The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-07-07
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
BY ]. E. Jones.

secretary OF the navy transferring the
great dreadnaughts from the Atlantic
to the Pacific as an indication that
there is nothing left to the east OF us
to be afraid of, or are we to suppose
that there are danger signs in the
Pacific? Quite naturally the navy de.
partment supplies Quieting assurance
that there is nothing Of special i'm
portance in the change; and the
growth Of American interests in the
Pacific is given as a reason why the
main fleet should familiarize itself
with the conditions which will con-
front it with reference to harbors and
strategic conditions should the United
' States be called upon to defend its
Pacific interests.
The world recognizes hat there re.
mains but one untamed world giant
that has not staggered under the bur
dens and horrors of a That coun.
try is Japan. No matter how assuring
are the reports that emanate from di.
plomatic channels, the outstanding fact
is that Japan is very troublesome. She
constantly presses illogical objections
upon us regarding our domestic af-
fairs, as illustrated by the California
land question, and she seems to think
that we must stand for her unpleas.
ant attitude because Of her ability to
seize the Philippines. The Roosevelt
and Taft administrations exerted
themselves to placate the unreason-
able Jap; but a policy which began
to tighten up during the later days OF
President Wilson has apparently be-
come real stiff in the present admin
iStration; and while the new feet
movement is not to be regarded as a
menace or threat to Japan, it is,
nevertheless, the purpose of the pres
ent administration to give the Japan
csc an opportunity to look over our
equipment in order that they may be
able to reflect upon the ACCESSIBILITY
Of continuing to emphasize their pre-.
sumptious and somewhat intolerant
attitude toward the United States.
Secretary of the Navy DENLY is doubt
less merely trying to impress a rather
forcible argument as his part Of the
contribution to the japanese matter.
The thin line which exists between
less government in business and
more business in government" is
rather hard to distinguish. In the
Roosevelt days the government in
voked the Sherman act and the inter
state commerce clause in the consti-
tuition to curb monopolies which
threatened the vital business of the
nation. In those earlier days it seemed
necessary that the government should
be sustained in the authority it as.
sumed to protect the people from the
unbridled stupidity of profteers. The
success of that movement on the part
of the government kindled public en-
thusiasm to such a point that there
was unlimited advocacy favoring the
domination Of civil and industrial af-
fairs by the government to a point
that threatened to drive the country
into adopting MARKHAM socialism.
Uncle Sam got a pipe full Of this kind
of stuff during the wal when the gov
eminent undertook to regulate the
railroads and public utilities, and in
some cases even the thinking pro-
cesses of individuals.
In spite Of these conflicts in our
industrial history, it is realized that
the government cannot entirely keep
its hands off business, for if it did
there are those in business who would
plumber the public ruthlessly. There
fore, sensible legislators are confront
ed with the constant problem of en-
terests of the people, and which is
not directed against honest business;
but which operates to the point of
preventing the public from being ex
plotted. Thus we find that a moder.
ate policy that does not harass bust.
ness, but which gives to the govern
meut sufficient authority to protect it
against being exploited, is a middle
ground that brings the greatest salts,
faction to all. Such a policy conforms
to the meaning intended to be applied
to the words of President Harding
when he declared that the favored
"less government in business and more
business in government" There is not
a day In congress, no matter whether
the legislation pertains to packers,
farmers, railroad workers, or employ.
ers, but what these problems are as.
serting themselves.
The American University in Wash
ington staged a tremendous interna-
tional event while featuring its com
mencement exercises. President Hard.
ing was the principal speaker and he
used the occasion to furnish a mes.
sage to the graduating classes Of all
schools and educational institutions
throughout the country. DR.. Newton
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