Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-07

m cans of highly inflated selling prices
many times the amount actually pald
the government A necessary condl-
ton to the national contentment and
sound business is just proportion
between fair profits to business ana
fair prices to the consumer. 1t is un-
questioned that the enormous expan- :
sion of public and private credit
made necessary as part OF war
financing. the diversion of the
their usual channels. as well as
the disturbance to general business
caused by the withdrawal of millions
of men from producing fields, all con-
tributed to the rise in prices Re-
version of these various agencies to
more stable condition will tend to-
ward a recession in the enormously
inflated present prices of many COM
moditieS and property values, ana
there are now evidences that sane
adjustment is not far distant. Deep
patriotic sentiment enthralled our
people during the war and slight at
tention was given to the enormous
economic changes that were then IN
progress, and when observed these
changes were generally accepted as
one of the trials necessary to be en-
dured and they were submerged in
the thought and purpose for victory.
While millions of free men. regard
less of wealth or condition. were
giving of their blood and substance,
many corporations and men selzed
the very hour that civilization lay
PROSTATE to secure for themselves
fortunes wrung from the public and
from the government by the levying
of prices that in many cases were
a crime. Under present taxation
laws much capital is drawing out OF
industry and finding investment in
non-taxable securities. This will
cease if the changes suggested are
made.
Old and New Ways
of Thinking Seen.
In the analysis of government. as
the events of today enable US to pene-
trate the subject, we see the differ
ence between the old and the pro-
gressive kinds of thinking. The belief
of the reactionaries is that govern
ment should not function more widely
than it did in the past. but they seem
to forget that the fundamental of our
plan is equal rights for all and spe-
cial privileges for none. Modern life
has developed new problems. Civiliza-
ton continues to build along the same
basic lines, and altruistic as we may
all be disposed to be, the fact remains
that except for the exchange of prod
ucts between individuals. commercial
would be slow. All of this growth
goes on under the protection of and
with, the encouragement of gov
eminent. The least, therefore, that
might be rendered unto government
for this continuous service is a policy
of man prompts him to play for gov
ornamental advantage, and the success
which has been achieved in this par
ticular has led to the formation Of
groups which seek this very advan-
tage. We are busy people. preoccu
commercial Considerations, and we
have not recognized. as we should.
that the failure of government to pre-
vent inequalities has made it possible
for mischievous spirits to develop
preJudce against the institutions of
ministrative policy. There is a very
important difference here. This diff
ference bears directly on profiteering,
which is today the most sinister in
fuence in American life. It is not a
new thing in America. The tribe of
profteers has simply multiplied under
the favoring circumstances of war.
For years large contributions have
been made to the republican. campaign
fund Tor no purpose except to buy a
governmental underhold and to make
illegal profits as the result of prefer
q
greater menace to our contentment
and our institutions than the count
less temporary profiteers who are
making mockery of honest business,
but who can live and fatten only in
time of disturbed prices. If am
called to service as President means
will be found. if they do not already
exist, for compelling these exceptions
to the great mass of square dealing
american business men to use the
same yardstick of honesty that gov
ems most of us in our dealings with
our fellowmen, or in language thai
they may understand, to suffer the
penalty of criminal law.
There is another reason for the fabu-
lous contributions to the present repub-
lican campaign fund. Much money, of
course. has been subscribed in proper
partisan zeal. but the great bulk has
been given with the definite idea of
gaining service in return. Many cap
tains OF industry, guided by a most
dangerous industrial philosophy, believe
that in controversy between employer
and employee their will should be en-
forced. even at the point of the bayonet
l speak knowingly. l have passed
through many serious Industrial trou-
bles. L know something of their psy-
chology, the stages through which they
pass and the dangerous attempts that
are sometimes made to end them. Dis
evitable- The disposition to gain the
best bargain possible characterizes the
whole field OF exchange, whether it be
product for product, or labor for money.
II strikes are prolonged public opinion
always settles them. Public opinion
should determine results in America.
Public opinion is the most interesting
characteristic of a democracy, and 1t isl
the real safety valve to the institutions
OF a free government. 1t may. at times,
be necessary for government to inquire
into the facts of a tie-up. but facts and
not conclusions should be submitted
The determining form of unprejudiced
thought will do the rest During this
process governmental agencies must
give a v1gilant eye to the protection of
lie and property, and maintain firmness,
but absolute impartiality. This is al
ways the real test. but if .sofficial con-
duct combines couEage>and fairness our
governmental Institutions come out of
these affairs hntarnished by distrust.
rms Is not an academic observation, 1t
IS the mere recital of experience I'm
rest has been reinforced in no small de-
gree oy the great mass of unassimilated
aliens. Attracted by an unprecedented
demand for labor, they have come to
our shores by the thousands As they
nave become acquainted with the cus-
toms and opportunities of American life
thousands Of them have become citizens
and are owners of their own homes
however the work of assipilation too
long was merely automatic One mil
lion six hundred thousand foreign born
IN this country cannot read or write our
language. Our interest in them in the
main has been simply as laborers. as
sembled in the great trade centers to
meet the demand Of the hour.
Fall Prey to Many
Designing Persons.