The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-09-14

supreme test OF It's capacity 10 Iul~
Idll. Instead of an army Of 100000
men and a war limited to the west
ern front, approximately 100000
men are to be equipped, and Rus
| sian battle ground is before us. The
possible Russian campaign points to
an increasing demand upon north
western manufacturers to supply
such products for transportation to
| Siberia and other war fronts as our
resources and shipping connections
make possible.
The efficiency OF democracy is at
| stake, and the issue is clearly with
| the manufacturers Of America as
whole. Profiting by the efncienC
manner In which Germany Kept It's
| commercial life and its army sup
plies at the same time, even after
| her commerce was lost American IN"
dustry must realize, with England
that business as usual" cannot eX-
| list. For 1t must be admitted more
unusual bsiness." We are forced by
| the necessities Of the present to
make war our first and only business
rather than side-line. 1t is for this
reason that every branch of industry
| is called TO support the War In
dustries board through its organiza~
| ton represented in this neighbor-
hood.
Manufacturers Get Hearing.
Never was business as a whole
harnessed, or individual enterprises
so completely correlated, as under
the plan of the resources and con-
version division Of the War Indus
tries board, of which this sub-region
Is a part. Acting on the true as
sumption that the facilities of Wash
ington are entirely inadequate to
bring together the possible individ-
ual producer Of war materials and
the proper purchasing agent,
gigantic scheme of tnterlocking
channels has been opened UP, where
by the smallest manufacturer in the
remotest town may find quick ana
sure means Of access to the govern
mental buying authority; the manu-
facturer Of essential products
may be shown where, by slight
notifications Of his past methods.
he may sell and serve the govern
ment with profit; the community,
anxious to hold its labor at home
can find employment for labor on
work in accord with the war pro-
gram.
At the outset Of the war, the ma
tional purchasing authorities nat
uralIy applied to the centers Of in
dustrial activity closest at hand,
where the cream Of the plants best
suited for conversion to war work
were most accessible. AS q result,
since our entrance into the conflict
the east has become loaded with
war production, and now faces an
abnormal labor situation. Therefore
the government must look for addi-
tional production to other plants
not yet converted to these uses, and
govern freight facilities and other
elements of production and distribu
ton accordingly The demand on
northwestern manufacturers to ac-
commodate themselves to this condi-
ton cannot be eVaded. There are
few plants that cannot be utilized
feasibly for some purpose in the ma
tons plan. 1t is no longer neces-
sary for the manufacturer to devise
an article and seek out a market;
the market has arrived, and the
method Of sale been made possible
with the smallest possible expense
Of time and money through the re-
sources and conversion section Of
the War Industries board.
5ids Considered Without Prejudice.
The scope of the nations require
ments for war is varied beyond
description. Articles made Of certain
fixed materials the government must
have, and the design and finish is
we'll laid out. Consideration is given
to every bidder without bias. orders
being placed where production can
be assured in efficient manner and
in sufficient quantity.
To Keep Labor at Home.
The War Industries board aims at
a stabiIlzing of labor; it seeks to
eliminate excessive housing approp-
riations made necessary by moving
the laboring men away from home.
This appeals to the community, and
aside from this, there is the selfish
desire on the part of the region to
get back its part Of the funds sent
out from it through the purchase Of
Liberty bonds, through unusual
taxes, etc. The Ninth Federal Re-
serve district estimates the amount
thus spent by this region at $780,
100000. The plan Of the resources
and conversion section will tend to