The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-08-07
!. War Spur to Industry
In Europe, SaysG.O.P.

That the war has been q spur 20 tn
dustry in Europe instead OF a destroy
Ing influence md that this makes the
industrial problem for America all the
publican Publicity Association in a
PRECEDENT. former Senator Bourne.
MI, Bourne speaks In reply TO Sec
rotary McAdoo. and charges that Mr..
American people as to Industrial con-
diuons. Mr.. Bourne says the close Of
the war will see America confronted
with the greatest crisis In its history.
He says:
Need Frank Presentation.
AT a time when the American people
are particularly In need OF frank presen-
the least. that secretary McAdoo should
give TO the press OF the, conntry state
mer,t Of half truths upon which, he bases
Ill-founded conclusions regarding the m
dustrial situation. He cans attention 10
the fact that resources OF our banks ex-
coed by $SiO.VvO.UU the greatest ever
known: that national bank deposits are
". iys. OUO.U0 greater than year ago. out
is silent on the fact that largely as a
biiiion dollar trade balance IN the nscai
year 1916, and a two piiiion dollar oai-
ance In the fiscal year 1915.
Speaking Of the prospect OF foreign
after the close Of the war In Europe. he
says that many OF the skilled workmen
OF European countries have been lost;
many of their industries have been de-
stroyed; their credit resources seriously
impaired. and that other serious dirrcul-
ties must be overcome II they are to
regain foreign markets.
"As q matter OF fact. there has not
or British SON. only small portions OF
Austria and france have been invaded.
and the portion Of Russia In which
battles have been fought is an incon-
siderable portion Of the entire country.
standpoint OF production in competition
with America. II large industries have
been destroyed in any Of the countries
with which the United states has had to
compete I'm the past. except helglum.
where they were located. and when they
were destroyed.
TT is true that several millions Of
people have been killed or wounded in
the European wsr. but It !, also true true
drawn into productive enterprise. and
that. in all probability. these have
counter-balanced In production the men
who have been slain. But II It be true
in those countries. It is also true that
on account of the war. the United
States has lost million and a half of
population Of the working class. either
through interrupted immiration or
were called home at the outbreak OF the
war.
-, Assertion Disposed OF.
Secretary McAdoo's assertion that
the Industries Of Europe have been Sc
riously impaired was EFFECTIVELY dis
ticle In the May issue of the North
American Review. in which he showed
that not more than per cent OF tho
industrial workmen of France are inca
pacitated for active labor as a result OF
the war. Seventy-nine DER cent of all
the factories inspected nv the French
minister of labor six months ago were
running. compared with 81 Dor cent in
August. 1914.
in Europe rather than q destroying IN
nuence. Poverty and excessive taxa
ton will drive thousands into Rainful
occupation who formerly were not in
the producing class.
TT Ia not. however. with Europe alone
that we must deal In the future. The
war has greatly developed the indus
tries Of japan and increased the wealth
of that nation as 1t has increased the
wealth of the United States. China
import trade. The cheap laSor of those
two nations makes them producers with
whom we must compete In the future
to a much larger extent than In the
"During recent months We have had
through the newspapers and from Of
ficial sources evidences of agreements
among the allies on the ono hand. and
between the central powers on the
other hand, having as their sole pur-
pose the Advancement OF the COM
mercial interests of those nations
which have been allied in warfare as
against their present adversartes and
as against neutral countries.
I'm view OF these facts, II 10 little
Adoo to endeavor to lull the Ameri-
can people into repose by asserting
that they are able to sustain them
the Worid's marSets. M. MoA ddg he OF 2
before him statistics of the present
Administration showing that in our
commerce with all the rest Of the