The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-04-20
No Reason Exists for Closed
Factories and Unemploy-
ment Conditions.
INCREASE BUSINESS.
DO NOT DECREASE IT
State Activities, Road Build
ing, Public Works Must
BE Continued.

hystcrical and ill-advised economy
and interference with normal pursuits
of the people is given by Howard r.
Noifin, OF the advisory commission of
the Council of National Defense, in Il
statement made public tonight as the
ilrst enterprise of the governments
new committee on public information
Just returned from trip through
several middle western states. Mr.. Cof-
nm deplores the fact that conditions of
unemployment and closed factories
should arise rs u result of indiscrimi-
nate efforts, public and private, toward
wartime economics.
After nearly three years of refusal
10 take the European war and its les
son seriously" Mr.. Coffin SAYS. 1--WE
suddenly launch forth in most fever
lsh activity to save the country over
night. Patriotic organizations. almost
without number are milling around
noisily and while intentions are good,
the results are often far from practical.
HystericaI Action.
slblc shortage of foodstuffs. We have
hysterical demands for economy in
every line Of human endcayor. Waste
is bad, but undiscriminatng economy
is worse.
Some states and municipalities are
stopping road building and other pub
lie work General business is being
slowed down because of the emotional
response of the trading public to those
misguided campaigns for economy
savings are being withdrawn from the
banks; reports show that some people
have begun to hoard food supplies and
thousands of workers are being thrown
ncedlcssly out of employment. All this
is wrong.
"uncmploymcnt and closed factories
brought about through fitful and i'll
advised campaigns for public and
private economy, will prove u veritable
foundation of quicksand for the ser
ious work we have at hand.
Produce More Goods.
1T is true that the president has said
that this is u time to correct our habits
Of Wastcfulness. Certainly, but the key
note of his message to the people wae
this paragraphs
1t is evident to every thinking man
that our industries, on the farm, in tn,
shipyards, in the mines in the fac
tories, must be made more prolific and
more efficient
I'VE need prosperity in war time
more than when we are at peace. The
declaration of war can have no rcA
evil effect on business. What bad cf-
fccts are apparent are purely psychic
logical and largely of our own foolisl
| making. For onr markets are the same
in April that they were in March. W,
need more business, not less. There is
| real danger in hystcria Indiscriminat,
economy will be ruinous. Now is The
time to open the .nrottle.,
Besides Munitions
Every day the advisory commission
| of the National Council of Defense re.
cicves offers of service from business
immediate information as to how this
service may best be rendered. Now and
then great dissatisfaction with tn,
governmental departments is expressed
because instant advantage Is not takcr
of such offers. Many firms are hest
tating to close ordinary business con
| tracts because Of a desire to hold ca.
| pacity open to meet possible early
government need.
This spirit and willingness to NEE
! sacrifice and even financial loss in tn,
government service is most encourag.
ing attribute to American patriotism
| But we must remember there is mucl
to consider besides munitions. troop,
and battleships.
| Few of us can serve in any hcroi,
role or even in tn" supply Of munitions
to the military arms Of the service.
| I'VE already have Il trcmcndU,.
| equipment for munitions making bull
| up on foreign orders and now immc
| dintcly available through expiration o
| those orders. Except in limited case
there Is little need for the development
| OF new sources Of supply. The dictate
of common business sense requires tn
| utilization, as far as possible, Of cx
listing machinery.
| 1T seems to me, therefore. that
plain statement of general policy
most desirable.
Three Great Tasks.
Upon the industrial side Of the wa
three great tasks confront us.
First and foremost, we must "a
ciliate the flow of raw materials an
finished products to our allies ar