Washington telegraph., 1926-04-09

War was once described as Prus-
sias most profitable industry.
Ii Gecde only scant examination OF
history to learn that other countries
were open to the same indictment
The methods OF the Robber Barons
did not pass with the end of feudal-
ism Annexation by conquest did not
cease. But when America entered the
World War President Wilson fathered
a doctrine that shall always govern
us--lhat never foot of territory
wcild be added 10 our boundaries by
folrn.
50, as America has taken the lead
toward making impossible national
profit throurh war. II too may be
Americas 1rir, C~7 TO point the way
toward max E'~- f07~7-'hlo individual
profit th~ou7A o". 70 take the profit
out OF wer e. 10 sI.e a long step to-
ward creating 7r economic detesta-
tion of war. TE' experience of the
United States in the World War at-
fords a basis for the belief that the
plan herein discussed is practical In
fact. It Is So han a belief-it is a
certainty. ~'''ov-h not widely known
The wor,d0s s"ch = busy place, and
the radius Of human activity has been
so greatly enlarged because of modern
Inventions, that it is not strange that
there are bGt few people who are con-
versant with what was quietly but
effectively t9h!1c pace in this coun-
try in the mohii-~'ien and use Of its
material resources IN the World War
"a process tha' ~0rld have eventual
ly eliminated Ell ir,Dr07-~ profits
Strength is given to the public ad-
voeacy OF indu-trlal motivation made
by both P-cr'T,nt Ua-dlng and Presi-
dent Coordre- NJ Coolid~c as re-
Gently as las Cc.cNrr in his Omaha
speech to the Awcric'n Legion-by
the fact that the nan they advocated
as a part Of the ".~'lsr national war
agencies had o~ro been set up and
successfully c.'~~atcl under the War
Industries Eoard
Preceding the Presidents recent
clear exposition OF this subject, some
degree of public interest had been en-
gendered by an exchange Of letters be-
tween Owen D. Young (of Dawes plan
fame). in behalf OF the Walter Hines
Page School OF International Rela-
tions. and the writer. The corre-
spondence resulted I'm the establish
ment Of lectures All the Page School
(of Johns Hopkins University on this
theme. Previously the Atlantic Month
IN printed an article by S'sley Huddle-
ston. who pointed ont that Europe saw
great strides toward peace in the
American idea OF taking the profit
out Of war" in a systematic way, His
basic reference was 10 the plan Of the
War Industries Board.
The resources Of a country might
be referred to as the FIVE Ms: %
man power; (2) none; (5) main
tenance or food: a. material re-
sources Cincluding raw materials,
manufacturing facilities. transporta-
ton. fuel and power); and (5) morale
The intelligence with which the first
four are directed and co-ordinated as
whole will determine the fifth, the
morale of the community.
In the war emergency It early be-
came evident TO those who were
charred with tho responsibility OF
mobilzing the resources that there
vas q Just sentlr-nt 0mong the peo.
rle AGAINST proh'ea aring Profteering
might be wilful md profit making
might be Involuntary: but. whatever
SIS rc-a.. there va Just determine.
tian n should cease So it became
Lcceesary to fy prices where the sup
ply was limited
Nac--ycr the government created a
shoriar- hv ts ds~1nds prices wore
fxcd r-f Only for the Army. Navy au1
the fui#a h1t f0~ the civilian popula.
ticn as vol frd 20 addition 10 price
fy'~- r7 war essentials fsuch as steel.
voo' c.-~cr. and so forthl. the bal
sr,c. a-'.r the war program had been
flr' vas ration2d or distributed ac-
co.. 20 tha priority needs OF the
var'.rs civilian demands. In other
wo-as. where the price Of the product
Of an iG1ustry was fixed that industry
had 90 deliver the part vhiCh the eey-
erumont did not need 10 the civilian
population, not in the way the indus.
try chose, but as the government a..
seed
It must be remembered that when
the war came there was no adequate
preparation Indeed, Il is doubted by
the best authorities whether any e..
feetive form oi preparation then
known would have been OF much avail
in view OF the widespread and engulf.
ing results Of the war and fhe lack OF
knowledge OF the various instruments
OF destruction which were being de.
vlsed and which It became necessary
to combat
Our own Army had several divisions
competing one with another for mate.