Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-11-14
Copyright, 1919 by The Press Publishing Cc
(The New York Evening WORLDLY

ton. The same feeling kept many
"A man at home, and gave to service
| in the face of the enemy an air OF
| punishment. This was a thoroughly
unsatisfactory position,
The pay of the fighting men should
| have been raised-and | attempted
without real success in the face of
| official opposition at home, to have
| it raised-and the wages of workmen
should have been kept down to q
reasonable level.
This would have, of course, in
volved considerable reductions in wal
profits, for wages and profits neces-
sarily stand in close inter-relation
Such course would have saved con-
siderable sums, thus easing our budg-
ct and conserving our capital.
l was not unaware of the difficult
ties of the problems, having regard to
the universal rise in prices due to
the shortage of raw material. but /
hoped that it would be solved and
that the way to a sound position
would be discovered A law estab-
fishing the general duty of service
would have shown the way to the
solution.
Urged Chancellor to Act.
The introduction of general con-
scription. coupled with that of COM
pulsory civilian service. was not of
itself sufficient. 1t was essential, too,
to secure that the labor thus obtained
was profitably used and that the state
did not lose the benefit of 1t.
1t was clear to me that measures
or this sort would involve far-reach-
ing interference with administration,
with trade and with private life. 1t
was also not to be forgotten that too
many restrictions tend to stulify in
dividual effort. Opposition was bound
to rise. even when the demands made
did no more than correspond with
the iron necessity of war Self-seek-
ing and profit-hunting were already
firmly rooted.
We had, however, to show the peo-
pie the way to victory; to make them
see the facts clearly and settle their
own destiny. The reichstag, and with
it the whole people. had to- share the
responsibility. On October 80. 1916,
the chancellor was especially urged
to secure this end. | hoped that the
government would be prepared to
adopt the great principle of universal
service and to bring the people to
consider what further strength they
could yet devote to their country.
1t required an unselfish under
standing on the part of the people to
| shake mselves free from the self
seeking CT domestic politics, to- devote
themselves wholly to the war and to
translate into action the proposals of
the supreme army command.
Wanted to Drill the People.
The government did not take these
steps l had still at that time un-
limited confidence in the German
people and the German working class.
The war was life or death for us all;
this should be made clear to the
workers, and then, as / believed, they
would be certain. in their knowledge
of the great danger threatening them
ana their country, to range themselves
behind the supreme army command
and to give even more than they had
already given.
The German workman had already
done wonders, but he could still do
more. Just as troops, in the hour of
peril are enabled to do their utmost
through patriotism inculcated by dis
cipline, so in a long war the people
ere held together and kept on their
feet by firm leadership and clear
concel ton of the danger threatening
their country. The enthusiasm of the
moment passes, that is ineyitable
and it must be replaced by discipline
and understanding That this could
be achieved l had no doubt.
Even without any new legislation
the government could help us. The
laws dealing with state Of siege and
with war services gave the necessary