The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1926-04-22

War was once described as Prus
sia's most profitable industry.
1t needs only a 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
doctrine that shall always govern
us-that never a foot of territory
would be added to our boundaries by
force.
So, as America has taken the lead
toward making impossible national
profit through. war, it too may be
Americas privilege to point the way
toward making impossible individual
profit through war. To take the profit
out of war is to take a long step to-
ward creating an economic detesta-
non of war. The experience of the
United States in the World War af-
fords basis for the belief that the
plan herein discussed is practical. In
faet, it Is more than a belief-it Is a
certainty, although not widely known.
The world is such a 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 but few people who are con-
versant with what was quietly but
effectively taking place in this coun-
try In the mobilization and use of its
material resources in the World War
"a process that would have eventual
ly eliminated all improper profits.
Strength is given to the public ad-
vocacy of industrial mobilization made
by both President Harding and Presi- |
dent Coolidge-Mr Coolidge as re-
Gently as last October In his Omaha |
speech to the American Legion-by |
the fact that the plan they advocated I
rs part OF the regular national war
agencies had once been set ND and
successfully operated under the War
Industries Board
Preceding the Presidents recent
slear exposition Of this subject, some
degree OF public interest had been en-
rendered 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-
lions, and the writer. The CORE
7pondence resulted In the establish
nent of lectures at the Page School
LOT Johns Hopkins University on this
.heme. Previously the Atlantic Month
" printed an article by Sisley Huddle.
ton, who pointed out that Europe saw
treat strides toward peace in the
american idea OF taking the profit
tut of war" in systematic way. His I
'asic reference was to the plan OF the (
Var Industries Board.
The resources Of 4 country might
10 referred to ~ the 1--WE Ms: u)
nan power; f2) money: (s) main !
enanes or food: a. material re-
eurces dncluding raw materials, r
manufacturing facilities. transports .
Ion. fuel and power); and (B) morale.
ne Intelligence with which the first ,
ssr are directed and co-ordinated as
whole will determine the nfth, the r
Iorale OF the community. .
In the war emergency it early be- /
SINE evident to those who were 4
harged with the responsibility Of
1obilizing the resources that there r
ras just sentiment among the peo- 1
IL against profiteering. Profteering /
1ight be willful and profit making y
iight be involuntary; but. whatever g
Is form, there was Just determine n
Ion 1t should cease. So 1t became r
scessary to fix prices where the SUP. .
ly was limited. a
Wherever the government created a b
hortage by its demands, prices were
xed, not only for the Army, Navy and +,
ne Allies, but for the civilian popula- 3,
ion as well. And in addition to price e,
king en- war essentials (such as steel. fl
Teol, copper, and so forth), the bal IL
nee, after the war program had been Il
lied, was rationed or distributed ac- Il
ordtng to the priority needs of the h
arious civilian demands. In other r.
lords, where the price of the product y
an industry was fixed that industry -
ad to deliver the part which the gov. IS
did not need to the civilian w
opulation, not in the way the indus
ry chose, but as the government di. f.
pcted. =,
1t must be remembered that when W
ae war came there was no adeouate q.
rsparation. Indeed, it is doubted nv n
ae best authorities whether any ef h
bct1ve form of preparation then h,
nown would have been OF much avail h
view OF the widespread and enxulf- u
y results OF the war and the lack OF !,
nowledge OF the various instruments I,
destruction which were being de. =,
|ssd and which 1t became necessary u
combat :,
Our own Army had several divisions r,
'0De<anS oAs WIKI another Tor mate. =