The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-11
ELLIS ISLAND. FROM AZ AlRpLANE

war enabled the speeding UP Of war
production and the newly efficient Use
Of capital. British cotton and machine
tool mills, for example. were largely
reequipped with up to date machinery
during the period of the war.
THE reason for tho retrogressiye
tendency which came upon the heels
OF the wars end was that everywhers
in Europe big business began to sezs
every advantage that was open to It.
The Governments aided this by dis
banding the corelating machinery
which had been at work. by dissolving
pooling devices, by relLnquishing con-
troll over plants and ships. England
especially sold plants and ships and
with desperate speed went back to
Wars Lessons Missed.
$50 far as I know Great Britain has
not carried through a single one OF
the great ideas included in her recon-
structive programme. The same
spirit OF neglect maintains elsewhere,
including the United States. In other
words, IT is now fairly apparent that
the war has not taught any of rs the
great lesson. We might have abol-
ished poverty If We had been willing
to take advantage Of the opportuni-
ties which the war presented for the
reorganization Of society. We could
have wiped away the tenement. the
slum and want. We had our chance
to organize production and distribu-
ton as a social measure but did not
take advantage OF 1t. II we really had
had the desire: IL we really had been
intelligent; but
Men never have produced as
much per man as they producer
during the war. Labor did not
fear that it would lose its job:
1t knew at night that its work
would be waiting the following DAY
Men got into their right inches. They
worked at the tasks best fitted to them
because It was essential to the public
safety that they should--essentisl in
a dramatic way. They learned too
that for every one to live without fear
and in state Of reasonable comfort
il among human possibilities BIT
the nations Of the world have let al
the advantages which We're so strik.
ingly apparent come to an end with
the signing OF the armistice,
How was this indignation OF iuj3--
try brought about? The world orea,
lied four major things-credit, ira.
portation, food and fuel For the pu.
poses OF the war they were made -
work together. All this was reCol-
nized as good during the war, yet VITA
the ending OF the war It Immediately
ceased.
Labor, during the war, has show
a greater willingness to sacrifice thar
capital. This surely was the case
both in Europe and in the UnitoI
States.
The situation was about the same
the world round; men worked and
profiteers prohted. The gains OF tie
coal industry in England were fahu.
lous, as were those OF the ship owners
the steel manufacturers, the fooj
spectators. The food spectators
there. as here. largely were respous.'
BILE for the unparalleled cost ot liv-
ing: they are especially responsive
for IL, to-day, in Paris.
Labor Is not going back TO its cd
conditions. 1t is protesting against
seeing its gains through higher wages
nullified by the profiteers. It Is this
which is feeding the spirit OF revolu'
ton. A great part OF Europe to-day
Is feeding upon potatoes, some bread
slight fat and going without many
things previously considered neces.
sary, as, for instance, butter. sugar
and milk.
ut is we'll to remember the old say
ing that revolution crawls on -
stomach"
Copyrighted, 1919. by Ed,odrd Mar
shnH Syndicate, Inc.