The Alaska daily empire., 1917-02-02
ON SPEED AND EFFICIENCY

Without undertaking to minimize the importance of the s:rngency of European competition at that happy time when the war drums are untitled and the battle flags are turei" may it not be suggested that unnecessary fears entertained this men by vgilant manufacturers and industrial leaders remark frequently heard is Of the high speed at which industry is running in the countries now at war Of enormous productions being turned out and of the perfection Of such machine as will outstTip all rivals all the world.
 l. would be folly to deny that amazing strides are being made in the production abroad. and that work is being performed a; 8 speed which be- ueyCd be impossible former times Returning travellers tell Of every bit Of energy being used in useful pursuits that formerly employed There are stories of wealthy male and female dlers learning for the first time to eat their bread in the sweat Of their brows; Of normal worGmen, under the press and stress of patriotic whip and spur the ncen tive of abnormal wages. doing much than in peace times as Co awaken all but iUcreduoUs wonder
 But the question naturally arises as to the abi jy or the people continue this high speej process Taking few illustrations from the book Of everyday experience who does remember the periods in which a unusUG, amour, o, work done? Under the demands of necessity men io short periods have performed tasks that seemed Co be impossible in cGlmer moments If sitatioa from newspaDelGom may be pa-dOued ,hC pressure Os close election makes men work a: rate. could jt be man,1ineI at all times. would enable great metropolitan journal to issue with a third Of its usual complement of men
 Indugiug for a moment in the domain Of prodic-I tions Go what, will happen w3cn the war is over. theme now so popular with publ,csts. may it now be assumed that when the soldiers return from the trenches they and those to whom they return will crave for times bit easier? There are many who believe there will be scarcity of labor in Eur ope. as there was when the plague swept over the lands in ancient days. It seems to be conceded ' also that the partial democratization that has been effected by ,ho trials of a common calamity ! will not be surrendered by those who lay aside the implements of destruction for the implements of con- slrucuon, but that those themselves. conscious as never before of their power, will demand that there are things in life beyond maximum production for minimum pay. Certain it is that those who are to be continued 8, highest speed will have something say abou. the speeding process and that they may well rebel against continuation of exertion stress iS peace times
 Certainly ths nation and all its industries should prepare in every possible way for every contingency, and possible efficiency consistent with the welfare of the workers themselves should be sghteI or ne. glected. but in the meantime 1t may be we'll not to be s,ampeded by these vague, if somewhat Omin ous predictions. now so freely and loosely made
 At all events it way be well to remember that the nation lived when Europe was at peace and may a not also live and prosper when the blessings of peace again are shared by the unhappy lands now velterlng in blood?