Evening star., 1923-06-05
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
AMERICA IN THE
WORLD WAR. Grosvenor b.
Clarkson. Houghton Miff1in Com

INDUSTRIAL AMERICA IN THE
WORLD WAR. Grosvenor b.
Clarkson. Houghton Miff1in Com
pany.
A great story. The story Of that
agency which. behind the lines in
the world war, made possible the ulti-
mate victory of the fighting lines
themselves. A unique story. also.
since 1t presents the only case in all
history of a country drafting the en-
tire body of its industry to war serv-
ice. as did the United States in 1917
and 1918. Unique, too, In that 1t
traces the rise and surprising serv-
ice Of that new order of knight
errant, the twentieth century dollar
a-year man." produced in this coun-
try by the exigencies of Il world con-
flict. The only story OF it's kind. as
well. in that. the war ended, II offers
a model whereby in peace time no
less than in war the industrial mech
anism OF an entire country may con-
centrate in organized efficiency upon
any single point of national urgency
of demand.
This is the story of the War In
dustries Board-the story of its ORR
achievements. The achievements
taken into account here cover pri-
marily the immediate end for which
the War Industries Board was
created that of making an allied
victory certain and conclusive And
these achievements include. besides.
that equally important effect per-
haps an even greater effect of secur-
ing national unity of spirit and
effort that proved to be tremendously
potent in putting to shame thou
sand ugly human traits of selfisnness
and cupidity The story. as n whole.
and largely by implication, portrays
a tide of national oneness of heart
and mind and spirit as not once in a
thousand years will from it's nature
serve to lift an entire people out of
It's imm ediate and usual preoccupa-
tions into a new region of complete
self-forgetting in the interest of a
world cause.
In the business mans economy Of
speech. Mr.. C1arkson at the outset
sketches the early mobilization of
industry for war, a process stamped
by the hurry and confusion and
waste inherent in the beginnings of
so stupendous an undertaking. Lack
of authority. lack OF vision. lack OF
any considerable coordination led to
the disastrously threatening situation
that, in time. gave rise 10 the War In
dustries Board. OF this board, which
grew TO be great industrial machine
for creating and maintaining. supplies
for the fighting forces oversee. Mr..
Clarkson says: 80 gradual was the
growth Of this mecha nism, SO gently
did it apply it's powers: so lacking
was the authoritative definition OF
them. 80 frequently did il request
and so rarely did it comman-i; SO
human were it's engineers 50 careful
to protect the essential framework Of
the national economic strength while
stratnins II to the utmost: SO little
ftS used. that but few of people
understand even now that the end of
the war found the United States as
complete a military machine through
out it's whole industrial and economic
life as the world has ever seen"
* y
The foregoing summary points di-
rectly upon the personnel of the War
Industries Board. upon the patriotic
non partisan spirit of the men COM
posing 1t. upon the business genius
that organized and promoted it. gath
single smooth working instrument
Of efficiency, upon their deep knowl-
edge of human nature: upon their
provision and all-around sagacity.
To each OF these men Mr.. Clarkson
pays high tribute, throwing innumer.
able high lights upon the personality
and character and high service of the
Baruch. Astonishing. and keenly
stimulation, to realize how much can
be done on the basis of courage, SIM
plicity, patience and good ability. The
author thinks. and he is right. that
the gratitude of the nations should
behind the lines. Mr.. Clarkson adds.
"and the nations do not even know
their names" And when the war
was over. the inarticu1ate figures in
sack suits who directed the outpour-
ing of American productive powers
for war demands did not march up
5th avenue to the cheers Of their ad-
miring countrymen. Tired. in many
cases utterly drained from long effort
and depressed reaction, they shut
their government desks and trickled
back one by one to the old desks in
the offices of everyday business and
industry. Yet 1t is quite true to state
that supremely able men came to
great tasks"
These men in their devotion to
country and to the world, a devotion
turned to solid account by high char
accter. superior ability and business
acumen coupled with the power to
organize and put through-these
men in their great war service fur
nish the keynote of Nr. Clarkson's
splendid1y dramatic story of the work
of the war industries board. 1t Is a
big book. covering the whole range
of our industrial and economic life as
this was taken over and administered
by the war-created agency of sup
plies. Each chapter is big with solid
stuff, all bone and sinew. One of
these shows how $15. 1000. 100000 was
spent in war service. Another one
describes the process of reducing
American surplus tissue" One shows
how rubber and leather go to war"
and one pictures war In the ''nitrates
and potash sector" There are other
chanters, many OF them. equally sig
nificant in heading. And each of
these is as dramatic in effect as 1t is,
in substance. packed with facts be-
longing to the war period that every
American should know. and which,
one believes, every American would
be only too glad and proud to know.
glad to make open acknowledgment
&ha yoy nF YhAca ~