Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-08-24
BUILDING INDUSTRY

For This Work-WilI BE Most ES-
sential Busiress Ate. the War at
Horne and Abroad.
New York, Aug. 2t.-Mr. Bryan's
million men-and more-have sprung
to arms, if not overnight, IN an al
most incredibly short time. This cou:?-
try has truly made its business, war.
Some industries have made war their
business. They are the ones which!
have prospcrcd. On the other hare,
the average pre-war business organi-
zation has found the going difficult.
No one expects the affairs of this
country, or of general business, to 10
rormal in these times. Things either
are abnormal or suhnormal. There is
great business prosperity or great
busines depression. 1t is reasonable
that there should be curtallment IN
practically every line of industry. But
how far can curtailment go before
there is nothing left to curtail, or b.
fore there is not enough business 10
let us know that there is such thing
rs business?
Shortly after this country entered
the war. President Wilson cautioned
tie Strictcst economy. This caution
was taken so Literally. and forecast
such serious consequences to all bus!-
ness. that member Of the Council o.
National Defense explained in an in
tcrview. given the widest circulation.
that the President had not meant that
in practiring economy we should Kill
business. II was declared that "wastn
: bad. hut an indsc9Iminatng econo-
my is worse. Unemployment and
closed factorcs brought about through
fitful ad ill-advised campaigns for pub
lie and private economy, will prove q
ycritabIc foundation &C quicksand for
the serious work we have on hand.
We need prosperity in war time ever.
more than when we are at peace. Busi-
ness dcpressions always are bad. h"t
loudly 50 when we have fight on ou'
hands. We need moro business, nor
oSs. There is real danger in hysteria.
IrGiscriminate economy would be ruIr-
ms. Now is the time to open thu
throttle"
Those statements ere rs true now
and even more in point than when
hcv were issued. RusineSs must. hn
,lfnwcd To live. It-is necessary that
all businesses essential 70 the norman
activities Of the country continue on
, sound basis. It's the regular, nor
NAL business industries that must
really bear the burden Of taNatior.
md contribute most !ar%cEyto the sup
port Of the war, by buying Liberty
3o,ids. aiding the Bed Cross. \. M. {.
/. Knights of Columbus, and otf1e"
VAR activities. Taxes, on profits made
~ war Industries viii provide enorn'-
rrs sums now, but neither the war nor
war profits will last forever. 50 t IS
.hn normal business. the average IN
Iividual who pays The taxes and a"-
mly supports the Government.
But how long Will normal business
10 able to pay a tax on.its profits?
Unless wc are careful there will h"
:. business in certain lines. and win
m business there will be no profits,
and with no profits, no tax returns,
Take the building business. In any
| ort of depression. such AS hnanci2i
| ,trinyency or panic. the first business
10 suffer is that of i'lilding. 1t is tn
last to recover. lust now the huliG-
ing business is suffering its wcrss
slnmp. Private building is nil. 1t is
not because there is no private DuiiH-
ing work to he done; not because pr
vate building work is unnecessary J
!: because certain unofficial individuals
hcran advising that building nc
stopped. They prevented hanks from
ruilding when the banks were IN par
ticular need Of additional facilities
for carving on their work. They wee
the cause of stopping nearly all coh-
struction work They spread repor+
and it was pretty generally nelieV'i
that the Government desired tna'
10 private building work be done.
Then. only short while ago. sec
rotary NcAdoo stated very empna'-
icallv that the Treasury Department.
hsd never even suggested that build
ing actually needed for the health ana'
rrotcct,on of the civil population 0: