Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-22

" uSSSiip StHS HOSdoAo h>hiSNC-
ments of Frank A. Scott and
then to picture, the man himself
q is the plan of this article.
The generals and the colonies OF the
stah were overloaded. Although the
first shot had not been fired. war with
the Prussians was an actually. Using
Frank Scott's own figure, spoken later.
Uncle Sam. with the greatest prescrip-
ton in history, greatest in bulk and
nicely. was attempting to have it filled
ut little drug store in the suburbs.
What was needed, Frank Scott said, was
the combined product of all the manu-
featuring chemists in the country.
Able men, and patriotic the generals
and the colonies were toiling night and
day for their battles with the enemy.
But the system, their master, q system
almost old in spots as the govern
ment. was also at work night and day
TO minimize their efforts Mars. uglier
than ever and more powerful and bru-
tai, armed with weapons new and ter
rible, the generals and the colonies
knew. would have to be met with huge
armies of men and mountains Of ma
terial-
Where each department in a factory
Is a unit of itself. purchasing and pro-
ducing as though it were a separate
esta blishment. there can neither be
harmony nor efficiency 1t was so. e1-
actly, within the War Department.
Laws and customs had run lines of d.
vision, across which no man or soldier
could pass without challenge. In the
face of war. then. the generals and the
colonels-and also the admirals anu the
captains, for the navy as to its tradi
tons and practices was In no way bet
ter-remaining inside their special du-
ties. denied permission to cooperate.
saw only their own work and, seeing 1t,
went vigorously ahead, regardless of
what might happen elsewhere.
For example. duck, cotton fabric, Is
used on cots for soldiers who are in
health, as well on cots for soldiers
who are i'll. 1t is used also for mill
tary belts. haversacks and so on. Ger
tain army officers purchased duck for
the cots of soldiers who were well !.
cots Of soldiers who We're i'll: still other
officers purchased duck for belts, hav-
ersacks and SO on.
Thus John Smith. manufacturer of
duck. might get letter on Wednes-
day morning from the War Depart
nlent asking for his price on a million
yards 10 be delivered on or before a
day named. At noon John Smith might
ger another letter from the War De-
partment. signed by some other Of
order for million and half yards
Late in the afternoon. perhaps. a third
War Department inquiry as to duck
and It's price. likely as not, would be
received by John Smith. who, marking
up his quotations from mail to mail. as
the demand increased. went home to
dinner well satisfied with the trend OF
the market and the state of things as
whole.
Mr. Baker. Secretary of War, con-
s"ious of a lack Of coordination. per-
ce.ving that officers representing diff
ferent branches of the military service
We're bidding for materials against one
another. and that both the War De-
partment and the Nary Department,
were scrambling in the market for the
same things. sent out call for help.
telegram brought Frank Augustus
Scott to Washington from Cleveland
where he lives and does business.
Young and energetic. Mr.. Scott has
long been engaged in dealing with all
kinds of men. from bankers to day
laborers. He was to remain in Wash
ington three or four days. Once un-
Ger the Stars and Stripes. however. he
remained. He saw the situation after
short investigation-and the way
out. What the government should
have" he told Secretary Baker is a
committee Of military and naval Of
fcers. public officials and business men
to make purchases of war materials
and to distribute the materials where
the need for them is the most urgent
But. civil Washington wanted &c
know. would it be possible for the gen.
erals and the colonies. on the one hand
and the admirals and the captains or
thes other hand. to pool their interests