Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-07-26
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
(By J. E. JOnes)

number on the program, presenting the
biggest industrial problems of the day?
Everyone knows that there is some
thing radically wrong. and nearly ev-
eryone has plan of reform. The plans
TOR new railway legislation are varied
as were the proposals for banking leg
islation in 1913. But now, as then,
there Is pretty general understanding
and agreement all over the country as
to the fundamental principles that must
be Incorporated in sound railroad
law that will insure for the future the
growth of our transportation facilities.
he country is behind the basic prin-
clples OF private ownership, manage
ment and operation, safeguarded by
national regulation all along a man
iler that will provide a return to the
owners commensurate with that earned
IN other industries: while at the same
time preserving the high status of
railroad employees that has been ar
rived at in the evolution Of the rail-
road industry. These Punitive meas
rres in our industrial plan have becom :;
archaic; and a basis that will leave
railroads without huge deficits, that
will provide proper competitive fea-
lures for the benefit of the public and
which will turn private initiative loose
again under government control, seem
to loom in the immediate perspective.
1t does not matter so much that there
are all kinds Of plans being offered,
for these can be speedily sifted down
and the ancthracitic ingredients saved
from each. But it is important TO
have Congress make steam, and that.
apparently is what is, being done.
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG
Everybody is going to have fine
time, if those who promise so much for
everybody. are to be haIf-believed.
Official proclamations and messages
have been ringing with this ''oh be ioy-
GUS stuff ever since war began 10
work its changes in the economic and
industrial scheme of humanity. The
American Federation of Labor, in its
Atlantis City convention, recognizes the
new era, and in putting forth recon-
struction program, proclaims the ex-
pectancy that it will bring 10 all peo-
pie greater hope for better day, a
brighter life, greater liberty, and
larger degree of independence for the
workers of America.
The man who wears the other boot
in this industrial marathon is wonder
ing how he, too, can get "a larger de-
gree of happiness since the problems
of higher fixed standards are up to
him, if he is to keep going. But the
policy of loving thy neighbor is in
good working order. and if everyone
totes fair in this reconstruction period
all will be well with the world.
In the meantime the anarchists, the
Bolsheviks, the |. W. W.'s. and the
radical Socialists are finding them
selves to be quite as useless to society
as the fifth wheel to a wagon.
WAR RISK INSURANCE
Director R. G. Cholmley-Jones is
making good progress in checking the
growing tendency among the returning
soldiers to drop their insurance upon
reentering civil life. The War Risk
was one of the biggest business propo-
sitions Of the war, and as might have
been expected there has been an end
less amount of confusion in the re-
cords. Time and perseverance is REM
edying this, and in the meantime every
effort is being made to impress upon
the young men in the service the fact
that they are being furnished the best
form of insurance in the world, at a
rate far below what it can be supplied
for by private companies. 1t certainly
is a mighty poor business venture for
the soldier, or former soldier, to drop
this insurance. which the Government
has arranged for him in such way
as to make it a real asset for anyone
able to avail himself of it.
TO THE MAILMAN
OR MOSQUITO?
When Sir Arthur Conan Doyle sent
his famous character Sherlock Holmes