The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-08-07

'istic as we may all be disposed to
be, the fact remains that except for
the exchange of products between
individuals. commercial units and ma
lions, our development would be slow.
All of this growth goes on under the
protection of and with the encourage
ment Of government. The least there
fore, that might be rendered unto
government for this continuous serv.
ice is a policy Of fair-dealing. Too
often the genius Of man prompts him
to play for governmental advantage,
and the success which has been
achieved in this particular, has led
ito the formation of groups which
seek this very advantage. We are a
busy people, preoccupied in too large
degree with purely commercial con-
siderations, and we have not recog-
;nized as we should, that the failure
of government to prevent inequall-
ties has made it possible for mischevi-
GUS spirits to develop prejudice
against the institutions of govern
iment, rather than against adminlstra-
tive policy There is very impor-
itant difference here. This difference
bears directly on profiteering, which
is today the most sinister influence
in American life. 1t is not new
thing in America. The tribe of
profiteers has simply multiplied under
the favoring circumstances OF war
For wears, large contributions nave
been made to the republican campaign
fund for no purpose except TO Duy
governmental underhold,' and to make
Illegal profits as the result Of prefer
ence Such largesses are To-Day d
greater menace to our contentncnt
and our institutions than the count
less temporary profiteers who are
making a mockery of honest business,
but who can live and fatten onlN IN
! time Of disturbed prices. II ! am
called to service as president mems
will be found if they do not a'reaay
exist, for compelling these exceptions
to the great mass of square deahns
IAmerican business men, to use the
same yardstick of honesty that gov
erns most of US in our dealings with
our fellow1nen, or in language that
they NAV understand. to suffer the
penalty of criminal law.
Republican Funds.
There is another reason for the fao-
Nous contributions to the present re
publican campaign fund. Much mon"
ev. of course. has been subscribed IN
proper partisan zeal, but the great
hulk has been given with the definite
idea of gaining service in return.
MANY captains of industry, guided by
! a. most dangerous industrial phhoso-
phy, believe that in controversy pc
tween employer and employee their will
should be enforced. even at the polht
of the bayonet. I speak knowingly L
7 have passed through many serious
industrial troubles. ! know something
of their psychology, the stages through
which they pass, and the dangerous
ATTEMPTS that are sometimes made TO
end them. Disputes between LABOR
and capital are inevitable. The dis
nosition to gain the best bargain pos
IsibIe characterizes the whole field OF
exchange. whether it be product for
product, or labor for money. Ii
strikes are prolonged public opinion
should determine results in America.
Public opinion is the most 1nterestlns
characteristic of democracy, ana IL
is the real safety valve to the lnstf
buttons of free government IL may,
at times, be necessary for government
to inquire into the facts OF a le-up,
but facts and not conclusions should
be submitted. The determining form
of unprejudiced thought will do the
rest. During this process govern
mental agencies must give vlglaht
eve to the protection of life and prop
lerty. and maintain firmness but abso-
lutte impartiality. This is always the
real test, but if official conduct com
bines courage and fairness, our gov
ornamental institutions come out 'of
these affairs untarnished by d1StruSt.
This is not an academic observation.
It is the mere recital Of experience.
Unrest has been reinforced in no
small degree by the great mass or
unassimilated aliens. Attracted by an
lunprecendented demand for labor, they
have come to our shores by the thouS-
ands. AS they have become acQua1nt-
ed with the customs and opportunities
of American life, thousands OF them
have become citizens and are owners
of their own homes. However, the
work of assimilation too long was
merely automatic. One million six
hundred thousand foreign born in this
country cannot read or write our lang
Iuage Our interest in them in the
main has been simply as laborers, as
sembed in the great trade centers, to
meet the demand of the hour. Without
home or community ties, many have
been more or less nomadic, creating
the problem of excessive turnover,
which has perplexed manufacturing
plants. But this has not been the
worst phase of the situation Nia-
miliar with law, having no understand
ing of the principles of our govern
Iment, they have fallen an easy prey
to unpatriotic and designing persons.
Public opinion has had no influence
upon them, because they have been
isolated from the currents of opinion.
all due to their not being able to read
or write our language. It is the duty
of the federal government to stimulate
the work of AmericaniZation on the
part of church, school, community
agencies, state governments and in
dustry itself In the past, many in
dustries that have suffered from chron
.ic restlesness have been the chief con-
tributors to their own troubles. The