The New York herald., 1921-03-05


Is something inherently wrong,
something out OF accord with tho
ideals OF representative democracy
when one portion OF our citizen
ship turns It's activities to private
gain amid defensive war while
another is fighting, sacrificing or
dying for national preservation.
strike nj War Taxation.
Out OF such universal service
will come a new unity Of spirit
and purpose, a new confidence and
conservation, which would make
our defence inpregnable, our
triumph assured. Then we should
have little or 10 disorganization
Of our economic. industrial and
commercial systems at home, no
staggering war debts no ewollen
fortunes to fiout the sacrifices OF
our soldiers, no excuse for sedi-
tion, no pit;abie slaclSerisn, no
outrage OF treason. Envy and
jealousy would have no soil for
their menacing development, and
revolution would DO without tho
passion which engenderr it.
A regret for the mistakes Of
yesterday must not, however,
blind Us to the tasks Of to-day.
War never left such an after
narh. There has been stagger-
ing loss Of life and measureiees
wastage Of materials. Nations
are still cropping for return to
stable ways. Discouraging in
debtedness confronts US, Hike all
the war torn nations, and these
obligations must be provided for.
No civilization can survive repudi-
alton. We can reduce abnormal
expenditures and we will. We can
strike at war taxation, and we
must.
We must face the grim neces-
sity with full knowledge that the
task is to be solved and we must
proceed with full realization
that no statute enacted by man
can repeal the inexorable laws Of
nature. Our most dangerous tend
ency is 70 expect too much Of gov
ernment and at the same time
do for It too little.
We 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 II must be
attended by individual prudence
and thrift, which are SO essen
tiai TO this trying hour ana rcas-
suring for the future.
Must Give and Take.
The business world reflects the
disturbance oS wars reaction.
Herein flows the life blood of ma
terial existence Tho economic
mechanism Is Intricate and It's
parts interdependent and has suf-
fered the shocks and jars incident
to abnormal demands, credit infla-
tons and price upheavals Tho
normal balances have been i'm
paired. the channels Of distribu-
ton have been clogged. the rela-
tions Of labor and management
have been strained. We must seek
the adjustment with care and
courage. Our people must give
and take. Prices must reflect the
receding fever OF war activities.
Perhaps we never shall know
the old levels Of wage again, be-
cause war invariably readjusts
compensations, and the necessaries
Of life will show their inseparable
relationship. but we must strive
for nornalcy to reach stability.
All the penalties will not be light,
nor evenly distributed. There is
no way of making them 30. There
Is no instant step from disorder to
order. We must face a condition
of grim reality, charge OFF our
losses and start afresh. II Is tho
Oldest lesson OF civilization.
would like government to do an II
can to mitigate them. In UNDER
standing, In mutuality of interest,
in concern for the common good
our tasks will be solved No al
tered system will work a miracle.
Any wild experiment will only add
TO the confusion. Our best ass71r-
ancc lies in efficient adrninistra-
ton OF our proven system.
For More Production.
Tho forward course OF the bust
ness cycle is unMistakable. Peo-
pies are turning from destruction
to production. Industry has sensed
the changed order and our own
people are turning to resume their
normal. onward way. Tho call is
for productive America to go on.