Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-09
CAPITAL KEYNOTES.
BY PAUL y. COLLINS

The Secretary Of Labor, Mr.. Davis,
arguing against the continuance of
twelve-hour shifts in the iron and
steel industry, expressed a belief that
whatever the increased cost of the
eight-horr system would be, in the
price Of steel, the public would be
willing to pay it, because of human
itarian considerations. Whether that
argument would hold good, so far
as the Willingness is concerned, there
is no doubt that. if the eight-hour sys-
tenn could be put into force by law. and
made universal. the public would pay
the cost of production, for there
would be nothing else to do about it,
is the humanitarian one of life and
health and the right to live joyfully,
which every citizen is entitled to.
X X X X
Almost within the memory of men
now living, the farmer habitually
worked twelve or fourteen hours a
day. The mechanic always worked
ten hours. The housewife thought it
no unexpected hardship TO toll
twelve to fifteen hours daily. Now
it is almost universal that eight
hours is days work, for all kinds
of labor on wages. The time will
come to apply it to the housewife
and the iron molder and all other
relics of barbarism of toll.
DR. Fowler, health officer, advises
the public not to kill mad dogs, but
just turn them over to him. That
will enable the doctor to see whether
they are really mad or only a little
put out about something. He does
not specify how one is to go about
the act of turning them over" but
presumably it is quite like the recipe
for cooking hare: First catch your
hare"
II is time for Americans to stop
mincing with enemies Of the govern
ment and propagators of sovietism
and pacificfsm. Treason f1aunts it's
red flag within the very shadow of
the Capitol, and sentimental women
seek to throw discredit upon the
nations means of defense and to
malign the spirit of patriotic sacri-
flee, as if it were lust for war and
bloodshed.
II is time to call a spade a spade,
and treason treason. Secretary Weeks
of the War Department evidently be-
lieyes that the slanderers of the ma
tons defenders should be exposed
for what they are-either propa-
gandists of sovietism or weakllngs
of patriotism. They are either unIn-
formed, or. if informed as to facts.
are reasonable propagandlsts and
national enemies.
On what authority did the so-called
National Council for the Prevention
Of War. or the League for Peace and
Liberty or whatever else it calls It's
organization, make the false claim
that So per cent of the nations rev.
enue goes for the prosecution of war
and the maintenance of the Army and
Navy?
The official statistics show that only
1875 per cent is required for the sup
port of the Army and Navy in all
their military branches. To get
higher percentage there must be In
Guided according to secretary Weeks,
the cost of unprepaTedness due to
exactly such sentimental talk as the
peace societies are now giving out.
and to the cost of maintaining the
pension bureau and the veterans aid.
What part of the great expense of
caring for the men who lost their
ability to care for themselves
through their heroic defense of the
nation would the pacifsts now stop?
Would they have the octogenar'H"
veterans of the civil war go to the
poorhouses Of their respective coun-