The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-12-05
COOPERATION
ESSENTIAL TO
Save BUSINESS
Noted Lecturer To Discuss
Situation at Grand
Theater


turer and special representative OF
the national industrial conservation
movement, will address a meeting OF
the Grand Free Lecture course in the
Grand theater Sunday evening, Dec,
3. Mr.. Clark will tell OF the need
| for cooperation between the gov
ernment and the business on one
| hand, and business and the public on
| the other.
Such q cooperative program, Mr..
| Clark will contend, is absolutely es-
! sential in order to render American
| business proof against the turbulent
conditions created by war, and at
the same time prepare ii for trade
perils that are bound to crop up aft
err the war. Cooperation is the only
thing that can save the country from
| financial disaster.
Mr.. Clark is one of the former edi-
tors OF Missourfs leading business
newspaper, and secretary of q large
commercial club in Missouri. AS
writer and lecturer on economic sub
tects, he has gained wide repute. and
his articles on trade topics are ac-
Cepted as gospel by leading business
men of the country. In his discus
sion OF the business situation, he
speaks with the authority of one who
10 the field, citing a number of stTik
ing facts which his editorial work
has enabled him to gather first
hand.
Misunderstanding Exists.
There exists, said Mr.. Clark in
an interview, IAN unfortunate mis-
understanding Of American business
and American industry. l presume
it is the outcome of long years Of
selfish controversy, and failure on
the part of the three partners Of in
dustry to realize that they have re-
sponsibilities as we'll as privileges in
their relations with it. In fact we
have sadly forgotten that there are
three partners and have been acting
on the premises that there are only
two: the employer and the employee,
while the community. which after all
is most vitality concerned that bust
ness and industry be maintained on
a basis of prosperity, forgets to lend
a hand In shaping conditions favor
ably for such ends.
There are times when American
industry and business can brook
neither misunderstanding nor ami
mosities. During the prostration OF
Europe's industrial resources, the
world has turned with one accord
to America and as a result. We are
enjoying a prosperity the like of
which has never come to any other
nation. Everyone is employed at
inflated walaes; prices are abnor-
mally high and profits out of all nor
NAL reason because freed from the
ordinary restraints of international
competition. We are producing on
q scale which transcends the alb
sorptive power of home markets and
we are not merely privileged to sell
abroad but compelled to seek and
maintain the world markets which
have thus far been begging for our
goods.
Reaction After the War.
when the war Is over, however, a
most serious reaction threatens and
unless we intelligently anticipate its
effect, We will be caught as badly I'M
prepared for the world competition
as we were for the world war. The
! resulting retrenchments in wages,
production costs and prices will fall
on an industry drunk with success
and totally lacking the elements of
cooperation and co-ordinated fellow
ship necessary to attain the eff
cheney needed for success. Now Is
the time to pave the way-to bury our
differences and bring to bear on IN
dustry and business the same I'M
divided support that now character
ICES the national effort toward the
effective waging of the war. 1t is
no time for selfishness and class
animosity, we must realize the truth
frankly-employer, employe, and the
communities must hang together or
they will hang separately-and our
preparedness for peace made as in
diligently as that for war.
This in brief, is the aim OF the
Industrial conservation movement. 1t
is an earnest, honest. unselfish at
tempt to arouse the public to the
impending menace and bring about a
basis of new understanding, fresh CO.
operation, restored confidence and
amicable business relations. Already
the reception of our message in the
progressive industrial and business
centers of the nation indicate the
timeliness Of the movement and we
have no doubt that the public of
Fargo is quite as vitality interested
in this enterprise as those OF any
other community. These are times
to think and think seriously.