The Washington herald., 1918-05-05
BOARD
WIELDS GREAT
POWER IN U. S.
Communicating Of Steel by
Government Beginning
to Control Essentials.

The great power granted to the
War Industries Board, under the
craftsmanship of Bernard N. Baruch.
is just beginning to be shown and
felt. The virtual Communicating Of
the iron and steel industry has for
It's object the absolute control and
distribution Of all war work.
Others Follow.
Iron and steel have been comman-
deered and pass under the control
of the War Industrial Board for the
government.
The looms Of the country and its
wool supply have been commander
ed and pass under the control OF
the Quartermaster Generals depart
ment for the government.
The shelter of troops is chiefly a
matter of location. but involves the
use Of duck and canvas. The manu-
facturers Of cotton goods. used both
for clothing and shelter, have in
vited the government to take over
that industry for the period Of the
war.
Fuel ~ the other big factor in war
industry. This includes coal and pc
troleum. The coal industry and the
oil industry are both likely to come
under government control Just as
soon as the problems involved can be
worked out.
The entire program is fundamentally
simple. 1t is not nearly SO revoIu-
tionary as 1t would appear at first
glance and there is no reason why the
great industries should suffer through
government control for the war
period. This fact Is reflected by the
strength Of the industrials in the
stock market.
The general program can be illus
trated by the Communicating of the
looms for woolen cloth and the wool
industry. The action created scarce
ly a ripple in that industry. The
owners of the mills continue to oper-
ate their plants and the government
directs the work and supplies the raw
material, allowing a fair return to
the owners for the use OF their prop
erty.
supply U. s.
II the government needs cloth the
oAC hCSbCu "
such cloth up to the government
needs. When that quantity has been
manufactured the mill owners are
free to enter upon work for private
contract and the raw material will be
allocated to the different mills ac-
cording to their needs to supply the
home market with cloth for civilians.
The Communicating of the iron and
steel industries will have a more far
reaching effect upon the related in
dustries OF the country. for the prod
ucts Of the iron and steel mills are
in the main raw materials and basic
materials for many industries.
Much Of the war industry. espe cially
that connected with the metal trade,
has been confined to the northeast
ern section of the country. The re-
suit has been the overcrowdins of
communities, poor housing conditions
and the congestion of Transportation
both OF raw materials and finished
products.
These conditions will soon be
changed under the new program.
The lesser essential industries will
be asked to convert their plants
for war industries. II they refuse
they will be denied raw material
and fuel. And then their plants
are liable to be commandeered for
war work. They must either live
as war industries or suspend busi-
ness for the period of the war.
Fuel Question.
Under this program the great
manufacturing centers of the mid
die West and the South, and even
out to the Pacific coast, where fuel
or power is available. will become
centers Of war industries. Housing
facilities already existing will be
utilized; transportation by the
Great Lakes. by the Gulf, by the
South Atlantic ports, and by inland
waterways, will be utilized and
congestion avoided. and the wider
ed to have a general stimulating
effect upon the country and especi-
ally upon those communities which
have thrived by the less essential
industries. and have become de-
pressed through their curtailment
in war times
Fuel is the next big question that
will come before the War Industries
Board, and especially petroleum and
its fuel products. The question will
be that of absolute government con-
troll of production and distribution.
The Standard Oil and other big cor
porations have not, up to this time,
invited the government to take them
over.
After that will come the question
Of food and the great packing houses.