Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-04-29
Fut Brains of Nation
at Work No,U to Meet
After War Conditions

New York, April 29.-Otto II. Kahn,
Of the banking firm of Kuhn, Loeb IL
Co. here, in a pamphlet issued today on
the necessity for preparing to meet
after the war conditions, writes this:
AT present know of no one gov
ernmentally appointed body here
charged specifically with the task of
studying and advising on Industrial
and economic post-bellum problems.
England, France, Germany and Italy
have such bodies at work. There IS
every expectation that we shall emerge
from the war in a position of COM
manding economic potency and pres
tige. But in order to retain that posi-
ton, and fully to utilize it for our coun-
try's welfare, we must be ready to act
along well-planned lines and with suit
able instruments at our hands. 1t is
none too soon to prepare.
We must all save, rich and poor.
But generel eXhortation to save is
not enough. The people ought to be in
structed in exact detail how and where
and in what way to save. If necessary.
such directions ought to be given the
force Of law. Some savings are more
needed and more effective than others.
Some are wiser than others. Certain
excuses of saving are actually unwise,
some positively harmful
N'Moreover, the national benefit de-
rived from saving is not and can moi
be accomplished entirely by the indi-
vidual. If he saves So the immediate
result is that he can loan that amount
to the government But an equally i'm
portant result is that to the extent Of
$40 he has set labor free from private
purposes to war purposes. I
How to direct and utilize the labo
thus set free by private thrift. is TIN
task-and highly important task-d
the government.
This war is. to very large extei
a test of organizing ability and ind{
trial power. On that field of battle.
the experience and training of business
men entitle their voices to be heard.
They must not be raised, of course. in
carping or partisan criticism. But We
may fulfill useful function by seeking
to ascertain facts, to point out errors
and shortcomings. to suggest remedies
to offer constructive advice.
Equal in Importance to industrial
effort is economic power and endur-
ance. There, again, is great task
calling for business to make it's
thoughts articulate and effective thru
an organized agency. Wherever and
whenever a great upheaval takes place
in the world it brings to the surface
economic error, social falacies, quack
remedies and nostrums, the true char
acter and effect Of which often are not
recognized till they have brought suf-
fering and privations upon the people
and the old lessons have been learned
again in the school Of bitter expert
ence.
THE wastage Of war is enormous,
but most Of the money the government
spends is used at home. and the tempo
rary burden can be borne without
causing too great strain provided we
all bend our backs to it and the load IS
not too unwisely adjusted by our legis-
lators. In many ways we are estab-
fishing national assets Of the greatest
value, we are creating for ourselves
world-aspects and world position
such as we never had before, we have
become creditor nation, we are scrap
ping and overhauing and inventing
and the nation is learning the lesson of
CO. operation, and the no less valuable
and needed lesson Of economizing.
Unless we make grave mistakes of
omission or commission, we have a
right CATER the temporary disturbance
probably incidental to readjustment
from war to peace basis) to looy
for period of great prosperity AID
suspicious achievement after the var
and believe we shall all be surpr .sed
to see with what ease the nation will
be able to carry the burdens which we
shall have inherited from our war ex-
penditures-always provided that our
house is ordered with reasonable wis
dom by those in authority.
I am entirely convinced of our abi!-
ity to meet the situation successfully
II we mobilize the brain power of the
nation. and if due weight is accorded
to the experience and matured judy
ment Of the spokesman Of business,
and if, whilst recognizing and respect
ing the demands of progress and socia!
Justice, we do not venture too far into
uncharted waters