The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-04-26

III PioNPtic tbiouSh ~ oipAS.
Without question, there exists, al
most all over the world, unprecedented
disquietude at the functioning Of gov
rnmen itself. 1t is In part the dreamy
social ferment OF war emotion. Ii Is
In part the aftermath of a period when
the government was everything and the
Individual nothing, from which there Is
much stimulation to two schools OF
thought: one that all human Ills can
be cured by governmental regulation,
and the other that all regulation Is a
sin.
During the war. he mobilization OF
every effort, the destruction OF the
normal demand and the normal ave-
nues OF distribution, required a vast
excursion over the deadline of individ-
ualism In order that we might secure
immediate results. Its continuation
would have de. 'royed the initiative or
our people and undermined all real
progress. We are slowly getting back.
but many still aspire to these supposed
short outs to the millennium.
Much of our discomfort takes the
form OF resentment against the in
CAPABILITIES In the distribution of the
sacrifices of war. Both silently and
vocally there is complaint that while
some died, others ran no risk. and yet
others profited. For these complaints
there is adequate justification. The
facts are patent. However, no concelv-
able human Intelligence would be able
to manage the conduct OF war so as to
see that all sacrifices and burdens
should be distributed equitably. Wal
is destruction, and we should blame
wal for Its injustices, not a social sys-
TEN whose object is construction. The
su~bmergence OF the individual, how
ever, IN the struggle OF the race could
be but temporary-its continuance
through the crushing Of individual nc
ton and It's inequities would, If for
no other reason, destroy the founda.
tons of our civilization.
Looked at as the umpire In our social
system, our government has maintained
an equality before the law and a devei.
opment of legal justice and an author
ny III vi SNh SUM- All'ii
support this social system and Its
ideals so far as the imperfections Of
developing human Institutions permit.
Ii has gone the greatest distance of
any government tow ard maintaining an
equality of franchise; an equality Of
entrance TO public office. and govern
ment by the majority. Ii has succeeded
| for hAx nnI oil nthnrS Ia fhnGn cafn.
guards Of equality OF opportunity
through education. public Information,
and the open channels OF free speech
and free press. II Is, however, much
easier to chart The course Of progress
Of government In dealing with the alb
stract problems Of order, political lib
erty. and stimulation to intellectual
and moral advancement than II Is TO
chart It's relations to the economic seas.
These seas are new and only partly
discovered or explored.
Our governments greatest troubles
], and failures are In the economic field.
Forty years ago the contact Of the In
hiyidral with the government had its
largest expression In the sheriff or po-
liceman. and In debates over political
equality. In those happy days the gov
eminent offered bur small interfer.
ence with the economic life OF the citi-
zen. But with the vast development
/ Of industry and the train Of regulating
functions of the national and munich.
pal government that followed from II
With the recent vast Increase In taxa
on due TO the war-the government
IS become through It's relations to
~-pnomic life the most potent force for
|, maintenance or destruction Of our
!. American indiyiduallsm.
The entrance of the government be
gan strongly three decades ago, when
our Industrial organization began to
move powerfully In the direction Of
I consolidation Of enterprise. We found
, In the course of this development tina,
equality of opportunity and Its corol
airy. Individual initiative, was being
hrottled by the concentration of con,
rol of industry and service, and thus
an economic domination OF groups
I ouilded over the nation. AT this time
particularly, we were threatened with
!. , form OF autOcracy OF economic pow
,r. Our mass Of regulation OF public
/ Utilities and our legislation against re
straint Of trade Is the monument Il
I our intent TO preserve an equality Of
opportunity. This regulation Is Itself
: proof that we have gone a long wa,
oward the abandonment Of the ''capi
alism" of Adam Smith.
Day by day we learn more as to thu
practical application Of restriction
against economic and political domino
> ion. We sometimes lag behind in tn
:, correction of those forces that weul,
: override liberty, justice and equallt.
= " opportunity. but the principle Is s,
strong within us that domination o
r he few will not be tolerated. Thes,
restraints must keep pace with tn
{ growing completely OF our economii
organization, but they need tuning I,
mr social system II they would no
axe us into great dangers. AS W,
. ,nlld up our powers Of production
through the advancing application o
.cience we create new forces witt
Z which men may dominate-railwsy
! over. oil. and what not. They ma