The New York herald., 1921-08-14

practice. and has not exactly sociattzed
the electrical trust of which he Is the
head.
DR. Rathenau has another idea which
made him enemies in small business
circles throughout Germany. His Tay
lorization or industrial planning"
scheme was intended to eliminate need
less duplication and waste motion. If
anything characterizes small business in
Germany--and nearly everywhere else
for that matter-it Is exactly this In
stead of four cigar stores To the block
as is the case to-day, DR.. Rathenau
would have. for example. one to every
two blocks. Starting with this there was
no reason why DR.. Rathenau should not
suggest the elimination of about three
fourths of the cafes, about half the
stationery stores, and. If he looked
toward the Wlhelmstrasse. why not
close up about half the Government
Offices? This was a direct menace from
DR. Rathenau which an organization like
the Hansa Bund. representing among
others these smaller interests. did not
ignore.
Big Man Was Needed.
When big industry heard that Chan
cellor Wirth was considering DR..
Rathenau for a portfolio there were
hasty consultations The political
situation was critical one and de-
ma aded some one capable of energetic
action. Some one of DR.. Rathenau' s
calibre was needed to come forward and
show the Allies that the Germans are
ready to make sufficient payments to
avoid application Of further sanctions.
But DIR. Rathenau as Minister of In
dustry! Some manufacturers shuddered.
The representatives of SHINES and of
Krupps made 1t clear to the Govern
ment that In this capacity DIR. Rathenau
would have to face the opposition of a
united industry. But they had no OBJ
lection to his appointment to the post of
Minister of Reconstruction. This in
deed u the most difficult and thankless
post III the empire. They reasoned that
Dr. Rathenau would have enough
troubles meeting demands from outside
not to have time to concern himself
with large scale industrial aiming
nearer home.
Dr. Rathenau Is sensitive Of criticism
and himself took the first step to assure
the national economic parliament that
he does not intend to try out any OF his
set ideas for the present. Indeed. he has
been most careful to avoid outlining any
programme of reparations or Of indus
trial reconstruction. The immediate
aspect OF reparations is one of detail.
replacing a chimney here and house
there. 1t is. In short. one of meeting
specific French demands for reparations
Broad Vision Required.
DR.. Rathenau is perhaps the man best
adapted for a post of reparations and
of reconstruction in Central Europe to-
day. If anything is needed to bring or
der back into Europe to-day 1t is not
only men of practical business expert
ence but economists of broad vision as
we'll; men who can sufficiently detach
themselves from their own private in
terests to stride over the petty competi-
tion In which Europe wallows. Rathe-
nau combines these qualities He has
made it clear that he does not propose
to try to carry out abstract theories. He
also has promised to utilize the fulles
collaboration of German industry. He
has started from the right end In that
he Is meeting the immediate problems
before trying to generalize. and Is not
tying up his reconstruction in bureau
cratic red tape. He works In close ac-
cord with the national economic parlia-
ment and directly with the German and
French manufacturers.