The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-05-10
TO SPEED UP BUSINESS.

estimate the dwelling shortage in the United
States at from five hundred thousand to one milz
lion.
To build home is to supply that which meets
pressing need. The vast majority of communl-
ties have come out of the war almost year be-
hind in their home building. The Own Your
Own-Home campaign, which has been inaugu-
rated by the United States Department OF La
Dor, is fundamentally sound because it meets
pressing need.
America needs an immediate revival of nor
NAL business. Building is basic industry. The
construction of a house creates diversified de-
mand for materials. It tends to stimulate busi-
ness, from ditch digging to banking. Wherever
house is built there is a stimulus for business,
so the material benefits from BODYBUILDING ac-
tivity scattered over the entire country.
America needs an immediate augmenting of its
capacity to absorb labor. Building and its cor
related industries offer logical field for pro-
viding buffer employment for labor, while the
countrys Industrial and commercial organization
is making the transition from war mobilization.
to peace production. The BODYBUILDING cam
paiens which are being carried on throughout
the country. under the auspices of the Depart
ment of Labor, are quickening the labor mar
ket.
Here are tire realities of sitaution now con-
fronting our cities and the nation; on these three
realities which have an immediate bearing
our material welfare, even our social prog
ress and national stability, rests superstruc-
ture of incalculable spiritual benefits profound
~ desirable at this period in the nations history
The hard-headed, far-seeing business man will
agree that artificial stimulation of business al
ways brings such reaction as justifies grave
doubts as to the soundnes of such policy. He
will see, too, that here is proposition sane and
businesslike, sound in its economic phases, be-
cause there is real demand for that which it
is proposed to build. Building is natural slim
illus for business and commerce now hating and
holding back, and the more immediate the re-
sumption of business and comerce the sooner
the unemployment menace, with its unrest and
incipient disorder, will fade before such demands
for labor as will be incidental to an era of I'M
precedented prosperity and industrial activity.
Government supervision and direction, ex-
tended throughout the country in almost every
activity to serve the exigencies and necessities
of war, has been withdrawn. Individual and cor
porate initiative must again be the presiding
genius in our progress. For this initiative to be
timid and hesitate is to invite very serious en-
barassments. Prof. Irving Fisher, of Yale Uni
versity, one of the foremost authorities on price
and industrial matters, makes this significant
statement
s'The fundamental practical question confront
ing business men is whether the general level of
prices is going to fall In my opinion, it is not
going to fall much, If at all. We are on a per-
manently higher price level and the sooner the
business men of the country take this view and
adjust themselves to it the sooner will they save
themselves and the nation from the misfortune
which will come if we persist in present false
hope"
Thu fact that building is local industry is al
ways chief argument in its favor Not only
is the labor of the community required but
economical considerations cause the use of ma
terials close at hand-lunber, brick, or stone, as
the case may be-and men of many trades
townsmen, and perhaps neighbors, are required
to put in place what has been bought near by
For this reason the promotion of building as
sures the most equitable distribution of work
and a general speeding up of local trade.
FOR PREVENTION.