The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-05-23

I whether in a great emergency. or in the
continuous daily development of its pros
perity and national welfare in general.
In the address from which have just
quoted. I made use in another passage
or personal experience which brings
out, In q field where 1t has actually been
tried. the scope Of the idea In mind. With
some Omissions, the passage is as fol-
! lows:
| Could Have Prevented War.
About three years since, a few repre-
sentatives of the iron and steel industry
OF this country had the privilege Of
meeting in Great Britain and Continental
Europe the leading representatives of
the iron and steel manufacturing inter-
ests OF the world. For several days we
! were In close association with those men
I and became well acquainted with them
and the spirit and motives which domi-
noted their attitude and treatment Of
one another. The countries represented
| included England. Scotland, Wales, Bel,
GUM. France. Germany, Austria, Italy,
Russia, Spain, Hungary, Canada and the
| United States.
"All were active competitors, indIvi-
dual concerns Of q single country with
each other and each country with all
| other countries. Nevertheless, it was
| evident that a feeling Of business friend
snip permeated the minds and Influenced
the conduct Of these men, and this in
, the main tended to establish and uphold
an orderly and profitable management
OF the affairs entrusted to them
II the large numbers of business men
who represented on this memorable oc-
caslon all Of the countries engaged in
the iron and steel industry could have
had opportunity to consider and deter
mine the questions leading up to the war
which is raging in Europe there would
nave been no war. These intelligent ex-
perienced. practical. sensible and Chris
tan men. being from time to time in
close contact. and therefore well ac-
quainted with each other, would have
been patient, considerable and fair-mind-
ed and would have made adjustments
and reached conclusions calculated to
protect the interests of all and to pre-
vent the possibility of the present de-
plorable hostility"
German Effectiveness,
l do not desire in this article tn ana
iyze the merits OF the cause of one or
the other side in the European war, nor
to compare the national efficiency of the
several belligerent nations. But what
ever may be our personal sympathies or
opinions in connection with this subject
there appears to be a general asreemev
that the chief reason for Germany's re-
Gently acquired national. Industrial and
commercial prominence is the spirit of
cooperation running through the entire
economic and social life of the country.
The conscious aim of the government of
Germany and of the leaders of German
thought and of German business ever
since the Franco-Prussian war, has been
to bring into harmonious co-ordina ton
without the waste of the blind antagon-
isms and competitions of the various
classes of the productive population, all
the constructive and progressive efforts
or the German people. From the stand
point OF naturalization, it can hardly
be denied that there is food for Thought
in the following account of their appli-
cation OF the principle just mentioned
to the needs Of the great national crisis
that had arisen. The Imperial Vice
Chancellor. Herr Won Delbruck. is re-
ported to have commented upon the eff
fectiveness of the German industrial and
commercial organization and its ability
to Withstand the shock of war and the
extraordinary demands made upon it by
the necessities of war, in the following
language:
Il had talk with the gentlemen
representing the control of the sugar
Industry. and In fifteen minutes we had
settled all the questions affecting IL. |
l met other men and We quickly set
tied the textile and chemical industries.
i met representatives of all the agri- |
cultural organizations. and in an hour
we had. settled all questions pertaining
to the food supply. Germany, as no |
other country. is centralized Industrial
ly as well as economically. giving us
an organization which makes US I'M
conquerable. economically and indus |
trially" /
Lesson for the United states.
Comparisons are not necessary in |
this article. The object of this quota
ton Is to set forth a practical appli- |
cation OF the economic principle OF CO. |
operation on large scale. The deduc- |
ton proper to draw is that a great ma
ton like the United States. with its
immense problems, no longer local but |
inevitably and increasingly interna-
tional as they must become, should |
give deep thought to the example |
which has thus been afforded to the |
world of what may be done along GER
tain very definite lines of cooperative |
organization. not for the benefit of the |
few but for that of the many; not for |
the benefit of a particular class but for |
that of the entire nation.
1t is worth remarking at this point /
that Almost ynconsciously We have our
selves had the benefits of cooperation
brought home to US by the necessities
we have had to meet in the months
since the European war broke out. As
all remember. our financial and eco
nomic situation in the earlier part of /
1914 was not all that could be desired |
In fact, many of our great Industries
were in a depressed and even embar-
raised condition. The gradual recov-
cry from the strain of 1907 had been
in a measure checked by a variety of
forces. There were reasons, however,
for expecting an improvement in the
near future. Then. all at once the1
whole industrial fabric was tempo
rarity paralyzed by the sudden diver
sion of the great forces of trade and
industry from their proper object to
the vast destruction Of human life and
Of accumulated capital. And the con-
sequences were so tremendous. even
for us. that there had to be co-opera-
ton lest all should re destroyed.
Finance. industry. commerce. both do
nestle and international. were COM
PEELED to work together. or 90 down
In general ruin.
Permanent solution Necessary.
The story can never be completely
told of the extent of the mutual as
sistance given. of the courageous and
unselfish standing by those caught in
the maelstrom, Of the disinterested CO.
operation of the most diverse interests.
in order that the wheels Of industry
might continue to turn and the ways
~ ~oyppnarca copffuue t0 he OMEN All