South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-11-15
BY 4. X. ERSKINE-
President Studebaker CORPORATION.

The happiness and welfare of our
people are dependent upon the
prosperity Of our country. and
therefore all decisions during the
transition period and plans for re-
construction Of our social Ike and
emOnOmic activities should be based
on the fundamental principle Of in
creasing the prosperity Of the cOun-
try No people can be happy
unless they have the comforts
afforded by prosperity and no
country can be prosperous un-
less its people are happy People
work best when they are contented,
and therefore, their rights. their
needs and their opportunities should
he provided and maintained. not
only in the transition period
through which we are about to pass
but afterwards. and thereby will be
assured continued prosperity.
a few decades ago the United
States was primary an agricultural
country. but In recent years il has
Fcen the greatest industrial country
Of all the ages. and il is therefore
vital TO the welfare OF our people
that these industries should he kept
i'm a position where they can con-
tinue employment with as little in
terruption as possible The task OF
reorganizing these industries to a
peace basis is certainly as difficult
as was the task Of converting them
from a peace 70 a war basis. and
vet Il is undoubted that our indus
trial leaders will prove equal 10 this
task and that In the ensuing year
normal conditions will be established
end permanently restored. Not only
Will they he able 10 take care OF
their own present employees but will
he able TO perform their duty and
respOnsi bility to the men I'm the war
service. abroad and at home. when
they return 10 civil life and need en-
ployment and opportunities In
this respect our industries and en-
ployers generally should make Il
their business to be ready 10 re-
ceive these men when they return
and give them preferential consid-
Grafton in employment. The Ameri-
can army and navy have immortal
ized themselves I'm this war, and the
men ~ no comprise them are de-
serving OF the greatest consideration
and best possible treatment the
country affords
More Progress In Store.
4 great cata clysm has occurred
i'm Europe in which millions Of men
and billions Of property have been
destroyed The purchasing power
OF the people OF Europe has un-
doubtcdly been seriously curtailed
Heavy debts have been contracted
l,y the nations. bringing burdens OF
taxation and serious problems for
the hest brains Of the world 10
solve. which viii take time. but
which no doubt viii ultimately be
solved I'm the best interests OF the
people The day OF autocratic ruI-
e-s is over forever after centuries
of arrogant and brutal domination
over the people by these hold ana
uusCrupulous usurpers ~ power and
rights OF the people. The people Of
the world now have the greatest Op-
uortunity OF an time 20 organize
their governments. their social life
md their economic activities upon
an intelligent. just and enduring
uaSis The United states is already
r1r advanced in this. and vet further
development and progress are GER
tainIv iu store for us i'm the recon
~truction DAYS before MS
Where To- Bcgin Cancellation.
our government recognizes its
Hutv 20 prevent wholesale unem-
l,Ioyment Of labor this winter by the
arbitrary cancellation Of war con-
tracts upon which millions Of men
and women arc now employed in our
industries on the other hand. 10 is
faced with the rcsponsihillty OF re-
t~enchmeut and reduction OF eX-
renSes and FAX burdens. which can
only 30 accomplished by gradually
-toppiuc the manufacture of war
supplies that are no longer needed.
Practically an OF the manufacturing
institutions OF the country are en-
.-aeed I'm the manufacture or mill
t4-v supplies and especially I'm the
case cf iron and steel. are without
raw materials suitable for use in
-0D,D7erc{aI work These manu-
Facturers must obtain iron and steel
before they can transfer their en-
rr0vcs from war 10 commercial
work. and iu many cases must re-
arrange their Iayouts OF machinery
TOOL and plant equipment for COM
-rercial operations Therefore II is
obvious that the cancellations of war
contracts at the sources of raw ma
terlaI- namely. az the iron and steel
mills would work The least hard