New-York tribune., 1919-09-01
Team Work Will
Lower Living Cost,
Clarkson Declares
Director of u. S. Council of
National Defence Dis
cusses Comments by Busi-
ness Men in The Tribune

Teamwork among retailer. whole
salcr and producer is as essential to the
lowering Of living costs as cooperation
between employers and employees, Gros-
venor &. Clarksor, director of the
United States Council Of National De
fence, said last night in discussing the
councils recent report and the COM
ments on it by industrial heads
Mr. Clarkson emphasized the point
that the council had steered clear Of
oil undertaking temptations in formu-
lating its report. He attributed pres
ent condi ditions largely tn a letting
of coordination shown during the war.
Mr.. Clarkson said:
"The comments by manufacturers
and other business men in The Sunday
Tribune with regard TO the councils
report on the high cost OF living con
firm and illustrate the ma jor findings
OF the councils Investigations. The
report found that the high cost of
living was primarily due to deficient
found decreased production primarily
due TO lack of focused information and
to want Of adequate machinery for CO.
ordinating the forces of all the groups
engaged on whatever part Of the pro
ouctive and distributive process.
No Accusation Against Individuals
'Thc councils report was not in the
least intended to imply accusation
against individuals Of any productive
group. 1t does not even imply wiful
failure OF the group itself. The full
effect of the report which covers about
$4,000 words, is exactly parallel to the
very sane comment attributed to
George Sanford, chairman Of the ex-
ecutive committee of the American As
sociation Of Woolen and Worsted
Manufacturers, within which he points
out:
"'Will owners might be charged in
the main with having guessed future
happenings wrong. The vast majority
of them did not see the tremendous
demand for cloth coming. The armi-
stice and shutting off of government
contracts left the industry fiat on its
back
"The councils report and Mr.. San
ford are entirely in accord, and this
lack of cooperation in the industry also
applies to other industries as we'll as to
woollcns.
Lack of Enough Unity
"Broadly, the chief trouble has been
that in her reconstruction America has
lacked sufficient unity of aim and of
spirit as we'll as concentrated informa
ton.
THE councils report simply lays
CORE la ted facts fully and frankly be-
fore the country in order that we may
build up for peace the same spirit and
achieve the same cooperation we at
tanned for war. The problem is not
one Of production only, but Of distribu-
ton as we'll. 1t is, therefore, just as
necessary to secure team play among
retailer, wholesaler and producer as
between employer and employe. The
national interest cannot permit that in
dustry be held up on account of the
group interest Of any productive factor.
"W hat is required in order TO avoid
recurrence of the conditions we now
have is some adequate basis for ra-
tional economic coordination, suili j.
ciently broad to include all essential
| clements. National requirements can
be worked out fer peace just as they
were for war, and productive capacity
is likewise fully capable of estimation
and of stimulation in anticipation of
need. Full, focused information would,
in all probability. always insure cur
rent production adequate to NEE. re-
quirements.'
Mr.. Clarkson announced that the
council had sent to the government
printing office ir Washington COM
plete study Of the reconstruction ac-
tivities Carried on in the forty light
states, the territories and island pcs
sessions of the United States.