The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-04-28
WANTS LABOR FREE
TO HELP WIN WAR
men Prom Nation, Says
Roger W. RabS0n
I. 5. NEEDS MAN POWER
Loss THAT Is Used for Private Pur-
poses TN" More Can he Devoted to
Great Task, Declares Great StatiSti-
cal Authority
Hy HOGLK ~ n,psn>

By ROGER W. BNBSoN.
! Mr. Eahson is now serving in Wash
tnEton as director Of industrial re-
l7uons, I'm connection with the work
Of tho committee on public iufor-
nation Ills practical studies of
business economics have given him
national reputation in the COM
moroial and financial world
What VIII win the war? Mon. food
and munitions. our experts tell us. l.
That all Men are prime necessity:
food equally So. Ships, airshtps and
guns are essential To get these ne
ceasates and 10 use them effectively.
one thing more than anything else Is
n ecessary--that is, co-operation at
home. This win weld these other os-
sentials together into a striking force
But what is this cooperation at
homer IT is certainly not loud talk
waving Of flags or well wishes what
II means Is a concerted effort hv each
individual to produce moro, thus earn
ing more. to spend less. thus reIpaa-
ing the production Of others, and To
use tho resultant savings to assist the
government in its financial conduct or
the conflict
Our country has tremendous re-
sources. Many have professed to be
lieve that these resources alone will
win the war. Nothing is further from
tho facts. They seem TO think that
through some magic, without any tx
ira eHort on our part. these material
resources can be thrown directly into
the war. 1t is not SO As well OK
pect these resources to beat a foreign
roe as TO expect an undeveloped gold
mine to stop a momentary panic.
We cannot win this war with val
ue7 i will only be won in the form
Of soldiers. food or munitions. We
can only use our fixed forms OF wealth
to enlarge our production We car
not tear up a steel mill. coal mine
or shipbuilfing plant and shoot il
at the Germans.
Must Greatly Increase Saving,
The total wealth that we can spend
on the war is the excess Of rrodur-
ton Of each individual over his con
sumption. What tho possession Of our
farms factories, mines and railroads
means to US is that their superiority
over the same material things Of any
other country is SO great that they
allow us to produce on a larger scale
than elsewhere, Otherwise, they avail
us nothing
II has been estimated that in the
years Just prior to our entering the
war our annual production OF values,
or things, was between thirty and
forty billions, while our consumption
was between twenty-five and thirty
three billions, leaving an annual net
Gain OF from Eve TO seven billions.
This was, Of course, not in money Now
In the next year. on a conservative es-
Innate, we will need at least twelve
billions to DC used solely for the pur-
pose OF carving on the war In other
words. for the time being an amount
equal to approximately twice our pre-,
Ntous excess Of production over cor
sumption under the most favorable cor
dttions must he diverted TO war nur-
poses Furthermore. this must be ac-
complshed with a large portion Of TIE
productive power ot the country re-
moved. 1t is stated that the average
enlisted man consumes more while in
the service than while at hts ordinary
pursuits Thus while working under
difficulties, our excess production must
he greatly widened This ls our prob
lem u is one of the greatest tasks
ever undertaken by any nation It's
only solution consists in an individual
enlarged production, an Individual Do
creased consumption. and an individual
saving power never before realized
How far have we done this How
much real economy is practiccd in
The country today Undoubtedly MANY
have decreased their personal exrer-
dAlnres to a large extent. Others. how
ever. are sim going on in the same Oh
way. We are in many WAYS PASSING
'hrourh an experience today slutEav
to that or Great Britain over the 1ast
thrc" years Economy has NOT been
universal
Manufacturer Looking Ahead.
Many astute manufacturers. instead
OF continuing large expenditures FOR
additions and requirements. whore not
absolutely necessary. have formed what
NAV he termed deferred maintenance
or replacement account This money
is now being invested, 20 be used later
when commodity prices are on A lower.
level and labor is released from abso-
lutely essential government work. In
other words preparation is being made
20 again go forward in the production
OF ordinary fixed forms of wealth.
Mnen smch nrndA.tlon viii not hin1er