The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-27

them, as for a child.
Beyond all that, though the
work was murderous, the citizen
in arms was illumined with a
glowing purpose; he had mis-
sion without the dollar sign
marked visibly upon it; and the
nation accorded him signs of awe
and admiration which. generally
speaking, he has not enjoyed since.
Mad as it sounds, 1 think that
thousands of men were happier
in the army than they have ever
been since, and the same thing
extended in a measure to the
civilian population. All felt them
selves part of something greater
than themselves.
The ruthless development OF
nationalist peacetime programs
permits much of that same
exalted frenzy, and generally re-
quires more and more of the
same as it goes along. I am
aware of the higher possibilities OF
such a ferment. William James
wrote most persuasively of the
need of "a moral equivalent for
war" Cautiously and tentatively,
the new deal in America has
already evoked a little of this
spirit. If we go on trying to keep
things whirling within national
list limits, it seems certain that
we shall count less on social dis
cipline voluntarily aroused and
more on direct compulsion. Under
such conditions the traditional
American spirit would soon be,
it seems to me, as a spring, tightly
coiled and ready to burst out
dangerously in any direction. 1
wonder if we could stand the
strain.
A SURPRISING number OF
N farmers after year OF
voluntary production control are
writing me letters insisting that
hereafter the cooperation of all
farmers be compelled absolutely;
and that every field, cotton-gin,
COW and chicken be licensed; and
that the strictest sort of controls
be applied to transportation and
marketing. 1 believe they mean
it. but 1 wonder very seriously
whether they are ready for such
measures, and if they really know
what they are asking for.
Nations still in their pioneer
stages of development are never
forced to make decisions of this
sort. All their energies are de-
voted, on the one hand, to exploit
ing their unappropriated re-
sources, and on the other, to pay
ing off the debts owed to older
settled regions. The older nations
have always been faced with the
problem of developing a definite
national policy, backed up by an
educated, determined public opin-
ion.
In the United States we have
changed so suddenly from debtor
to a creditor nation that our peo-
pie are only now becoming aware
of the need for a definite program
of long-continued action which
will continue without great
changes no matter which party
shall be in power. The facts in
volved are such that there should
be no great difference of opinion
between Republicans, Democrats
and Socialists. The a1l-important
thing is to recognize the fact that
two plus two can equal six only so
long as the time factor is taken
care of by placing a burden on the
monetary system which eventu-
ally passes human endurance.
REAT prosperity is possible
" for the United States if we
follow the strict nationalist
course, but in such case we must
be prepared for a fundamental
planning and RECOMMENDATION of
agriculture and industry far be-
yond that which any one has yet
suggested. To carry out such a
program effectively, with our pub
lie psychology as it is, may re-
quire unanimity of opinion and
disciplined action even greater
than that which we experienced
in the years 1917-1919.
Nevertheless, the national path
remains wide open to us. We can
travel it if we want to- We can
get along completely on sugar