The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1920-04-13
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
Washington, d. c., April IL.
The Decline of the "Reds"
BY Tho Banners Correspo
J. z. JONES


The Decline of the "Reds"
That the country has been turning
sharp corners without running into
the ditch is simply another proof that
the American nerve keeps steady ev-
en- though there are innumerable ruts
and washouts endangering the high
ways marked by the milestones OF
property destruction, decreased pro-
duction, initiation, rising prices and
enormous expansion Of debts. Half
the world has been brought to bank
ruptcy and very heavy burdens have
fallen upon the other half through the
enhanced cost of living. But the Am
erican spirit and inclination to play
the game of life fairly and to throw
everyone out who tries to stack the
cards, have triumphed. A few months
ago the country was prepared to view
with grave apprehension any attempt
to upset the Government, while to-
day the situation is entirely different.
Tn State Department at Washington
has just made public a foreign plan
of Soviet Russia" which was outlined
in captured documents that were be-
ing that the American Communists
ing smuggled into this country, prov
were being urged to seek as their
goal the overthrow of the American
Federation of Labor and unite with
the l. w. w. and other "red" organ
izations, for the purposes of the pro-
jected armed revolution" The pro-
posal has created no uneasiness, even
though 1t divuldges purpose to in
cite the workers Of all countries ito
wrest the power from the Capitalistic
rise against their capitalists, and to
State" through armed insurrection.
When q person reads stun nova
days It is only to wonder how these
Russians smoke such explosives with
out burning of their long whiskers--
but really their foreign plans" do
not cause any great concern. We do
know, though, that there was a per-
iod of unrest in the United States
when such schemes created intense
uneasiness in Washington. 1t is un-
fortunate, however, that SO many
trOuble-makers still survive.
The Old Virtues
The bank clearings outside of New
York are running about twenty five
percent above what they did year
ago, and the clearings in the big city
are even more than that. There is no
mistaking the activity existing in In
dustrial affairs. Agricultural products
show decline and the farmers are
complaining that they are the first to
suffer from falling prices. Merchants
are approaching the Summer and Fall
buying seasons with great caution,
as there are strong indications that
food and wearing apparel will be
cheaper, and in any event most buy.
ers are net taking the hazard of lay
ing in big stocks.
Commonsense and the practice of
the old virtues, industry. self-re'
straint, prudent forethought and a
spirit of cooperation have apparent
ly succeeded unrest" and gradually
the Nation is getting in step again
after several years OF fictitious grand
eur accompanying the open-season
for hunting men.
There are indications that we are
approaching the period of reaction In
temperament and disposition; and II
is going to be a good thing to have @
general season OF politics, since 1t is
a game that the American people
love, and 1t is q semi-harmless form
Of excitement that has just about
enough mental-cocktail in It for tap
ering off war.
Old and New Money
This Is going to be campaign
In which there will be no quarrelinl
about "the gold standard" sixteen
to-one," or any other forms of money
no matter whether Mr.. Bryan runs
the Democratic party, or his antithe
sis, Senator Rally, comes back" II
Texas. The flying dollar" has sue
ceeded the gold dollar, and gold coins
have hidden themselves out Of sight
That they exist and have proper
place in the world of finance ant
trade Is beyond question but with
bank credits high and everybody {
bond.holder and tens of thousands O
new Investment accounts opened, whit
wants to carry around load of golt
to make their clothes baggy?
would be atrocious bad taste In thes'
affluent times when so many people
are busy trading on their last year,
automobiles to get the latest SprinI
styles in 1920 cars, with the resul
that automobile manufacturing show
) an increase OF nearly twenty.sevel