eco
nomic affietion has been visited upon
both sooner or later. An approxi-
mate analogy is the years following
the Napoleonie wars. Two years
after Waterloo the distress through
out Germany was extreme. In Nor
way and Sweden, the peasantry were
compelled to mix bark with their
bread, and even this exUedient did
not preclude whole families and
neighborhoods from dying of famine
The rate Of subsistence to which
the laboring class was forced in the
incurred an alarming
At no time during the
reign OF terror were the French peo-
pie in such destitution as in 1917.
The inhabitants of the chief depart
ments were reduced first TO oatmeal
and potatoes; finally, to nettles, bean
stalks and other kinds OF herbage
At only for cattle. When the next
harvest enabled them to eat barley
bread, many died from intemperate
indulgence in what they regarded as
a luxury.
In the towns and cities Of the
United Kingdom, bands Of what were
once Industrious people swarmed,
begging for bread. Dropsy OF a pc
culiar description ragged. Dead bodies
were found on the roads and in the
delds. Physicians who dissected
some Of those found the stomach
shrunken And filled with unwhole-
some ailments which hunger had
driven men to share with beasts.
As an historian, as a believer in
historical analogy, President Wilson
doubtless remembers these facts. II
may be assumed they have impressed
him, as they should impress every
body, particularly laborer and capi-
talist.
Whatever economic ideas Mr.. Will
son or Mr.. Gompers may have enter
Lained before the war, or before the
advent OF Bolshevism, both are ad-
verse to radicslism. The President,
L Is seen, has gone so far as to be
anxious to have the railways operated
privately. The record OF the roads
since January. 1918. demonstrated that
and interest are not a free
gift sent periodically down from
as quails and mama were sent
% the Israelites: that economic quail
ty" is politicians hit between wind
ind water-a similitude touching
evaporation and dew.
Experience teaches that especially !
Lfter a long and murderous conflict |
,etween nations work must be found |
or as many people as possible and |
hat as many people as possible must !
york; that then there should be no |
enarians.