Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1921-12-22

stantially all the wants of man and it
is therefore true that some increase
In productive capacity was well nigh
universal. In certain industries the
increase was large; more than a few
entirely new factories were construct
ed.
TOday's Need
The war is over. These new and
enlarged plants are here and some at
least are idle, while others are work
ing but part time. Capital is invested
in them The men who own this
capital would like to employ labor to
the full capacity sf these plants in
order that they may earn interest up
on their Investment. The men who
are out of work today would also like
to be employed in these plants in
order that they may earn food and
clothing for their families. How shall
this employment be provided? Can
orders be found in the United States
in these times sufficient to keep these
plants movin? Everyone knows that
they cannot. Can orders be found at
any time in the United States suffic-
lent to keep all these plants moving
steadily at their full capacity? Eve
|rybody knows also that this canont
be done. We could not consume the
product of these plants continuously
before they were enlarged Now that
they are greatly grown we are n1uel.
less able to absorb all their products.
There has not been time for the ma
tional consumption to grow up to the
national industrial production and
until our home production shall
be equalled by our home consumption,
markets must either be found abroad
or the plants must operate part time
or run at reduced production This is
as inexorable as fate; as certain as
gravitation.
1t is easy to see the process in its
details. A great plant in city Of
the central west, employing some
thousands of men is idle. Far in a
distant land skilled industrial officer
negotiates large order for the prod
uct of the plant with foreign gov
ernment. Forthwith the plant springs
to life. Thousands of men find pro-
ductive toll. Their families are able
to purchase needed supplies and clo-
thing, and business revives In still
another land great municipality re-
quires a large lot Of American appa-
ratus. Necessary arrangements be-
ing made for the financing of the
order, it is placed in another city in
the central west. At once the same
process appears Men go back to
work and their families are once more
able to buy. In different continent
large eastern manufacturer finds
business sufficient to keep his works
moving full time when others are all
but idle. On the other hand, large
concern finds that it has productive
capacity beyond it's selling power.
This country cannot consume the en-
tire product and circumstances are
such that foreign markets are not
found. Forthwith dullness settles on
the plant. Men are discharged, their
wages cease. At last, in order to
supply the limited market which does
exist, such concern offers for sale
the machinery which has been pro-
ducing on it's floors rather than under
take the expense Of manufacturing a
limited quantity of new machinery
Here is seen the process of actually
reducing the productive capacity of
the country for lack Of markets.
If the basic proposition is plain,
long step is taken toward the solu-
ton of coordinate problems Do the
American people yet understand that
their prosperity is linked inextricably
with the export trade? If they do
understand this fact, they will be
guided accordingly in all matters col
lateral thereto. If they do not under
stand this fact, it is high time it was
learned