Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-28
II. s. FLAG ON EVERY SEA,
IS MR.. HARDZNGiS PLAN

struction. with ample powers of in
curry and report. Encountering ia
vorable reception in Congress, from
members of both parties, the proposal
met prompt quietus in the Presidents
blunt disfavor of any form of con-
gressional advice or suggestion as to
after-war policies.
The result was that the signing Of
the armistice ushered in a veritable
condition of save who can" in our
economic life. Industry, commerce, Ia
Dor, financial were left to strug-
gle and drift, while the administra-
ton was intent on an unavailing pur-
suit of an international super-gov-
eminent and concerned as to domes-
tic affairs only in detached opportu-
niSm.
1t is entirely within bounds to in
sist that had there been careful
preparatory survey of the problems
certain to present themselves as the
nation demobilized, we should nave
escaped many of the trials to which
we have been subjected in the past
two years and from the evil posi-
bilities of which we are even now Tar
from free.
Material Help.
1t would have been practicable to
have effected, with far greater con-
siderateness and far less dislocation
the return of the four million men
gathered in the nations defense to
their accustomed places in farms and
factories.
The acute distress of housing short
age. consequent upon the greatly him
dered building operations for four
years, might have been meaSurably
relieved by making Systematically
available the information on the sub
ject of housing construction col
lected during the war. and this with
from
ciples of federal action.
The transition from widespread
price control to free markets. tran
sition calling for all the skillfuA
treatment which any notable interfer--
ence with free contract entails-need
not have been left to take care of
itself by virtual policy of scuttle,
or to bungling and vacillating med
ding.
The huge unused stocks of essential
materials and foodstuffs, contracted
for or in the hands of the government
at the signing of the armistice. would
not have been alternately impounded
and released, after long delay. with
out method or plan and in ways tnat
served neither the interest of the pro-
Queer nor the need of the consumer.
Wiser and SOunder Practices.
Most of all, wiser and sounder prac-
tees of postwar financing might have
us from the pressure of ever higher
living costs, from the fever of bust
ness imitation, from the accumulation
of burdensome floating debt. from
the retention of crudely devised. inef-
ficiently administered war taxes. and
from the present necessity of credit
restriction and business inconven-
fence.
None of this is the wisdom of hind
sight. In each particular-and the
list might be made very much longer
we have suffered, over and above
the costs and burdens of a great
world CONFUSION, unnecessary penal
ties because of the unwillingness of
the administration to concern itself
with the vital domestic problems
which reason and experience taught
us must lay ahead.
Were our resources less bounteous,
our energies less resilient. our faith
less strong, there would be heavy
toll still to be paid for this neglect.
AS it is, we shall take our losses
bravely, but grimly-with a resolute
determination that new order must
be ushered in; that without neglect
ing our part in the world progress
our concern shall hereafter be Amer
lea first" This is said in no selfish.
provincial spirit, in no thought of
only by making this land of ours
great and its people prosperous shall
we render the largest service to civili-
zation>and to humanity.
Generously Endowed.
Baltimore and Maryland will play
their part in this increase and better
ment. Nature has endowed you gen.
erously, and you will not waste your
heritage. Your manufactures, your
trade, your finance-are firmly estab-
lished, and there is certain to be
growth and expansion, so long as
our national policy is one to send
America forward.
venture to say that it is in COM