The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-04-09
Believe in Change.

Believe in Change.
Politics interests the Duouesne club
OF course, where the small percentag
or Democrats hasn't increased, mi
wheTe a league Of nations, mind YOU
not the first Wilson kind, but the kind
70 pc respectfully amended by the ai6
oI Messrs. tart, Root, Lowell and so on
- IN the main approved. / asked many
q the big business men II they thought
they could get this foreign trade OF
Which they speak II America failed
europe and stayed out of a league, and
tney confessed they hadn't given that
Phase OF 1t much thought, but they aid
neheVe Europe and America should be
NED closer together from a business
viewpoint, and that the United States
was going to keep much Of her south
war, e 'e
SO far as / can learn, the average
nan isn't much concerned about the
league OF nations, because its ramifica-
lions are b~ewildering, and responsible
business men tell me they have been so
perpleXed by the contradictory dis
patches and rumors from abroad, that
they doubted whether public opinion
would take more than a superficial in
terest until conclusions were reached.
ana there was something tangible on
winch to base a judgment, something
besides the view Of one writer that the
league was morlbund and the equally
positive assertions Of other writer's that
peace and the settlement OF Europe1s
troubles would be ready by Easter.
IL rs interesting to talk with folks
mere ABOUT President Wilson. Unuues-
tionably he Is respected by the mass.
put ne has lost some Of the independent
Vo'efs VINO swore by him in 1915. One
OF ms Old friends told me that Wilson
prestige had declined largely because
or the failure OF the Democratic marty
IN congress and the Democratic cabinet
oyer the inefficiencies of which Mr.
wilson might have exercised n stern
hand, Much OF the bitterness over thai
lI-iated appeal for a Democratic con-
gress remains, because Republicans felt
ahey a given loyal support here
apouts, and that the letter was hardly
expression OF appreciation. Again
ana again, | am told that Mr.. Wilson
might have had a united country in
peace, as he had in war, II he had So.
lected an able Republican for the peace
One Republican political
leader, who says privately that Mr.,
wilson Is one Of the smartest, il not
Sne sHartest, man who ever sat in the
" hite House, says he can't stop won
dertng how the president ever could
miscued IN the selection OF An
able man for the peace mission.
viii Forgive Him.
Business people here were never en-.
thusiastic about Mr.. Wilson's goin.
away, but II he comes back with i
peace treaty that meets Republican OBJ
and gets the pact ratified soon. !
VIII forgive him his absence, on
thia hand, they will not forgive
mueh else TIL he gets rid Of many
members OF his cabinet. Pittsburgh MAD |
! lot to DO with Washington during the
war, n tasted governmental bureau
'raey and red tape right along. and the |
against the inefftcfency and
extravaganza OF some Of the govern
nient departments Ia rather extensive. |
several men told me they wouldn't have
eIt me inequalities Of the income tax
they could have gotten over the fael-
ng that much Of the money spent was
sNtraVagahty spent, or wasted.
mere lsn much unemployment here,
! nose soldiers who want to work are
taken care Of Unrest isn't very
Widespread Institutions like the West
mghous Electric and the Carnegie
'seel nave won he confidence OF their
tmploIeS to a remarkable extent, When
he United States Steel spends more
nan $l3. 900 900 a year In welfare work
and other big corporations spend
'ig sums OF money and the time OF az
'erts trying TO ascertain causes Of dis
and remedies, B%olsheyism can't
make much Roadway.
Why, OF the steel men told me
nat the only trouble with labor that
10 II having, Is trying to impress the
workers. with the merit OF the EIGHT
'our day, which Judge Gary accented
time ago. Many OF the employees
. n the IL and l4-hour shifts, be-
ause they think they can make more
money. that way, As a matter OF fact,
ay informant says three shifts Of an
lEht-hour day would rnean efficiency
nd greater production.
~ ought to come he said, first.
It's right, and second, because
I can be made to pay" | asked him
whether he might not have to raise
in order to get the men to ac-
ept the ei~ght~hour day, and he said
Ike that wouldn't have to be done.
Il firmly believe" he added. that
70 shall take way the main talking
Of the union organizers, IL we put
A the. eight.hour day"
As Tor Bolshevist literature, tons OF
have been shipped here. but 1t is
ohltned mostly to the organizations OF
ct falling victim to II. One OF the lib
ral-minded men Of the city. whose
ymnathy for the working classes is
ronouneed, assured me that Bolshe.
was impossible in this section, for
reasons; first, because the constitu-
ion OF the United States had been
hown IN recent years. to be a pretty
Iexihle document, subject to amend
by the people In relatively rapid
ashton, and secondly, because a peace
revolution had been gradually taking
lace hereahouts In the recognition on
9th sides OF the mutual interest OF
arital and labor In a stable and we'll
community.
Industrial democracy ia coming
trough natural changes in the rela-
.ons Of employer and employee, and not
y violence and terrorism. that seems
, be the reason why Pittsburgh hasn't
,st It's head in this after-the-war
eriod, but In moving forward with self
and cohesion to more years OF
meke-filled skies, full dinner pals and
owne homes and enjoyment OF the
ruits of her toll.
1919, by the New York
Evening Post, Ine.l