Evening journal., 1920-01-19
SOCIALISM CHECKED IN ENGLAND.


A CC0RDING 10 press dispatches from London. the
~ soclalisc tendency in the British Empire has
ceived check similar TO that met In America. Says one
account The era Of paernal government is coming TO
an end and men beginning TO rely upon self
| help and private enterprise"
The system OF penslonlng by which than million
people were receiving allowances modi-
lied SO that no longer served inducement for idle
ness. The government housing enterprise, which not
only proved failure but discouraged private undertakings
/ In that line. has been abandoned.
The for the failure OF the sociasc ventures
s fundamental.
Paernalism destroys individual initiative and when in
divdual Initiative Is destroyed community progress IS
impossible.
Government operation of any undertaking is wastefu
or time, wastefu Of money, and wastefu Of material
Every army cantonmen camp in the United States Is
demonstration Of the truth OF that statement
Testimony concerning the filling Of muG holes at United
States army camps In France with spark plugs and
buretors. Is another Illustration
The employment Of needless clerks in departments and
bureaus in Washington furnishes another example,
Tho housing enterprise which has been extrayaganty
conducted will be standing answer 10 every argument
that may be advanced in this country behalf paterna
ism.
There probably exception the rule that govern
menl Invasion Of the neld OF Industry results in higher
costs.
The chief for government interference redue
VI Gust Cucolcy Dut experience demons
traies that the direct opposite is the universal effect
Almost every effort Of the government TO reduce cost OF
living In the United States has been followed by ad
vance in prices, and, sometimes by waste OF material
When the Food Administration, ignorant of practical
business, issued edct against the killing of lambs
on the theory that IL would be better to raise the lambs
to ullgrown sheep the practical herders Of the
States submitted facts the bureau result
ing direct reversal OF the and advise TO the
people TO eat more lamb.
When effort TO curtail milk consumption brought
dairymen face TO face with ruin. the movement
yersed and people were urged TO use more milk
Although charging the private managers with waste,
extravaganza and excessive rates. the government
gers advanced rates as they took control and
then proceeded 20 accumulate deficit, only in rail-
road management bul In the telephone and telegraph
business wei.
An impressive representation Of the paternastc spirit
contained in cartoon in recent issue Of the Satur
day Evening Post.
In this picture fat fabby and over-dressed woman IS
lyng down from "No Children apartment house TO
carry to a humble cottage where lives mother and happy
healthy though not over-cean children directions how
to keep house." how to raise children how to ccono
mze," etc.
That is the paternalistlc spirit which put into
action by the government when Il sent ladies' from iho
city 10 teach farmers wives how make cottage cheese
That paernalistc spirit had another manifestation when
the Food Administration asked the dining cut down
the size Of portions served 10 patrons without also asking
them TO cut down the price.
But for lis repeated demonstrations Of inenciency pa
ternasm would Insist that It be permitted to take
the packing houses, the coal mines, oil production and
retail merchandising
Fortunately though at cost Of many Millions, the /
people Of the country have learned the fundamental i'm
porlance OF Of private enterprise and in
ilvdual initiative; and they viii not forget the
lesson.