South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-07-27
THE REAL EMERGENCY.

The declaration by the national government that
national emergency" exists has a most sinister
sound on the lips OF those who 23 months ago de-
elared that the great task before the nation was a
return ~normalcy'.
Il IS the first time in the history OF this country
when such term has been used EXCEPT in the
event OF war and OF great natural disasters.
II IS the first time that such a declaration has
been made when world waits for the products OF
American labor. when other peoples look towards
these shores for not only sympathy for guild
snce.
Cities have faced emergencies In the past. san
Francisco had one when the foundations Of that
city trembIed beneath It's weight OF sodden sin and
4 purged with fire
Galveston had such an emergency when the
~rathfu waves swept away its defensive bikes and
blotted the lives OF It's citizens
Dayton felt it when an angry river rose beyond
its banks and obliterated the wealth OF the salts
fed and the contented
The nation felt It when autocracy raised its hid
eous head In a threat OF frightfulness
and forcs and II answered by marshalling OF spirit
and OF resources
The emergency which now exists is a threatened
break down Of all industry due the cessation Of
labor or less than three per cent Of the wage
ers OF the land
There question about the emergency. II
exists It exists in little factories which see their
wheels stopping for of exists In the
coal bins OF a million and more OF homes which
viii be filed winter If the
tortionats and competitive prices continue to
Puzzled politicians at Washington offer the feeble
suggestion that an unbiased commission try TO dis
cover Why Il happened. That also is the ad-
vice OF Bryan. who amends by hoping that the
inquiry will be "non-partsan. not a bipartisan"
investigation Just why anyone should believe that
there Is any political issue involved remains secret
IN the Bryan mind the Bryan logic.
The truth is that the road to normally was
blockaded by an endeavor to back the clock
and TO restore some ancient fallacies and theories
of industry.
There were those who believed that the road
should be paved by the old bricks of cheap prices,
cheaper labor, teaching of the workers OF the
nations their rightfuI places.
There were others on the side Of labor, who be-
Ieved that the day Of common sense and decency
could be supplanted by arbitrary figures to
measure wages and that there is alchemy
II the dollar that makes it a stable thing in value.
Both overlooked the fact that wealth, real wealth,
must be produced by labor that the value of
labor rises or falls in accordance with the value
of the thing produced. Employers overlooked the
fact that unless it becomes profitable for labor to
produce labor does not produce. Labor overlooked
the fact that until it produces it cannot be paid.
The nation now goes UP coal and food rstions
That is a recognition of state Of industrial war
fare Bureaus at Washington will spend their tlme
trying settle what industries are essential when
The truth that all industry is essential in this day
and age when progress is needed and until the
Sine when every home has reached the limit Of
luxury.
Let it be hoped that the effort to keep industries
going viii be successful The best way is to find
way to repair those cars and dig more coal. rather
than to turn the thoughts to distributing limited
supply OF fuel and 10 creating army to stand
over a, steadily decreasing efficiency Of transpor-
tation.
Normally. II It anything food.
wood. clothing. and comfort for every 1t can't
be had system where the government devotes
SIS effort dividing Crusts.