Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-03-20

largest relall
English business has been entirely
readjusted to a war oasis. England
tried to muddlc thru in the first year
Of war on business as usual pro-
gram. but we soon found that such a
blind policy would not win the war.
The governments demands on our in
dustrial resources were so enormous
that we could not meet them and at
the same time continue TO produce all
have before the war.
The business of the English people
is now the business OF war. All the
produr- ve energies Of the nation are
d!reci frst, to supplying the war
needs ne government; second, the
neces IS of the people; third, the
necessities of the export trade.
Every one II England is at work
including many men and wo~ who
never worked before. To in
England .oday Tn.
Every one is We wages are the
highest ever recC. the whole scale
of living has been raised; domestic
trade is good. despite nationwide
economy and saving. England Is do
ing her big JOB cheerfully, despite the
terrific cost Of the war IN blood and
treasure, and the reason for this,
believe, is that everybody rich and
poor. is working for the nation with
determination to see it thru.
War is no. a money-making bust
ness and money win not win this great
struggle between democracy and
autocracy. English merchants and
manufacturers now see that 1t isn't
merely money that a nation at war
needs. but the product of human labor.
While we pay war taxes in money and
pay for government ponds in money,
what is really happening is that the
government Is taking large share OF
our Industrial producdon-our labor
and material-and consuming 1t in
warfare.
Waste Is Treason.
No business man in England today
advocates. literal Individual spending
because it is now realized that such
spending for personal needs means one
OF two things-either an exhaustion OF
the necessities Of life at a time OF
threatened famine. or else the SELFISH
employment Of labor IN luxury pro-
duction when 1t ought to be devoted
20 necessity production.
Spending for ones self in such
time of national need is now recog-
nized as a distinctly unsocial act, and
reasonable If carried to excess. What
difference is there between having car
goes Of needed materials sunk by sub
marines or having them consumed az
home for mere personal qualification!
1t took us some time to see the truth
OF this, but every manufacturer and
merchant in England today knows the
gospel of goods and services and
the curtailment Of domestic spending
is everywhere. advocaed.
Every thinking Eng1ishman. be-
fore spending for himself or his
family, stops to consider, not whether
he can afford it, but whether the ma
ton can afford to have him spend.
Economy is teing constantly urged by
the newspapers, even tho for the time
1t means less advertising revenue. But
they realize. as do the merchants that
the war can not be prov.sioned, NUM-
toned, or financed from personal prof.
its in business not essential to the
war
Luxuries, Cut Out.
Luxury business has ceased in Eng
land. The women no longer buy eiab-
crate gowns. There.hasn't been big
social function in London since the
Germans invaded Belgium, Motor rid
ing for pleasure was 1ons ago aban-
doned because the gasolene is needed
in Flanders and the cnauffeurs are
wanted at the front or IN the factories
For nearly two years not a single
new automobile has been made in
England, excepting for war work. We
do not consume our labor and mater
ials in new. private building-no one
can eXpend as much as $1,000 on q
building without government sanction.
we make our clothes last longer be-
cause we know the boys in the
trenches need the wool for their backs.
Wool is scarce; it would be criminal
to waste it for personal qualification.
For the same reason we arc not max
ing any new carpets. There is more
serious work for the -spinners and
weayers