The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-11-16
WHAT BUSINESS
IS NoN.ESSENTIAL? ?
United States Chamber of Com
merce Outlines Essential Things
Which the Government Must
Do If 1t Would Not Wreck All
Business and Bring Chaos.

Washington, D. c., Nov.-Busi'
ness men everywhere, according tc
war bulletin issued by the com,
mittee of the Chamber of Commerce
of the United States, cooperating
with the Council of National De-
tense, are wondering what is non
essential business. The committee
it is said, is receiving many inquir'
es as to the manner in which this
will be determined by the Govern
ment and what course will be fol
lowed in withdrawing labor and ma
terials from such industries as may
be regarded as non-essential during
the war for the necessities Of indus
tries essential to the war. No pol
icy in this, connection has been an
nounced by the Government, and,
according to the committee, the
above questions cannot be answered
"When the: occasion arises, what
should be done seems clear to this
committee" said Waddill Catchings
Of New York, its chairman. mo ac-
ton except emergency action should
be taken, except. in accordance with
some general plan based upon a
thorough survey Of industry, which
no doubt has already been made.
..If unnecessary hardship is to be
avoided, if there is to be no dis
elimination, the Government should
not act until a general plan has been
formulated and made known to the
business Of the country" 4.
Before business is classified as
non-essential and deprived by act Of
Government Of labor and material,
according to the National Chamber
Bulletin, the industry through duly
elected representatives should be
given an opportunity to discuss the
matter; to learn the premises of the
government and the reasons for
action. r .
aThe motive Of the Government
the concentration of Industrial
energy toward winning the war
appeals to ALL" the bulletin goes on,
t"and every industry can be relied
upon to assist in bringing itself into
adjustment with the war needs Of
the country. .'...
GAS has been frequently pointed
out BY the committee, if the Gov
ernment acts in this connection with
sufficient dispatch, the industries of
the country may be given an oppor-
tunity to meet the needs Of the en-
ergency in a gradual manner and
after deliberate planning. : With
English experience as a guide and
with the unhesitating support which
business ha sgiven to the Govern
ment in the national effort, full op-
portunity is afforded for deliberate
planning and adjustment"
Where an industry is regarded as
non-essential and must be deprived
of labor and materials, it is pointed
out such deliberate planning may
lead to the use Of substitute ma
terials or different processes Of pro-
duction. In this manner ,unneces.
sary hardship may be avoided.
It should be a cardinal principle
that the normal structure of bust
ness should be maintained during
these abnormal times as far as pos.
sible. Therefore, consideration
should be given to the possibility
of allowing non-essential business s
proportion of its requirements Of
labor and materials, so that some
organizations may be retained tt
be developed again upon the return
of peaceful conditions.
Furthermore, the bulletin goe!
on, when the Government is forced
to deprive a business of material'
and labor because it is non-essen
tial, an effort should be made b!
the Government to place with th'
industry orders for product needet
in the war. In this manner a help
; ing hand may be given to bushes
suffering solely through sacrifice fo
the common good.
T. Al. oo~oo ooo,oof,o, - MO,