New-York tribune., 1918-02-02
Merchants Urge
War Cabinet and
Munition Director
New York Association
Adopts Resolutions for
Unified Military Effort

The Merchants Association made
public yesterday resolutions it adopted
on last Saturday urging the appoint
ment of a war cabinet and director
OF munitions. The war cabinet or
board of war control, as the association
terms it) should consist, it is asserted
'of men Of preeminent ability unbur-
dened by departmental routine" Its
powers and responsibilities should be
large and, subject to its supervision.
the director of munitions should have
sole control of providing all munitions
and supplies"
. Copies of the resolutions were sent
to all members of Congress, and all
business organizations in the country
have been asked to join in campaign
for the creation of the new Offices.
The statement explanatory of the res
olution follows, in part:
"At the present time very large
part of the energies of our govern
ment are applied to vast business un-
dertaking-the preparation for war.
Need Common Programme
"Ths work devolvcs upon the execu-
tive branch of the government, with
the President at its head 1t is divided
among several departments (cach hav-
ing number f coordinate bureaus)
and number of more or less indie
pendent commissions, boards and com
mlttees. Some of these divisions op-
crate under powers delegated to them
by the Presi dent; others under specific
laws, but all of them operate without
common programme, and in thu main
independently of each other. Although
all are legally subordinate to the Presi-
dent, nevertheless they arc for all
practical business purposes not now
under any effective coordinating con-
troll.
There is imperative need for con-
trolling head, directly under the Prcsi-
dent, to decide upon policies subject to
the iresldents approval; to prepare q
general programme; to define the part
taken III such pros canine by every
subordinate department, board or di-
VISION; TO supervise, control and CO.
ordinate all their operations. and in
general to perform the functions of a
general manager in a great business
corporation. The President has an
infln'ty of matters of the most funda-
mental Importance constantly pressing
upon him, and the demands upon him
are SO great as to make it physical
lmpossibility for him to acquire the
knowledge Of detail and to exercise the
supervision without which the affairs
ot the departments cannot be properly
controlled and coordinated.
Energies Are Dissipated
The need of a coordinating power
cannot be disputed by any one CONNIE
tent to judge thereof. The War De-
partment, the Navy Department, the
shipping. Board, the Emergency Fleet
Corporation and other government
agencies are now competing with each
other IN the matter of munitions and
suppiics IN such manner that none of
them can command all the facilities
necessary to carry out parts of essen
'ial programmes upon which the conduct
OF the war is DEPENDENT Under thc
present lack of policy factories which
might have been employed upon essen.
tlals have been employed upon the
production of munitions and supplies
which cannot possibly be used Tor a
year to come; whereas their activities
have been urgently needed in the pro-
N"\e'NAi Va VtIiCt IudCCTldIS REQUIRED at
once.
"Ihe function Of properly provid.
ing for the fuel supply of the nation
cannS; cannot ;,a, be carried on except by close
coordination with Transportation IA
cilltles. No such coordination has been
effected or could be effected under the
existing lack Of common direction.
huge efforts have peen made to expe-
dlte the building OF ships without adt
quate provision for transportation ia
cllitles and for the provision of fuel.
whereby much of the material witbou.
which shipbuilding cannot proceed has
' noe oeen manufactured, and even
when manufacture cannot be trans.
ported.
The work OF shipbuilding cannot 60
on to the necessary extent withou.
ample labor supply which has been
nrecluded by failure to provide the
necessary housing accommodations for
sorkmen.
These instances could be multiple 4
n