Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-06-30
How Far win Il Set Us Back?
Washington Times.

"NShiAStOh
The most important question of
the war Is Of how far every country
engaged in II will be 'set back" by
the loss OF life. Statistical totals of
millions killed can give no idea Of
this. The loss of souls and minds to
the future of the earth--as far as we
know, forever. The loss of only
three such men as Newton, Franklin,
and Iceberg killed In battle at be-
tween twenty and thirty years OF
age, would have been irreparable.
What party. what administration.
what dynasty then on earth would
have been worth 1t. When men are
being spent" by the million, the
use of future life" becomes logi-
cal. that those who are responsible
may have opportunity, full and as
sured. to realize to the utmost the
meaning of their responsibility. But
II this loss is incalcuable. there
comes next to 1t the question of the
greatest loss to It's industrial civili-
zation any country can sustain. This
is the loss of peaceful industries
"nonessential" for war. These be-
long to its real business, its creative
ness. its power to make sure better
future. Industries Essential for
and nothing can make them so. As
they belong only TO destructiveness,
they must cease with 1t, and what
ever success attends them belongs
to its best only to supreme misfor-
tune.
This issue was sharply made be-
fore the ways and means committee
of the house yesterday byf G.. w
n 81 en- a =
sentially peaceful that 1t is mani
festly a mon essential OF war. He
spoke for the manufacturers OF
pianos and other musical instru-
ments, asking only that they might
| be permitted to get through the wal
with skeleton of their organiza
| tiOn left, so that when permitted tc
proceed without discrimination as
mon essential they might re-estab-
| lish themselves fully in the United
States and compete abroad for tn,
! export trade Germany, which for
merly did 80 per cent of all such eX'
port business, has now lost
While war had resulted in some
| manufacturers beginning to make
| wind instruments never made in this
| country before, Mr.. Pound said i
! had deeply affected the piano trade
which marketed largely on credit
| To keep up their activities. piano
| manufacturers had wished TO under
| take aeroplane making. They be
lieved that the skill in the use o.
fine woods apd light metals neces
| sary for success in piano making
would enable them to begin turning
| out aeroplanes at once, in any quan
titles demanded. but as Official opin
ion was to the contrary, and the,
had been ruled out of activity es
sential for9war, he could make NJ
| plea for them as essential ex
| cept that they were not competing
hwith war industries. They had ad
! justed their business to the war ia!
already laid with view to outliv
ing the war, and he asked only. from
! the committee that, as far as condi
| tons permit. success in this purpos
might be left possible for them.
The plea, not that of an "econom
list" or "publicist." but of a business
man, asking for opportunity to sur
vlve until the restoration of civiliza
ton makes him once more essential
seemed to make a deep impression
But perhaps if we were at liberty t,
use such faculties OF. reason as w
call common senseGs the idea o
pushing creative business off its bas
as mon essential for war might b.
unthinkable.
When he came near the end OF hi
plea for West Virginia oil and ga
men. Orlando West of Parkers
burg, w. Va, was asked by Con
gresham Moore of Pennsylvania
he would object to any increase o
taxation that could be "passed on
TO the consumer. Certainly not,
said Mr.. West, showing that as al
economist he had grasped the fun
damental principle of solemn prid
in paying war taxation-which is Z
win the war at any cost'-that cal
be passed down the line" In con
clusion for the day, George Nc
Aneny and delegation representin
newspaper publishers, appeared an,
made their plea for q years post
ponement of the increased posta
rate. IL they have a hope left.
must lie in the ways and means com
mittee, with Mr.. Kitchin in the chair
Mr.. McAneny argued forcibly, an
MIR. Kitchin listened attentively
That is all there Ia TO saw