Evening star., 1919-03-04
GOVERNORS DIFFER
ON i. S. POLICIES
Cox Given Ovation at White
House Conference for Cham
pioning Soldiers.
OPPOSES VIEWS OF EDGE

Emphatic differences Of opinion, at
times promising to assume a political
complexion. marked the deliberations
of the conference of governors and
mayors at the White House this morn
ing. Gov. Edge of New Jersey and
Gov. James NJ. Cox of Ohio were the
chief participants in the discussion.
Gov. Edge thought that the federal
government should release industry
from governmental restraint at once
and should imm mediately make an an
nouncement concering it's policy. Gov.
Cox combated this view with the
statement that the federal powers
should continue to interest them
selves in the affairs of industry and
especially in SO far as industry con-
Germs the returning soldiers
Gov. Cox Given an Ovation.
The conference evidently sympa-
thized with the view of the Buckeye
executive for at the finish of an elo-
quaint speech by him all the mayors
nor CT New Jersey. arose and gave
him an ovation.
Gov Cox said the country at the
present time was asked to listen to
two groups of extremists. One of
these wanted prosperity held up for
long period of time. while the other
would proceed with projects irrespec-
tive of their cost or the price of ma
terials
Some manufacturers believe that
long period of depression should fol-
low the return of the soldiers from
Europe and that the country should
be brought to the verge of starva-
ton" said Gov. Cox These would
as they say, teach labor an object les
son and force it to sell it's services at
the prices which they would fix. This
policy would be sure guarantee of
reign of bolshevism in this country.
To Insist on Helping Soldiers.
81 have heard on the floor of this
room the opinion expressed that the
government should cease to interest
itself in business: But l want to tell
you that there is one governor who
will insist that it is still the duty of
government to concern itself with the
interests of the returning soldiers;
call it paternalism, if you like"
Gov. Cox said road building should
be proceeded with at once, and sug-
gested the creation of an organiza ton
with headquarters in Washington to
find out for the federal government
what should be fair price for gravel.
crushed stone and other materials
which are used in such work. He
declared that artificial prices fixed by
unpatriotic men were holding up road
construction.
Two million young men, practically
transformed by war, are coming home
They viii constitute a buttress
against which the waves of bolshe-
vism will lash and foam in vain. Let
us forget the things that divided us
yesterday and do a Service for our
boys in reconstruction commensurate
with the service they did in making
this country and the world safe for
democracy.
Gov. Edge said he felt that it would
be improper in such an atmosphere to
go into the political aspects of recon
Struction.
Prosperity Bound to Come.
But I want TO say in all kindness
that it is about time the federal
government announced definite
policy" said the New JERSEY execu-
tive. Business is waiting for such
an announcement. There is nothing
wrong with this country Prosperity
is bound to come, but the mental at
titude of industry is delaying it.
Restore confidence and take away
the restraints imposed by the gov
ernment on business of all kinds.
and / include labor in this, and we
will begin an immediate march toward
real and lasting prosperity
Roger w. Babson, representing the
Department of Labor. presented seven
which, he said, if adopt
ed generally would allay fear and
start the country right in its attempt
to get back to prewar industrial
basis.
Mr.. Babson's Propositions.
The seven points suggested by Mr.
BabSon are:
l. Begin at once construction of all
public works possible, including pub
lie buildings-especially schoolhouses.
Q Get behind the build home"
movement by asking for a quota for
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