The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-03-04


but the passion which engendsrs It. /
"A regret for the mistakes u I,
yesterday must not, however, blind
rs to the tasks Of today. War never Z
left such an aftermath. There Aas
been staggering loss Of life. and
wastage Of materials. (
Nations are still cropping for return i
to stable ways. Disc0ura&ing In
debtedness confronts US like all tho
war torn nations, and these ohliga-
lions must be provided for. No
civilization can survive repudia-
ton.
We can reduce the abnormal *
penditures and We will. We can
strike Ut war taxation and We must i
We must face the grim necessity, !
with full knowledge that the task Is !
to be solved, and We must proceed |
with q full realization that no
statute enacted by man can repeal |
the memorable laws Of nature. Our
most dangerous tendency il to ex-
pect too much Of government and
ct the same time to do for 1t too
little.
I'VE contemplate the immediate
task Of putting our public house
hold in order. We need Q rigid and
yet sane economy, combined with
fiscal justice and 1t must be attend
ed by individual prudence and
thrift which are so essential to this
trying hour and reassuring for the
future.
Reflection Of Wars Reaction.
THE business world reflects the
disturbance Of wars reaction. Here
in flows the life blood Of material
existence. The economic mechan-
ism Is intricate and its parts in
terdependent and has suffered the
shocks and jars incident to alb
normal demands, credit mutations
and price upheavals. The normal
balances have been impaired, the
channels of distribution have been
clogged, the relation of labor and
management have been strained.
We must seek the readjustment
with care and courage Our peo-
pie must give and take. Prices
must reflect the receding fever of
war activities. Perhaps we never
shall know the old level of wage
again, because war invariably re-
adjusts compensations and the ne
cessities Of life will show Their in
separable relationship, but we must
strive for normally to reach sta
bility. All the penalties will not
be light nor evenly distributed.
There is no way Of making them
so, There is no instant step from
disorder to order. We must face q
condition of grim reality, charge OF
our losses and start afresh. 1t is
the Oldest lesson Of civilization.
would like government to do all it
can to mitigate them. In under
standing, in mutually OF interest,
in concern for the common good
our tasks will be solved.
No altered system will work a
miracle. Any wild experiment will
only add to the confusion. Our
best assurance lies in efficient ad-
ministration Of our proven system.
From Destruction to Production.
The forward course Of the bus
mess cycle is unmistakable. Peo-
pie are turning from destruction to
production. Industry has sensed
the changed order and dur own
people are turning to resume their
normal onward way. The call is
for productive America to go on.
know that congress and the ad-
ministration will favor every wise
government policy to aid the re-
sumption ana encourage continued
progress. .e
Il speak for administrative ell
cheney, for lightened tax burdens,
for sound commercial practices, for
adequate credit facilities, for SYM
pathetic concern for all agricul-
tural problems, for the omission
OF unnecessary Interference of gov
eminent with business, for an end
to governments experiment in
business and for more efficient bus
mess in government administra-
ton. With all of this must attend
a mindfulness Of the human side
Of all activities 50 that social, in
dustrial and economic justice will
be squared with the purposes OF 4
righteous people.
, with the nationwide induction
Of womanhood into our political
i. life. We may count upon her in
buttons, her refinement, her intel
ligence and her influence to exalt
the social order. We count upon
her exercise Of the full privileges
and the performance OF the duties
OF citizenship to speed the attain
ment Of the highest state.