The Washington herald., 1918-01-17

- western naC0GOnl MANUFACTURER
has been told that he must reduce
his production by forty per cent for
the year 1918.
Several dry goods manufacturers,
marketing something that adds to
woman's beauty scheme, but not nee
essary TO her well-being, are told
to eliminate the goods until further
notice.
And numerous other businesses are
told that they must reduce, or en-
tirely retire from the market. vari-
Gus products which they have been
selling.
A truly tremendous governmental
power that is given to the nation.
but withal power that is needed
at this time.
If it is enforced in the spirit of
patriotism much good can be done.
II il is not it will work to the event
ual detriment of the country-and
Congressional members have ponder
ed it long-and may bring about re-
action which will replace the present
strictness with an era of the utmost
liberality.
Looking at this power from rath-
er disinterested but a carefully an
alytical standpoint. there is seen an
underlying principle which. We must
admit. makes il more than attractive.
This power is founded on the be-
lief that the welfare of a country
is dominant over the interests of any
individual or set of individuals, or
even an entire State or several States.
The individual and the community
and the county and the State can
surrogate their interests to the in
terests of the nation. Neither in
dustry nor any form OF human ac-
tivity can stand in the way when
the nation calls. This is a principle
which has been grossly lost sight of
in this country for the past many
years. Its restoration is indicative
of its much more potent reign in this
country during the years to come. Il
it withstands a successful administra-
ton during the next few months the
nation will be stronger for it. and
the business interests will recover
their strength and gain because of it..
The great gain that will come.
however. will be to the individual.
The tendency of the modern ''at
home campaign during this war is
to do away with the non-essentials
and to build securely upon a foun-
dation of essentials. This is true
in material things in our national
life. and in those tenets which we
have unconsciously or otherwise held
firmly in our minds as characteristic
Of our national life.
Congress didn't realize that this
power would be so extensive when
the law was passed granting it to
the administrative branch. But now
that the power bids fair to bring
on a greater and more unselfish Amer
icanism Congress is quite agreeable
that it shall remain to the end.
The inventor of a truly meritorious
article which the best experts in the
land say is needed in this war and
which, 1t can be unquestionably
shown, will save lives of our fighting
men by making airplanes much more
secure, has had a hard road to travel
Although he started more than nine
weeks ago the article has not been
accepted up to this writing.
The Secretary of War saw 1t and
TeIefTeQ lIlNeulOT u lilC
Of Standards. The bureau gave it
a FIVE weeks test and approved it
highly-said 1t was better, in fact,
than another supposedly similar ar
ticle which doesn't do the business.
But from pillar to post this man
has been driven, from Office to office.
eight different places. and finally back
to Secretary Baker. but without re-
suits.
Several months ago this man was
offered a huge sum fer his inVen-
tion. But he wouldn't take II. He
is a foreigner here whose children
have been born in this land. He
entertains a foolish sentiment, some
way or other. about this land and
proposes that this countryside land
he loves better now than he ever
loved his native country-shall have
the use OF the invention il he has
to give 1t to it. In fact, that Is al
most what he wants to do.
But there is no one to take the
final step-yet every man who has
come in contact with it, including the
experts at the aviation fields, say
it is needed and should he applied
from this moment to the air ma
chimes We are sending across the
water.
The great game of passing the
buck"-the game which has outstrip-
ped baseball. apparently. as the great