Arizona republican., 1917-09-23

l States to recognize the state of war l already existing between the two na- l tions there were certain very whole some and tangible effects upon the re- 1 lations between government and busi- ness interests in general. Germany | regarded as an asset the general un- preparedness in this country, due to 1 the precedentS established here by nearly 100 years of international peace 1 and our traditional belief in the isola- l ton of the United States, as we'll as 1 our policy of remaining a1oof from European entanglements She thought 1 that, by the application of absolute i ruthlessness to her conduct of the war, 1 she would win victory before the | United States could become a factor. As in the cases of all the other Allies, however, she failed to understand the | temper of the people, and overlooked entirely the amazing genius of Amer ican business men for organization. After nearly two years and a half of inactivity, so far as preparing the na- tion was concerned, the president, at a stroke, summoned to his aid and that | of his cabinet, the leading business men of the country through the crea- ton of the Council of National De- fense As this is one of the most re- l markable and important developments | in the present situation, it will pay us to analyze it briefly The purpose of the council was to mobilize the nations resources. MT. Geo. P. West in The Public, says:
 War exigencies require prompt and drastic action with respect to pro- duction and distribution of food, coal, and necessities of every sort, involv ing an improvised standardization of transportation and other vital basic in dustries hitherto left to private con- trol In its emergency the federal government. through the presidents cabinet organized as a council of na- tional defense, has turned to our eff ficient business executives. Today Washington office buildings are fill ing up with new committees organized under the advisory board of the coun- cil of national defense The functions Mind powers of these committees are expanding so rapidly that no one can say how far the process has gOno Overworked cabinet officers can only ] give carte blanch to these industrial captains suddenly called to the nation s council table, where they work with out salary and under an authority i'm piled by the national need, undefined by statute.
 Already the advisory board has committees on transportation, food, i coal production, health, munitions, supplies, and labor The number and the power of these committees is stead fly growing, and the advisory in the title of the board which their chair men constitute, has become pleasant euphemism.
 ,,1 ican business in our emergency. and today government processes not sec ond in importance to the direction of the army and navy are coming rapid ly under the autocratic and efficient administrative direction of men who would have scorned any governmental berth as recently as three months ago
 American business is in the sa" dle at Washington. In no other field could the government find expert knowledge and executive efficiency.
 The economic problem we face ir it's simplest terms, is this:
 ''1 What supplies will we and oul Allies require to defeat the centra I powers?
 70 How can these requirements bc met?
 8. What can be done to keep busi- '"ss conditions as nearly noi
 possible while we are meeting these requirements?
 With a view to solving this prob lem quickly and efficiently, the grea corporations of the country are work. ing in close contact with the official. of our government, and both interest, are anxious to see that legitimate busi ness is not hampered. A high officia of the navy told me in Washington re gently there never had been a tim, when the big business of the cOuntr. had been so unselfish and patriotic il it's efforts to be of service and I knov this to be the case in the relations be tween the army and it's principa sources of supply.
 Having made this brief survey o the effect upon the relations between business and government. let us SC how the war will affect the demand fo motor trucks. What will be the gov ernment requirements, including thos of our allies? Since the present de mands of England, France and Russi have been noticeably reduced by tn comparative inactivity of trench war fare, and they have standing order with two or three American truck man ufacturers who have been making reg ular shipments abroad, almost sine the outbreak of the war. it is tn present intention of the government t allow these sources of supply for ou Allies to remain undisturbed. Tn sending of an American expeditionar force to Europe however, injects a entirely new factor into the industry with the exception of the limited ex perience we had with trucks in Mex ico. It seems to be the present in tention of the administration to sen an initial force of at least $50. 900 me to the front as soon as they can | trained and equipped. These trooI will be transported, provisioned an cared for absolutely independent of ou Allies, and perhaps half of the 75,0G motor trucks bids for which we1 opened in Chicago on June 10th las will be purchased as soon as they ca be obtained. to meet these immediat needs. Although the specification adopted by the motor transport div sion of our quartermaster's departmer call for trucks which differ in certai respects from those made for ordir ary commercial requirements, it is nc expected that the new governmer standard machines can be built large quantities immediately. It
 thought, however that our truck should be standardized and their part made inter- -changeable so far as poss ble, for reasons of efficiency and ecor omy Trucks built to these .specifica