Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-19
Situation Is Explained.

These premises, as stated at various
times by W. s. clifford, director of the
council, and others in charge of yari-
GUS major committees, are these:
In the broad sense, there is no such
thing as non-essential industry. Some
are more essential than others. To
call an immediate halt on any indus
try not considered especially needful
would mean impairment of credit,
wastage OF capital and unemployment
to labor. To announce that any par
ticular industry is not essential would
be paramount to bankrupting the own
ers of that industry.
Many Industries which seem non
essential really are essential. when all
factors are taken into consideration. A
bulletin from the United States Cham
Der of Commerce points out: I'VE need
nitrate and copper from Chile. These
are essential to prosecution of the
war. We may procure this nitrate and
copper by shipping jewelry or pleas
ure automobiles to Chile. Again, we
need from Argentina wool. wheat and
hides, and these necessities may be
obtained by shipping in exchange sew
ing machines or typewriters Thus the
manufacture of a limousine or type
writer may be in fact the means of
producing nitrate or wool
So far as any official ruling goes,
all Industries now termed 'non-essen-
tiaf' have thus classified themselves.
Some manufacturers have been eager
/
directly concerned with the war. Ex-
amples are to be found in the cases of
jewelry, cut glass and silk manufac-
turers.
Upon coming to Washington manu-
facturers in all three fields have found
the instructions for wartime service
awaiting them. The cut glass makers
may turn out optical instruments, the
silver manufacturers have already
found ways of making instruments of
nj
silk manufacturers are experimenting
with the manufacture of aeroplane
wings.
An Example Is Cited.
One good example of how the Coun-
ell of National Defense has sought to
alleviate necessary reimbursement of in
dustry Is found in its cooperative eff
fort with wool manufacturers. Wool
has been utilized to an enormous ex-
tent in uniform making. Production
|of wool for civilian use has been re-
duced by 80 per cent, through admir-
ture with other materials.
Even the garment making trades,
mems and women's, have benefited by
cooperating with the Commercial
Economy Board. Instead of having
oyerstocks on their hands because OF
the curtailment of expenditure for
campaigns. and of mems clothing be-
cause of the formation of the new
National Army ways have been worked
out through the French embassy here,
to get advance lines on next seasons
Partisan styles. to curtail the use of
cloth by eliminating unnecessary p1eats,
hens. turn-ups on trousers and belts.
and to modify hitherto drastic changes
in styles
Not Business as Usual
All this does not mean "business as
usual" Men like Frank yanderlip have
shown the fallacy OF that slogan.
| Neither does 1t mean upsetting of in
dustry. Representatives OF allied gov
ernnents have pointed out the costly
mistakes of overdrastic policies. 1t
means a happy middle course Gener-
| ally the recommendations and expec-
tations of business men have been more
drastic than those of the government
For example, the United States Cham
Der of Commerce.. as recently as oc-
tober 90, stated. in bulletin: mo one
need be SURPRISED Il during the war
the use of labor and materials for all
uneHsential purposes Is made impos-
sible By regulation or statute Such