The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-04-01

tee or the treasury department., WHICH
committee in turn would not permit
the borrowing of money unless the
War Industries Board approved the
use to which it was to be put Thus
the City Of New York was not permit
ted to spend $8.0000OO for the build
ing Of schools. The City of Philadel-
phia was prevented from making I'M
provements that in peace time would
have been necessary, but in war time
were not. Various states, counties
and cities, and a vast number OF pri-
vate concerns, were denied the use
of money and materials for purposes
not necessary for the winning of the
war. Each part of the community had
to adjust its wants to the whole great
undertaking.
There have been great many bills
introduced into Congress on the sub
ject of industrial mobilization, some
sponsored by great organizations like
the American Legion, and others by
newspapers and publicists. But it is
surprising how little knowledge there
was on the part of those who drew up
the bills of the practicability and fea-
sibility of so modifying our resources
that it would be impossible to make
as much profit in war as in time OF
peace. Take into consideration the
fact that the following things were be-
ing done in 1915
r1ora-al 51,.or,7or nv, ,,or a., ohoroo
of the draft, had asked the chairman
of the War Industries Board where he
could obtain additional men needed
for the Army in France with the least
possible dislocation Of the war making
industrial civilian machinery, and we
were in the process of replacing male
labor with women. BY system of
priorities the Board was allocating to
our own Army and Navy, to the Allies
and to the essential war industries the
things they required. 1t was making
priority rulings as to transportation,
and they were being followed, out by
the Railroad Administrator. The Fuel
Administrator distributed fuel only on
the rulings of the War Industries
Board The Board was engaged Il
disentangling and removing the many
conflicts and connective efforts In
volved in labor and buildings that had
previously occurred because Of lack OF
any ee-ordinating agency. It was allo
eating power and making regulations
for the hitohing up OF scattered units
of power 1t was changing munitions
orders from congested to less congest-
ed districts 1t had actually carried
into effect an order that no building
involving $500 or more could be I'm
dertaken without this approval Of the
War Industries Board. No steel, no
cement, no material of any kind could
be used for any purpose whatsoever
unless the War Industries Board per-
mitted it. No steel company could
sell over five tons OF steel unless ap-
proved by the Director of Steel. The
Treasury would not permit the raising
of money for any industrial or tinan-
eial operation unless it was approved
by the War Industries Board. The
President issued an order that no COM
Wandering should be don't by the
Army, Navy, Shipping Board or Food
Administration without the approval
of the chairman of the War Industries
Board. Every raw material industry
and indeed practically every industry
IL the country, was organized through
appointment OF committees, and none
Of these industries would do any bust.
ness exGapt under the rulings pranui
gated by the beard. Standardization
in every industry was rapidly proceed
ing. These rulings were made known
through the Issuance of official hulle-
tiHs At irregular Intervals and were
distributed Ry the press. we were
endeayoring to arrange 1t so that the
fighting forces were to receive those
things which they needed and no
more, 50 that whatever was not ae-
tpallv required at the front was left
to civilian purposes. Industries were
nurtailed, but never destroyed; skeles
tenized, but never killed. Indeed, the
use of men, money and materials was
rapidly being brought into exactly
that condition which have previously
stated to be necessary in case Of an.
other war.
If, in addition to this, the President
in the future has the authority to fix
prices and distribution Of materials
and labor, rent, and the Hse Of man
power, transportation, fuel and all the
things necessary for the conduct OF
the war, any rise in prices viii be pre-
vented, even La anticipation of war.
There are many who claim that war
is caused primarily by the desire of
profit. ] am not one of those. But il
there IL anything Ia this contention
this plan will remove the possibility Of
anybody urging war as means Of
masking profits. Even II there are no
men wh8 desire war as means of
making profit, the fact that profits
would be, less in war than in peace,
and wealth and resources would be dt
rected by the government, might have
some active lettering influence on
men OF great resources. Instead of
hAfYor nee ofxr f.wT.a