The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-03-24
HENRY CLEWS'
 WEEKLY LETTER

It is announced that the peace
 treaty and the League of Nations will
 be accomplished facts within a very
 few weeks This is highly encour-
 aging information which, let us hope, will prove true. The transcendent importance of these events, so de-
 voutly desired, can hardly be under
 estimated. Only four short months have elapsed since the arrlistice was
 signed, and no one ever believed, that
 the terms of peace following such a huge cataclysm would be adjusted within so brief a period. When peace is accomplished, demObilization will proceed more rapidly than ever. Arm
 ies will be disbanded; millions of men
 will turn from wasteful to productive
 occupations; idle industries and com
 merce will resume, and the civilized
 world will once more be free to op-
 crate under normal conditions. Of
 course, grave difficulties will arise,
 and innumerable readjustments must
 incite no little friction Considerable
 losses will have to be written off; la
 bor is sure to be more or less ruffled
 by the return of millions seeking re- employment; industry will still have
 to be suitably reorganized; transpor-
 taion cannot be re-esta bIished with
 out delays; there will be many diff
 ferences of opinion as to how much
 of what is new or old in business
 should be retained, and commerce
 will have to be largely reconstructed
 upon new lines But these and many
 other problems are sure to be attack
 ed in an unshaken belief that despite
 present risks and dangers the civilized
 world is moving irresistbly forward
 to a new and more stable social and
 economic order than the one which
 the war so savage1y uprooted. One striking result of the war is the de- velopment of marked spirit of courage in the business world; all kinds of difficulties being faced with confidence that would have been con eidered sheer recklessness four years ago. However disturbing the out look may seem to be, it is still evi- dent that the worst has been passed and that the tide has turned, albeit the goal may not be reached with
 out some further dangers and losses. Home affairs are in a state of ex- traordinary f1uX. Our government has been thrown into a condition of | intense perpIexity by the neglect Of Congress to make necessary appro- priations before adjournment. Public opinion is consequently growing more and more urgent for an early | special session of Congress, which may compel President Wilson to return 1 earlier than he desired; for the Ship of State may need it's only pilot at no distant date. Many of the govern | ments necessary functions are now being delayed for want of funds ;the railroads being very seriously incon- venienced by demands which the | government imposed upon them and 1 is morally obliged to meet. Demob | iLzation of the army is in reality l comparatively simple operation which | our military machine Is abundantly 1 able to handle; but the compulsory withdrawal of the government from the innumerable business enterprises { into which it was drawn by war Is a | far more complicated and delicate 1 process. All our industries are enorm- i ously inflated; so, too, are values, | which are receding; though the down ward movement is slow, and it will be 1 years before the pre-war basis is l reached, if ever Wages are not re-
 ceding, and labor difficulties may be expected indefinitely because until values drop materially there can be no material change in wages. It is l conceded that labor will rfceive
 larger share in the total product than heretofore. This object has already been partially accomplished and will
 not be resisted by intelligent employ CTS. provided the change is reasonable 1 and brought about gradually, instead
 of by violence that would simply de- ! stroy capital and leave labor in 1 worse position than ever. Time. 1 ,tri+ of fair dealing and mutual I consideration, if allowed frSe play, will surely solve these difficulties. ! Business men. thoueh naEnlaxPd ara