The Detroit times., 1916-04-24

race, together with its laboring
force, Is occupied in producing OBJ
jects OF desire the largest part Of
which enter into the surplus OF so
ciety over and above the minimum
as thus described. II, therefore.
labor and capital formerly engaged
in producing unnecesssries cease to
work, society will have no stocks of
this kind which II can buy: or, IL the
owners OF wealth withdraw their de
mand for uhnecessaries, either be-
cause of alarm for the future or OF
sudden desire 10 save or OF q loss
OF income. this labor and capital will
not be employed in producing them.
Further. when the European war
broke out. there was of course alarm
and uncertainty not only among bel
liseren;s, but among neutrals; con-
sequently there Was lessened ex-
penditure, and lessened production;
but the great dislocation OF industry
was caused by the new and phenom
email demand for war supplies.
This change diverted vast guam
titles OF labor and capital from the
production OF peaceful buildings.
machinery, me rchant vessels, clothes.
and the like, TO the making Of naval
and military munitions. which, when
destroyed en- a scale hitherto unpar-
alleled in the history of the world,
vanished in thin air. The products
Of labor and capital or this scale
and for war purposes ceased TO ada
To the wealth exchanged for other
wealth at home and abroad. Domes-
tic production on which the income
Of the nation was based was re-
duced: and in the case of Germany
and Austria goods could not in large
measure be produced for export by
which imports could be bought as
before.
How Long?
In view of this unparalleled de-
struction OF wealth. II vas argued
that the war could rot long contiE-
ne; that the contestants would soon
become exhausted and make peace.
Now. after more than year and a
half OF war, in which the expendi-
lures and the losses OF men have ex-
ceeded all expectations. we are seem
ingly no nearer to peace than at the
beginning. Thus, We face the ulti'
mate question: How long can the
war continue before economic or
financial exhaustion forces one or
the other eide to yield?
First Of all, we must keep In mind
what has been said already. Forced
giving up Of unnecessary consump'
tion--in spite of lour grumbling at
the loss OF customary satisfactions--
will not In itself directly reduce the
ability of o nation to continue the
war. The habitual coffee drinker may
not be able TO have coffee for break.
fast; many may have to give up but
ter or Jam on their bread: habitual
meat eaters may be very largely cut
OF from meat, the woman OF society
may not only fail to get the same
color effects In her dress. but may
even be cut of from buying many
new clothes; the heavy income tar
may cut on wine and force q large
reduction In servants; but the war
will not thereby be stopped. So faI
a. non-combatants are concerned
war can go on as long az they, and
the laboring classes In particular
can satisfy only their primary
wants.
But would that extreme state oil
affairs ever be reached? What must
take place before every one has been
reduced TO the barest necessaries OF
life' Here we are sure 10 have
test of the solidarity of a nation and
OF the willingness of all to sacrifice
| for the common end. However
| great the unity in face OF peril &c
all, the extent TO which a people vii
thus hold out is q psychological ques
ton. At the loss OF what fraction oil
the whole surplus wealth OF the
country will the owners OF II hesitate
and refuse TO sacrifice more for the
national cause7
The rich may exchange their sur
,lus wealth for government bonds
receiving an demonstrating invest
mcnt for the wealth they give up
On the other hand. scarcity has pro
duced hirh prices; even Of food and