The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-11-08
LET US PAY OUR DEBTS FIRST.

LEI - EAx OON LED - AhkoA
| Daniels wants six hundred and fifty million
dollars for the navy next year. Baker wants
| eight hundred and fifty millions for the mill
tary branch Their combined estimates call
for one billion, five hundred million dollars.
Yet if our congress is left to decide when it will
go to war, the probability that we shall fight
anybody is rmoter now than ever before. Ger
Itainly there is no state today in Europe, Africa
Australasia or the Asian mainland which would
dream for a moment of forcing quarrel on u.s.
AS for Japan, diplomatic exchanges are likely
to settle any dispute that may arise with her.
We have given the world such an Impressive
demonstration of our solidarity, our strength,
our resources, and our tremendous energy in
emergencies, that the policy of every old world
nation will be peace and amicable relations with
| us. In fine, we have achieved commanding
position in the world which will be strengthen
led by our growth and which no foreign power
or combination is likely to challenge in any
time that can be foreseen. A nation which can
raise thirty billion dollars in two years, lend
la third of it and waste another third and still
do wonders is evidently entitled to the worlds
respect.
It would seem therefore that we can safely
make the payment of our debt our first concern
for the next few years; and happily we have a
congress likely, as may be hoped, to take that
view.
Every one is entitled to have his own opinion
of the present industrial situation. A very in
Ifluential labor leader is reported to have de-
cleared that labor must resist resist and resist
to the LAST every attempt to reduce wages, and
this is the position which organized labor is
understood to occupy The idea doubtless is
IL IL
scented by the present wage-level they intend to
hold it at all hazards. It is, however, a mistak-
en- idea for if prices generally are falling and
other people in the industrial circle are taking
smaller pay for their services or products the
workers who refuse to accept any wage reduc-
tons are really asking for more pay. Instead
of being on the defensive, trying to hold their
own, they are attempting to improve their po-
sition at the expense Of other workers. !
-
Looking at the proposal Of the United Textile
Workers of America to raise a nillion-dollar|
fund for combating any attempt to lower wages
in their industry, it occurs to the innocent by
stander that the money might be invested in the
textile trade where the workers could have a
voice in the direction of the industry and a
glimpse of the responsibilities of business.
Even a marine has a right to complain after
he has pulled would-be suicide from under
six times in recession and mag is-
trate discourages her only ten dollars worth !.
when the warrior has her arrested But a /
magistrate saw it the other way
and now the marine will leave the saving of
life to the city policemen.
The private management of the railroads |
hung up a new record in the first week of Oc-
tober when twelve million, seventy-fve thou
sand tons of bituminous coal were hauled As
the weeks go by the proofs multiply of the wis
dom of congress in enacting the transportation
act of 1920 under the terms of which the I'M
paralleled successes of the roads are being
achieved.