The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-02-21

WNU Service, 1895 National Press
Bldg, Washington, ID. C.
WASHINGTON. There is a peace
machine In Washington, all oiled
and ready to start the moment the
last gun is silenced in Europe. From
II may come q plan which the de-
mocracies can offer the world as an
alternative to the totalitarian way Of
life.
This peace-machine is not new,
but 1t has never been given a fair
trial. Cordell Hull has the patent.
1t may never be allowed to func-
ton, but It Is a cheering thing. to
know that 1t is there.
1t is simply reciprocal trade
agreement machinery which Secre-
tary Hull is insisting shall be kept as
nearly intact as possible, ready to
be put into operation the moment
the tanks are moved out OF the
way. For Mr.. Hull believes firmly
that out of all the uncertainties
which surround this uncertain world,
when the war Is over one thing is
going to happen: Either the system
Of free intercourse among nations is
going to exist in the world, or the
totalitarian system will dominate.
Changing Viewpoint.
More and more, people are COM
ing to feel that there cannot be a
world economically half-slave and
half-free. Unless all nations can be
united under q system of mutually
profitable trade, totalitarian meth
DDS will be forced upon all nations
and II In automatic that when q gov.
eminent begins to create artificial
restraints In the field Of business
gradually you will be forced to cur.
tail political and social freedom, too
The Nazis know their system ID
not the best system, though they
don't admit II to the people. Ger
many's great economist, Hjalmar
Schacht, admitted as much before
the war The system of free enter
prise, he said, was the best system,
but Germany, because Of her "emer-
gency" had to adopt it's own system.
He did not say that this emergency
was created because Hitler, in or
der to carry out his theory of domi-
nation, had to spend the nation 8
wealth, its goods and its labor, on a
huge unproductive armament indus
try. or course, lack of free trade
intercourse before Hitler's advent
had helped to impoverish Germany.
HulPs Theory.
Secretary Hull believes that the
roots Of war grow in the soil of evil
economic conditions, that war can
not be prevented unless nations in
dulge in mutually profitable trade.
He says that today, as he has al
ways said 1t, although his reciprocal
trade agreement program has been
burned to ashes in the flames of
war. But he is keeping his machin-
cry oiled and Is ready TO start IL
again II he gets the chance. II may
well be the foundation-stone of the
peace to come, IL his policies are
permitted to dominate that peace.
The story Of Mr.. Hull's battle for
his beliefs is a fascinating one. II
was the result Of lifetime Of study.
Because Of his knowledge of eco
nomics, which has astounded foreign
statesmen with whom he has come
in contact, he was chosen for the
post he holds. His first effort and
his first failure took place when the
London economic conference, called
shortly after he came into office,
broke down. He took that defeat in
his stride, eliminated from the gov
eminent Raymond Moley who op-
posed him at the conference and
packed his bag for South America.
The result was the first reciprocal
trade treaties with our southern sis
ter nations. Slowly he built on until
finally came the agreement with
Great Britain, taking in a huge area
Of the English-speaking world. Then,
just as he was winning supporters
to his cause, war came and the
structure was smashed. But it did
not smash the faith of Cordell Hull,
and it is on this faith that he is
building the hope for a better world
TO come, a faith and a hope that is
refreshing amidst the gloom of the
pesslmlsts who refuse TO see any
light beyond the battle clouds that
today cloak all the far horizons.