The Washington herald., 1917-07-22
(By the International News Service,

New York, July 21.-This war may
not be a trade struggle, but on the
shoulders of business men depends to
great extent the successful prose-
cution of it.
Especially is this true in Great Brit
ain and the United States. In Ger
many before the war the corporate
interests, such as the steamship lines,
banks and factories, were closely
linked with the government in an ef-
ficient race for world leadership. The
government aided them; quite natur-
ally they aided the government when
war broke out.
With Great Britain and the United
States the situation is somewhat diff
ferent. There was cooperation be-
tween the government and big busi-
ness. but not SO much the intimate
Teutonic sort. But the situation is
now changed, and instead OF war be-
ing pushed to a finish one way or the
other by the government with little
aid outside of floating bond issues,
the business men have taken over de-
tails lack of action on which might
be fatal
Great Britain has several hundred
Of the most efficient and powerful
business men in the country perform
ing innumerable tasks to conduct the
war on strictly business basis. The
number in this country is larger, with
the list growing daily.
The services OF more Of these men,
whether they be English or American,
could be purchased. Their earning
capacity is virtually unlimited. Yet
all Of them have given without re-
serve or qualification their time and
energy to aiding their country. 1t is
not an alarmist view to think what
would nave happened to the cause of
the allies had not the business men
stepped in and did what they have
done and are doing.
Seeking Results.
Not, of course, that the public
knows just what either the British
Board or the National Advisory Com
mission of the National Defense Coun-
Gil in this country has done They
seek results. not publicity. and for
this reason it Is possible only to have
a faint idea of their achievements. II
requires a strong imagination to visu-
alize just what they have done, but
their general results of cutting Gov
ernmental red tape, purchasing sup
plies quickly and economically and
analyzing the resources OF the nation
with the view to utilizing every bit Of
power are almost sufficient in them
selves.
Over in England public recognition
was given the business man by Bonar
Law. member of the War Council, in
the House of Commons. The Ministry
of Munitions" he said, '1s body Of
business men more competent, l be-
lieve, than that to be found in any
Industrial undertaking in the coun-
try
The clothing department of the
British War Office has more than a
hundred men attached to it alone
men who were leaders in their par
ticular field before the outbreak of
hostilities three years ago. Bonar
Law at the time of his address in
Parliament stated that they could not
be bought by any salary the House
of Commons could possibly give them.
These men who have volunteered
their services to the British Govern
ment and who are virtually working
their heads off for it are the very men
who are directly responsible for
Britains commercial supremacy.
Engineers in Service.
They are the ones who bridged and
bored and tunnelled the earth from
China to Peru; who created great
railway systems, who control great
combines, and who have amazed men
accustomed to government routine by
the way in which they have ousted
the old, slow, easy-goinR methods.
Of these aSnaPiQ l1V
desirous of being known; they did not
care to emblazon their names before
the public. Perhaps but few of the
British, aside from those In shipping
circles, know Andrew Weir, who is
now surveyor-general of supply at
the British war office. Yet he was
one OF the foremost shipbuilders on
the Clyde before the war and is now
saving the British nation 5000, 900 a
week by efficient methodist
The new financial secretary TO the
chancellor of the exchequer is Sir
Samuel Hardman Lever. He was
never a member of the House Of Par
Lament and for this reason there were
many growls when he was named for
this position. He. too, has saved the
government millions of dollars. Ship
ping is controlled by Sir Joseph Mac
lay, a formidable business man on the
Clyde. who was called into service
and who has since made remarkable
headway with a difficult proposition.
Sir Eric Geddes made possible the
transporting of troops from one sec
tor of the Western front to another.
yet politics has always been distaste-
full to him and he hitherto confined
himself strictly to the big job of run
ming the Northeastern Railway
Cowdray In War.
A mighty job faces Lord Cowdray,
head Of the air board. and has faced
him since he took Office. He is bet
ter known under the name of Pearson,
being the head of the oil firm of that
name that successfully battled with
the Standard OIL Company. Lord Cow
dray himself personally directed many