The Washington herald., 1918-04-23
U. S. BUSINESS
WILLARD WAR
Holland Believes Captains
Of Industry Invaluable
to Government.


From all parts Of the United
States information has been. for q
few days received which clearly in
dicates that the entire country has
almost suddenly awakened to q
realization Of the fact that this
country Is involved in the worlds
greatest war.
Today the countrywide feeling Is
similar to that which was demon
strated fifty-seven years ago. in the
month Of April when both in the
North and in the South the people
with common purpose. and with the
greatest enthusiasm. gave their
recognition Of the fact that a great
civil war had begun It was as true
after April Is, 1851, of the North
as IL had been a few weeks earlier
of the South
Speeding Up Plans.
One OF the best evidences of this
nationwide feeling is furnished by
the Information which comes from
Washington to New York telling of
the speeding up of all OF the in
dustries. agricultural. financial.
and manufacturing. SO that the i'm
perial resources of the United
states in men and material are now
being rapidly mobflized to the end
that the full strength Of this coun-
try may be within q few months
utilized
Not the least Of the gratifying evil
dQnRaa nR hv WI
patton Is now dominated is the em-
ployment in various ways by the gov
ernment OF men who have achieved
greatly in Industrial. financial and
commercial activities.
The intense interest taken In pres
ent-day conditions was especially
manifested at the notable gathering
which took place In Chicago a few
days ago in which substantially all of
the industries OF the United States
were represented.
The enthusiasm of those who at
tended this convention Is said by
those who shared in the meetings and
who have returned to New York. to
have been inspiring. All Of these
representative Industrial and CONNER
eial leaders were of common purpose
respecting the attitude which should
be taken by American business life
at this time.
And when 1t Is recalled that these
delegates as a whole represented
every State in the Union, and spoke
either publicly or Informally as a
whole for every American Industry.
some idea can be obtained of the far
reaching purpose which now distin-
guishes the American people to make
real war and to make II with every
resource which the United States
possesses.
A Question of Power.
For a few months after we entered
into the war American business men
who had achieved well in their indus
tries were summoned to Washington.
There followed. however, a period of
some discouragement. 1t was learned
that what was sought of these men
was power. but instead they were
called upon as next friends, sd o
speak. TO make suggestions and to
give such advice as was deemed ap-
pronriate.
Very able business men are not
content with service of that kind.
nor do any OF them like to act as
mere errand boys. These men who
were Summoned to Washington are
all distinguished for action. and
very great executive action. Grad
ually II began to be perceived that If
the government was to accomplish
those things which are necessary 1t
must call into its service men of rec
ogniZed ability and place in their
hands power whereby those things
which they deem best to be done acn
be secured.
So now there are in Washington
clothed with power some of the great
est business forces of the United
States who are also men of integrity.
Bernard Baruch, for instance. a mas
ter hand in one department OF Ameri-
can activities. possesses power now to
enforce those things which he deems
wise.
Charles N. Schwab Is to have a su-
preme power as director general Of all
the activities which are needed in or
der to furnish the government with
all the ships that are required. So
also Mr.. Stettinius finds power at his
7 hands through his appointment as
Assistant Secretary Of War. and this
power has the authC rity which Is to
be found in the statIte law and not
merely delegated power.
II may be worth while in referring
to Mr.. Stettinius to report some
which until now there has been no
public record made. The impression
that commonly prevails Is that after
J. P Morgan and Company was Sc
lected by Great Britain as the pur-
chasing agent in the United States for
Great Britain that house borrowed,
80 to speak. from an industrial COR
poration its president. Mr.. Stettinius.
He was to serve a. the representative
Of J. p. Morgan and Company with
full power so far as British purchases
In the United States were concerned
Have Proven wsrth.
This statement. however, Is not en-
tirely wei founded. There was an
Industrial corporation whose output
was q fertilixing material which
found q large market with farmers.
This corporation bought Of the Ten
nessee Copper Company acid in large
amount. this being a by-product of
the copper plant 1t Is one of the ele-
ments made use Of In the preparation
Of fertilizers.
There arose certain financial embar-
rassments- II was deemed essential
that some one of great executive abil-
lity should be called In in order to
smooth. out these difficulties. Choice
was made Of Mr.. Stettinius and so
rapidly and successfully did he work
that the embarrassment was removed
in the course Of q few weeks This
service fixed the attention Of J. p.
Morgan and Company upon Mr.. Stet-
tinius. although he had already estab-
lished a high reputation with tnat
bo,,sa He WAS therefore asked to