The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-28

Inc 'Hlleu StdteS mas Deen uraWn
81 gradually into activities directly
appertaining to the war that we have
hardly realized the extent to which
the war has changed the direction of
our industry. A year ago We were
congratulating ourselves upon being
the only great commercial nation
which was not having its normal in
di.try and commerce demoralized by
the war; We were in position 10 go
straight ahead after the war ceased, ut
q time when other nations must go
through a period of adjustment. II
now looks as though Ne ourselves
would ave 10 make great adjustments
after the war unless W take our at
tentiou of war orders and war financ-
inc Ions enough to get our house in
order.
Two pertinent questions for us TO
ansNcr are:
|. What competition must we face
when the war il over?
:? How may We best prepare 10 meet
this competition?
1~r;ernations. competition IL pri-
marilv q matter of the relative costs
81 putting goods on the market. This
NyolVe~ both the costs If production
aud the costs of distribution. Pro-
duc,ion costs are affected h, wages,
the efficiency OF labor and the efficiency
of organization. Distribution costs
pertain To- marketing organization.
financing and transportation. The
great competition of distribution costs
FOR H. viii he IN the field Of foreign
tradr. where We meet the foreicGer IN
equal ground.
VIII the results Of the war Place u
rrat;ye.N forward u- backward In put
tins our goods on the home market
aud on the foreign market"
In the field Of production We ma
first inquire a. 10 how the wal may
affect the relative rate of wages. \
prom nent American manufacturer Of
textiles is quoted as saying that the
European textile mills will be filled
witt widows. orphans and MANNED
men who ann work AT skilled trades
Wages will Ice low and the goods vii
ne placed on the market at low prices.
Many American manufacturers IN
other lines also expect cheap labor in
Europe after the "a They fear rs
u result not only keel competition in
neutral markets but also a flood Of
cheap goods In our home market.
on The other hand there are those
vlo forecast low Wages In the United
St+-cs when the war orders are shut
n. New trade viii be slow in coming,
hoy feel, They also expect increased
mmigratiun to this country either on
account of distress At home caused 10y
the burdens Of taxation or on account
a. the adventurous spirit which leads
- returned soldier to strike out for
broader fields.
I.c' rs first consider the possible
.'Ga,.rn IN Germany and England \
loss ~ male labor will be caused by
M war: this may be made up in part
by the addition Of women and children
and former members of the leisure
,.ass To the ranks of workers. Many
who have been formerly protected will
ave to face the task of making a liv-
ing.
II the total number OF workers In
Eusland and Germany remains con-
s-ant there will yet be a labor loss
that T.. an efficiency labor loss. Many
~ the leaders and organizers Of in
dustry. managers and foremen, will be
gone.
Labor. further. il highly productive
only when supplied with proper CAPT
tai equipment and when the industry
~ well organized II managed. A few
factories abroad have been destroyed
The greatest loss has been in failure
10 make normal additions to offset de.
probation IN some cases. New capita
vii De hard TO secure. some lines o.
trade lave been demoralized and i
Will take time to pick up the al,
,hrcads.
II labor is equally plentiful wages
vii probably he lower because thu
labor Will not he as productive for
ilne. Lower wages and higher take!
vi make the lot of the workingmaI
J a hard one. He may take IA NOR
.rom!u+nt part in politics and he ma,
place burdens upon business, Socia
legislation, which has already mad
great Roadway abroad. has alarmed
business interests. Many Englisl
business men, for instance. have fel
pessimlstic for some time.
i t. for these reasons altogethe
hard To- sec how either Germany o
England can emerge from the wa
ready and able Immediately to pursu,
an aggressive policy in foreign trade
The re"upcrative powers of both thes
great Industrial nations should no
however, be uud.restimated Bingham
recovered in n comparatively fey
years from the excessive burdens i'm
P''"l ov the Napuleonic wars, Ger
many logan her marvellous career Il
hrst class industrial nation after tn
Franco RUSSIAN war. In both Eng
'ind and Germany there has been evi
"'ht '1H years a stout hearted com
mora policy which has contrive
y ana s]lrmounted difficulties.
P.Fen a determined spirit, a way
usnolly found. Both Of these countrie
may he expected TO force their wa
"nt # temporary difficulties by mean
~ h'W inventions and by closer an
nor" elective business organization
war I-"lf instead Of dulllng the ma
u'hHl acumcn has jolted men out {
."d ru'S and has made them fac
ne" and difficult problems, Wal |
England and Germany may vitali2
III" i"" greatest factors in moder
bi-ln'sS initiative and organization.
On tho side OF the United State
war is not helping us in a compreher
eFe s"rsc. We are making papt
pto'i~ out Of war orders; but "A de,
mra''"u of peace would be a grei
mn factor In the market as "a Who'll