Evening star., 1917-12-02
NO DRASTIC ACTION
TO CHECK INDUSTRY
Walter S. Clifford Assures
Manufacturers as to Nom
Essentials Ruling.
FOR SLOW CURTAILMENT


Business, commerce and industry in
general today are working hand in hand
with the government for national war
time efficiency as they never have before
in the history of this country.
This is the inevitable conclusion from
survey Of developments in Washington
the past week. The steps toward this
end have been so rapid that they seem
not yet to be generally comprehended.
There are two sides to this co-opera-
ton. That of business itself is pretty
generally known; it was the subject of
Enthusiastic comment by Lord North
cliffe upon his return to Great Britain.
That of the government. because of Its
extent and ramiications into so many
departments, bureaus and newly created
commissions. is not so generally ap-
lpreciated
Evidence of lack of information on this
latter point is shown by the hundreds of
letters which come into Washington.
most Of them from heads of industries
which might not seem essential to the
conduct of war.
| Reinsurance to these manufacturers
came yesterday from Walter S. Clifford,
director Of the Council of National De-
fense, in an informal statement through
newspaper men, in which he said that
most of the fears were unnecessary. that
| severe and drastic action In the case OF
| the so-called non-eSsentia1 industries is
not to be taken, and that even when
their curtailment is contemplated 1t will
be brought about through gradual evo-
llution, and not through elimination in a
manner which would hurt either en-
ployer or employe.
Will Curtail Production.
| This does not mean that the govern
ment is encouraging the manufacture
and distribution Of luxuries in war time,
lhe explained. Gradually the operation of
various forces will curtail such produc-
ton. The public itself, after buying lib
erty bonds, subscribing to war funds and
paying war taxes, naturally will cut
Meanwhile the supply of coal. the allot-
ment Of transportation facilities and the
lreadjustment of labor will be diverted
gradually to those fields where each can
be most effective for war purposes.
High government officials point out that
/ industry, in its relation to the war. has
entered a third stage, where sane and
reasonable measures prevail First there
was the cry of business men. fearful Of
wars effect upon their pursuits, Of ''busi-
| ness as usual" That era soon passed.
Men like Frank vanderlip were most out
spoken in their criticism Of the fallacy Of
as before in the midst Of emergency de-
mands for wartime mobilization.
| The reaction brought a brief period
when it seemed as if industry was to be
i rA1 Ill 80 v,1- a.,
every effort turned to the production of
! only food, clothing, munitions and a
| few other necessaries. That period was
short lived. Now the government is
prisingly SO when it is considered how
many government agencies have to be
dovetailed on program which steels
a safe middle course between business
industry.
Talk of Mobilization.
But there has been so much talk of IN
Of non-essential industry that the PAN
| !cky effect has not disappeared. For ex-
ample, a certain silver manufacturer
hastened to Washington the other day. all
was facing ruination. his employees feared
closing up Of the plant, and his creditors
were becoming uneasy. He went home
Now the government, in theory. has
no power to shut up his business, OF
any business Actually. however, q
number OF government agencies could
have done SO. almost overnight The
fuel administration could deprive him,
Of coal. The railroads war board could
have refused him shipment Of his
products. The Labor Department could
have induced most of his employees to
enter some other line of work He saw
visions of all these things, and more
happening to him.
Some Of the things he found out in
! Washington should allay the fears OF
thousands of other manufacturers
Upon flying his distress signal down al
the Council of National Defense he was
informed that the government would
consider It poor policy to announce an,
list of non-essential industries. Such 3
list Is not contemplated, and probably
never will be issued. Director GifforS
has stated To do SO would mean thai
the credit Of the makers Of the non.
essential commodities would be i'm.
lpaired. banks would call TN loans. th1
owners would face bankruptcy and All
their employ>s would be thrown out o,
He was referred to The co1uunsru4a.
economy board. There It was explainet
to him that although no drastic actor
Is to be taken in the case of silver OF
Jewel makers heads Of these in
dustrfes must expect a curtailment o,
the demand for their product. The,
should face this fact and govern theiI
plans accorolngly.
4 Name to Be Considered.
He was told, furthermore, that eyen
this did not mean ultimate idleness for
his plant II he desired to take steps
to convert a part Of 1t to the output o1
certain articles greatly needed BY the
government Just now. If he did this
he was assured that his name would be
placed before the war industries board
for consideration in tho awarding OF
contracts.
Continuing his inquiries at the d.
partment of Commerce. he learned that
that department is seeking to maintain
as far as possible. its trade relations
with South America. This is being
maintenance Of such relations is es-
sential to their greater developmen,
after the war. A second is that GER
tain South American countries are
sources Of materials which the United
States needs to carry on the war, and
in return this country must supply the
nations in question with the manu-.
featured products they demand.
An example Of this Is contained in q
recent statement Of the United statea
Chamber Of Commerce, which is one
Of tho most effective agencies correlat.
ing the governments needs with the
business mems efforts to serve theil
country. This statement contains thil
paragraph: