American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-05-23
Research Division of the Council of National Defense Offers All Its
Facilities to Aid in Reorganization Of Industry and
Resumption Of Trade-Burden of Reconstruct
ton Must Fall on Industry.

of the services of an organization that
for any months has been establish
ing connections and %perfectlng facili-
ties for the securing of every sort OF
vital information at the earliest possi-
BILE moment Ii Is available. Through
the fact that the council of national
defense itself consists of six secre-
taries of administrative departments
of the government, and by virtue of
the further fact that for more than
two years the council has been en-
gagged In the closest cooperation with
national, state, and local agencies of
private as well as public bodies, the
reconstruction research division has
been from Its inception possessed of
invaluable contacts in all directions.
The material and staff now placed at
the service of business was originally
intended primarily for governmental
use, ard they will, of course, continue
to function as the governmental clear
ing house of reconstruction informn-
tion. The beginning of the councils
researches into reconstruction and re-
adjustment matters in this and for.
eign countries followed upon n memo
randum addressed to the six cabinet
members forming the council by Gros-
venor b. Clurkson. its director, on May
6, 1918. The president of the United
States received n copy of this memo
rnndum, and shortly afterwnrd author
lied the council TO begin its studies.
In the memorandum In question Mr.
Clarkson, after defining the prime
problem as being that of industrial
reconstructlon-in broad terms, The
reconycrsion of industry from the
war basis back to the peace-tlme basis
and the reabsorption into industry OF
the labor employed in the service OF
the United States-sald
at is elementary that after the wal
America will not be the same Amer
lea. Already she has in many direc
tions broken with her past and sh'
is being hourly transformed. The meta
tnorphosis is going on as much II
the thought of the country as 1t /
In the structure the same thing vii
be true in the period after the waI
New conditions and relationships ere
ate new problems for nations ms wei
as for individuals; and, let me ado
the change will be as great In tn
thought and ideals of the nation as
will be I'M its strictly material prof.
lens, whether these be military, con
mercial, or those having to do wit
labor.
Let us grant that we shnll gniI
military success. Let us then not fal
into the dnnger-trap of allowing III
material effects of such success 10 oN
ershadow consideration of the highe
values which give a nation It's lifi
Tie civilized world today, as we kno'
that world, may be said to be Cii
great altar of sacrifice. If that ls nc
true now, IL certainly Will be true
the wal continues for another yea
, II is our duty in any adequate int
lectual conception Of the task to SO
to IL that the gains to the moral n
wen ms the material %well-being of th
nation shall square with the sacrifice
, A little reflection will convince on
: that this aspect Of reconstruction
the fundamental aspect and that npo
It mug; be predlcated NIL %successfl
plans IN this direction.
"a year ago w were u great. lag
democracy. Lincoln said, "A fat honn
! won't hunt That sentence illumInf
e our national disease. The transfO
. nation from that condition Is alrea,
\ under way. Soon the spirit Of the n
I ton will be a burning fame. Thcl
VIII he sloughed Off the scales fostert
d by II love OF luxury and the loose ar
e boastful thinking that have been oi
+ curse In the last generation. Out
, the turmoil and the sacrifice will con
i discipline and orderly living and thin
ing; and, therefore, with sequentI
and Irresistible logic VIII come q
mands for new conditions Of llvil
\ commensurate to the new ideals. Aga
/ | repeat, here IL the fundamental
@ construction to which the America
/. government should address itself, ~
only herein can be found the poll
g which shall be the groundwork Of al