The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-16
NO SCHOOL BUILDING,
BARUCH'S DICTUM
Head Of War Industries Board
Sends Formal Refusal to
Mayor Hylan.
CANNOT SPARE MATERIAL
$9,0O0,O00 Programme for
City Must Wait Until Ma
tional Needs Are Met.
Special Despafch to THr stN

WARRINGTON, Sept 15,-Bernard NJ
Baruch. chairman OF the War Industries
Board, declined finally tonight TO grant
the request OF Mayor Hylan Of
New York to release labor and ma.
terial by which New York's Board O.
Education might carry out its building
schedule calling for an expenditure O,
100000 and described by the Mayor
as urgent.
The War Industries Board previouslv
had denied the request of the Board o.
Education. and the Mayors special plea
followed Mr.. Bsruch, in a letter he
sent to Mayor Hylan tonight. told him
that to release the requested material,
ito other ends. no matter how fine those
ends may be In themselves, is at this
period worse than a crime--it IL
blunder that may cost us dear" The
chairman Of the War Industries Board
said that there were no free supplies OF
the materials requested by the Mayor
and that It would be "unthinkable" 10
expect that they be taken from "the very
vitals OF our war making machinery"
HaIts All New Building.
MT. baTuCn e letter leaves inc New
York school building situation exactly
where 1t was before the Mayor inter
vened. The only work that will he ap-
proved by the board will he for the re
pair OF existing buildings or for replace
ment OF buildings that are beyond re-
pair. Mr.. Baruch's letter to the Mayor
| follows:
my DEAR Mr.. MAYOR:
"Out OF New Yorks need for school
buildings. which you have set forth in
your letter to me dated September &
| there flows a condition nationwide. and
which reaches to the very front ot orr
battle line. Perhaps few of us realize
the close relationship between the brick
| that is set in the walls of a building and
| the shot that IL fired at the crumblirg
| structure OF German world domination
Yet the association is direct and init
mate. and It Is our duty to understand
| this fact. and understanding, TO act
upon II.
Because the case OF New York IL
typical OF the whole country. because
the rule in one case must he and &c
| evenly applied to all, 7 am glad that y'n
| brought to my personal attention the
matter in which you are interested, since
II affords an opportunity to make plain
the extraordinary situation We face and
| the need for a whole hearted, uneI-
| cepted cooperation to the end OF winning
| the war.
Calls for Unity of sacriace.
TT is not too much TO say that every
| ununited effort weakens the fighting
efficiency OF ourselves and our aseo
Gates in the war. Every unnecessary
undertaking OF national nature
| doubles the scope OF our activities at the
| front 1t ties UP labor capital. materials
! facilities. transportation and fuel-the
six great elements that form the pa,c
| of our economic structure.
There is, at any given time only
limited amount Of each OF these base,
available. At this moment Of strain. q
| should be concentrated upon those ru-
| terpriees directly connected with g.
| war To divert them to other ends, 10
| matter how fine those ends may be III
themselves, Is at this period worse tina
| crime--it is a blunder that may y5s
| us dear,
| II am a graduate OF New Yorl,'s
| grammar schools and her city colle-,
That fact makes me look with knd,o,
| interest upon your request. but il does
| not and cannot blind me TO the ncce,
! ties OF the case
| II would not have you think. my dcs-
Mr. Mayor. that what J say to you is %
be taken as diedaining the claims OF ou-
| children TO he educated that is fuTthSs'
from my thoughts. What ! do seek -
your agreement that at this grave tine
there should be first in our hearts and
our minds the unity of sacrifice tie
willingness to do without that which
not an unacceptable necessity: to sur
II so be II. deprivation to escape heavier
| privation; TO make need and not deSrr
our law.
| so Supplies Available.
surely under your direction New
York, for the time being, can make one
! building do the work OF two; she ca
| devise eXpedients whereby none o, he'
| Young shall be unschooled and Yet m
obstacle be placed in the way OF the war
programme.
| There IL still one more thought tna' '
| wish to convey to you. and that is Eve
| were the War Industries Board a0'c -
see its national duty as coincidinG WY
| your request. my reply would still. HAY.
! TO be no. for the simple reason that 70
! not possible for me TO release the mae.
rails that you ask for because there a-S
| no free supplies OF these materials %"
less-and this Is unthinkable--you woua
| expect that they he taken from the We
| vitals OF our war making machine"
And this applies with equal force TO ,N'
heavy demand on man power, alr"o DIV
acutely short your proposed enterp''g
| entails.
| "Your sympathy and suppp'' VII hen
| the nation; your failure 10 cooperate y "
| add TO our embarrassment I am uo~
tain that between these two courses 'o'r
choice will offer no difficulty. Il w. be
that which the nation has made o.. 80 .
the war and To win IL quickly