Evening star., 1915-11-17

national chamber, was authorized to ap-
point the special committee, OF which MI.
Filene is the chairman. The other mem
bers are: P. H Gadsden. lawyer. presi-
dent of public utility companies in
Charleston, s. c.; Edward Hidden. presi-
dent Of the st. Louis Business Mems
League Herbert S. Houston Of New York.
president of the Associated Advertising
Clubs OF the World H. A. Meldrum. prest-
dent of the Buffalo Chamber Of Conn
merce; George E. Roberts, assistant to the
president of the National City Bank OF
New York, formerly director of the mint,
and Paul H. Saunders, president. of the
, Mortgage Securities Company of New Or
leans.
After the referendum had been or
dered the following committee was
named to assist in the preparation OF
the important document: Charles Ma
gel of st. Louis. former Secretary OF
Commerce and Labor; Joseph H. De-
frees of Chicago, r. G. Rhett OF
Charleston. s. c.: Howell Cheney OF
South Manchester. Conn.,. and John JOY
Edison of Washington, D. C.
Conditions After the War.
"As business men, we cannot fail to
foresee that, if this war is settled as
all previous wars have been, without
providing for the duly constituted au-
enormous charges the still greater con-
tinuous charge. due to rivalry in arma-
ments and other preparations for the
net settlement says the report sub
mitted by Mr.. Filene, which led to the
recommendations above enumerated.
Under such conditions we are forced
to believe that the European nations.
after the war, will be faced with the
insistent need for re-establishing their
industries at almost any sacrifice in or
der to keep up in the race for arma-
ments and to obtain means of settling
their debts so as to keep their credit
good for the next war. Predictions by
these necessities will cause them to
make sacrifices of natural profits,
lower their scale of living and so
create competition of unexampled Sc
verity-a competition which also would
be particularly ominous for our higher
wage market, that so far has suffered
least.
Factors to Be Faced.
Whether this reasoning be sound or
not. the certain factors that we have
to face in the event of an unsatisfac-
tory settlement in Europe will be-
Il. A reduction of purchasing power
in Europe and indirect reduction there
tries; for instance, if Brazil cannot sell
as much coffee to Europe her purchas-
ing power in other countries will be
proportionally limited.
"2. A shortage of the worlds avail
able capital, due, (a) to sheer destruc-
tior, tb) to the great uncertainty as
to the future, (c) to the need for set
tlins certain of the war debts and cd
preparing for further war-the whole
tending to raise the price of capital
nyynr
employment in the newer countries.
3. A decline in the European stand
ard OF living and perhaps of wages,
rendering possible low-priced produc-
tion, which will create costly world
wide disturbance of Industrial condi.
tions.
"A Increasing hostile protective tar.
ms on the part of the fighting coun-
tries. due, first, to a desire to find
source of taxation. and. secondly, to
ing 1t as self-suficing as possible in
manufactures and food, as a military
measure.
Reaction on American Labor.
Should period Of unrest and .un-
certainty follow an unsettling settle
ment'. the United States will not be free
to determine what increase, il any.
she will make in her armaments. but
may be forced into AN abnormally
great increase. with correspondingiy
abnormal tax and other burdens. The
possibility Of growing revolutionary
spirit in Europe, due to very seriously
increased burdens on the masses, with
reactions on certain sections of Ameri-
can labor, is not to be disregarded" -
The report concludes by saying the
committee believes that American citi-
zens, realizing the worlds imperative
need of the substitution of law for
war. il militarism is not to dominate,
are ready. nay, feel the clear call of
duty. to take their share Of the work
and responsibility necessary to estab-
lish this substitution.
I'VE cannot escape If we would. We
would not II we could" is the final ap-
peal The call Of women and children,
OF the helpless and the weak, suffering
from needless war, is an
compulsion to all Americans