The Coconino sun., 1920-04-23
RIOTS FOLLOW ALL
 WARS, EXPERT CLAIMS


 much muttering about revolution, and why there is such widespread discon- tent"
 Well, l have been out For two days l have rambled over London, north and south, east and west, interrogating men of all classes. And now I am go- ing to set down the substance of my gleanings, with some of my own im- lpressions.
 First, we must bear in mind that the turmoil through which we are pass ing is not peculiar to our own coun- try. Russia, France, Austria, Spain, America-all have troubles similar to ours.
 Note, further, that such turmoil is not product of our times only. Popu- lar unrest, as fact, always has been a sequel of war.
 An illustration which will occur to everybody is the commune of Paris in 1871. Immediately after the capitula- control of it was seized by the nation al guard, which, aided by political ex- tremists, held it for some months against the forces of the French gov ernment.
 War, therefore, breeds discontent, and impels men to resort to the violent methods to which it has habituated them as means of speedy relief. Having become familiar with force as the great, the decisive factor in inter- national affairs, they think they see in its application to their own griev- ances, real or imaginary, short cut to the millennium.
 Where Economy Theory Fails.
 "The workers have been living in a fools paradise" said a laundry pro- prietor to whom I put the question about unrest. "There are hundreds of women about here who were never so well off in their life as when their hus- bands were in the army. They hadn't to keep them then, as they did before the war, and, besides, they drew sep aration allowance, which represented so much additional income. They think now that that sort of thing should continue for an indefinite per iod. Well, it simply can't"
 A man who until recently managed a munitions works took the same line.
 Nothing else could have been ex- pected," he said "When you have millions of people receiving five or six times their usual pay for doing their usual work, and hundreds of thousands drawing big wages merely loafng, can it be supposed that they will take up their old work at the old wages with out kicking up a shindy? If you feed a spoiled child on sponge cakes and jam tarts, and then put him on plain bread and butter-well, you'll hear him squall."
 "In my opinion" remarked social worker, "a contributory cause is the shocking prodigality of those in high places. They should practice what they preach; or at any rate, not do the exact opposite of that which they ad- vocate.
 'Economyv man said to me. Yes, l don't think! There was a meet in abaht it at the Guildhall or Man sion House. don't remember which an the Its were there in their cars petrol was mighty scarce then, too --an' every lady had on her back furs worth abaht 800 quid. Oh, I see it in the picture papers,
 You see, people notice such incon- gruities, which strengthen their idea that there is plenty of money for ev- erybody, and that all that is necessary is to redistribute it."
 Envy One Cause. "It is largely envy" observed clergyman. People have seen their { friends or acquaintances amass mon- ey with unprecedented rapidity, and they, too, want to become rich in a hurry"
 "The workers know that they are being robbed" said the manager of a cooperative society. "There is, no doubt, a real scarcity in some com. modities, but that is not sufficient 1 justification for the prices now ruling. We'll, you cannot hide the truth alto gether. People in the trades know how the cat is jumping; they talk, and then you have the materials for con- i fiagration."
 Lastly, l found number of people who hold that the unrest is due, in part, to bereavement and other trials occasioned by the war. One of them propounded striking theory.
 "We are paying now," he said, flor l the shortage of essential foods before rationing came into operation, and for short period, subsequently,. They tell us that it will take the Germans years i to recover the contentment and vigor which they have lost through under | feeding. If this is so-and l do not question it--it is possible, at any rate, that we are suffering in the same way, though not, of course, to the same de- gree.
 Work, the One Remedy.
 "I fancy" he said, "that much of the unrest arises from losses sustain ed in the war; Sometimes man gets in the mood of dog which guards a hone. He thinks all the world is against him and wants to rob him. He is soured and embittered by his trials, and ready to do anything against his fellowmen, needless of consequences. I know that the most desperate char acters in local riot were those who had direct personal interest in a shrine at the corner of the street.
 Here is variety enough, surely! In the main, however, the present unrest