Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-06-01
From Other Viewpoints
We Must Husband Our Strength.
BY DAVID r. HOUSTON.

There IL 4 desire everywhere for return,
10, 70 the pre-war normal. for probably we
for a return toward that condition. or at least
towards q stable sc. eHndtion; -,.n, ,,r, ~,
dangerously high Why?
the underlying causes were the sudden and
te:r!ac demand for vast quantities Of com
rnod!t!es instantly and at any price. with an
abstraction OF millions OF men from pToduc-
tive industry. with a great demand for credit
TO finance enterprises on an increasingly high
basis, SO that coupled with, in many d!rec-
lions no !!tt!e p!ohtcering the two great
contributing forces making for high prices
increzeed costa and depreciation OF the pur-
chasing power OF money. were combined to
produce the effect.
dow People get very impatient but nd4 hsy
in history after such uphcaval as this
has thee been return TO stable conditions
quickly.
After the Civil war 1T took Hfteen years
would no, nave occurred but for the opening
Up 0. the lands OF the Middle West. After
the Napolcon!c wars IL took generation.
Now ought 10 be In q better condition TO
confront problems than we were after the
COS o. than the world after 1915. hut
, still! these changes not going TO come
Immediately.
80; only here. but in Europe people seem
that they could escape the pains OF war and
suffer no grea, Inconvenience or hardships.
There are evidences that Europe still expects
mracle--some OF the nations.
Seeing wha; ne did when we entered the
| war. did relatively quickly and In sucn
| large measure, making many mistakes, OF
| course. but WHY Frenchman said. mot
| being able 20 invent any seeing what ne
| have done. some Of these nations assumed
| tina: could Immediately golve all their
| financial troubles and plSce them quickly
! back where they were before the war, or
| where they desired 10 be.
We have greatly aided Europe since the
since the arinist!cc have extended
| government crcf!tH IL. one form another TO
| Europe and especially in large measure TO
| France TO the extent Of 100000 900, but
| d!rect government loans Europe have
| ceased except 80 far commitments arc
| II is taking some time for these people 70
| discover IL. and TO discover what is clearly
| fact. matter what may attempt TO
| do FOR them through regular business channels.
tnat the salvation Of these countries is
| primarily IN their hands and that they
must turn their hands. slowly IL is true
necessarily painfully. TO whatever their hands
can hnd TO do and work out that salvation
confident that with grit and courage they can
| solve the problem
There IS not nation In Europe today that
is In worse plight than the Southern section
! o! this nation was after the Ciy!l War. But
the outstanding fact is that the white
people there did not lose their nerve, and In
icss than twenty years they were farther
along than they were when the great struggle
began.
II this nation is adequately 10 Safeguard
and meet the need. Of her own people and
furnish essential succor to E.urope through
all proper channels she mus, OF necessity
| husband her strength
Our resources are enormous but not un.
! limited. Our credit Is great, but it canno,
be used lsvshly at homo and abroad. and 4!
can be used only In one direction at a time
We can see why this countr,
should NOT continue to proceed SCUM,