The Obsession of Nationalism Sound political doctrine collies to light
often enough, if anyone cares to look for it, in the reports of company meetings. It is no great surprise, therefore, to find so broadminded a business man as Mr. F. I). Szarvasy warning the shareholders in Amalgamated Anthracite Collieries on Tuesday of the perils arising from the adoption by the industrial nations of the world of " a rigid policy of restriction and exclusiveness, a sort of obsession of nationalism, entirely forgetful of the funda- mental fact of their dependence on each other." Such a policy, Mr. Szarvasy observed, constitutes a grave danger to the structure of our industrial organizations and a distinct menace to humanity, since the only hope of surmounting the artificial barriers set up is to reduce costs of production, which usually means cutting down wages and lowering the standard of living of the workers. That is incontestable. So is the fact that by imposing tariffs of 33 and 20 per cent. this country is adding substantially to the dangers in question. The conviction that the foreigner is a person who ought to buy and not sell has by this time spread from Bedlam to every capital in the world. * * *
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