New-York tribune., 1919-07-19
Urges Greater
Production to
Reduce Prices

Immediately increasing industrial
production is advocated as a means of
reducing the cost of commodities and
in resolutions adopted by the National
Association of Manufacturers at a di-
rectors' meeting here yesterday.
Asserting that production is being
curtailed largely on the theory that
"the less work a man does the more
he provides for others to do" the asso-
citation calls upon factory employees to
aid in increasing production, while the
press, churches and educational insti-
tutions are urged to cooperate.
The resolutions, as adopted, follow:
prices on many commodities of life
has continued since the cessation of
military hostilities in France to be of
paramount Importance to the people
and industries of the United States;
and,
"Whereas, There exists we'll de-
fined effort among certain classes of
our citizens wrongly and unjustifiably
to disseminate the belief that the
manufacturers and business men Of
the country are the principal and most
reprehensible violators of the normal
operations of the laws of supply and
demands; and,
"Whereas, The burdens of taxation
due to- the war and other causes and
levied on our citizens and industrial
enterprises by the Federal, state and
local authorities have become oppres-
Sively heavy and contribute in no
small degree TO the present high price
levels; and,
"Whercas, High prices are largely
due to the growth of tendencies among
our labor elements to restrict and cur
tail individual and collective industrial
production, policy based largely on
The false, pernicious and widely
preached doctrine that the less work
man does the moro work he provides
for others to do which, together with
other unsound and uneconomic present
labor tendencies, threaten to result in
lessening of the productive effective
ness of our American industrial ma
chinery; and
"Whereas, 1t is to the true welfare
and interest OF the people of the
United States that our national indus
trial production be continuously in
creased, so that our war debt taxation
may be eliminated in as short a time
as possible, more normal price condi-
tions prevail and our industrial devel-
opment and prosperity be stimulatcd
"Now, therefore, be it resolved, Cd:
That we deny the truth of and dcpre-
cate the tendency of the teaching that
the manufacturers of the United States
are the principal or deliberate authors
OF the present era of higher price
levels;
(2) That we urge and call upon the
people of the United States, and our
factory workers in particular, to re-
flute and discourage the un-Amercan
and dangerously unsound make work
doctrine, which, if pursued to any ex-
tent, will result in complete industrial
dem ora llzation.
(3) That we urge and call upon the
people of the United States, and our
factory workers in particular, to dc
ever. thing in their power to encourage
stimulate and increase our industrial
production, as the direct means, toward
restoring more normal price condi-
tions.
(4) That we urge and call upon
every duly constituted Federal state
and local agency of government in the
United States to lend it's aid in an
effort to foster and increase our indus
trial production, promotion of harmony
and Encouragement of agencies and
causes of discord and bad feeling be-
tween employers and employees, and
relieve from every poss bic handicap
the legitimate manufacturing interests
of the country.
(5) That we urge upon the public
press, the churches, educational in
stitutions and every other factor in
moulding public opinion, to give all
possible assistance in directing public
attention to the urgent need for in
creasing industrial production.
Two new members were elected to
the board: Charles S. Keith, president
of the Central Coal and Coke Com
pany, Kansas City, Mo-, and ~. X
Leonard, president of the Piqua Ho-
siery Company, Piqua, Ohio.