The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-04-01

war was orce described as Prus-
aia's most profitable industry.
It needs only scant examination OIL
history to learn that other countries
were open to the same Indictment.
Tho methods of the Robber Barons
did not pass with the end OF feudal-
lam. Annexation by conquest dld not
cease. But when America entered Inc
word war President Wilson fathered
a doctrine that shall always govern
ns-that never foot OF territory
would be added to>our boundaries by
force.
So. as America has taken the lead
toward making impossible Datlonal
profit through war, 1t too may pc
Americas privilege to point the way
toward making impossible individual
profit through war To take the proaf
out Of war is to take long step 60
ward creating an economic detestar
ton of war. The experience OF the
United States in the World War al
fords basis for the hetief that inc
plan herein discussed is practical. In
fact, it is more than belief-1t Is
certainty, although not widely known
The world is such busy place, ana
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 cut
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 eveAtnai-
" eliminated all improper profits.
Strength is given to the public al
vocacy of industrial mobilization made
bv both President Harding and FYes3-
dent Coolidge-Mr. Coolidge as re-
Gently as last October inehis Omaha
speech to the American LegiOn-~by
the fact that the plan they advocated
as a part of the regular national war
agencies had once been set up and
successfully operated npder the War
Industries Board
Preceding the Presidents Seeent
clear exposition of this subject some
degree OF public interest had been en-
oendered by an exchange OF letters be-
tween owen D. Young (of Dawes plan
fame). in behalf Of the Walter H1aes
Page School of InterDationai Rela-
tions and the writer. The CORE
spondence resulted in the establish
ment Of lectures at the Page ScheSl
(of Johns Hopkins University on this
theme. Previously the Atlantic Ao'atH-
l,S printed an article by Sisiey HHdaie-
atom. who pointed out that Europe saw
great strides toward peace in the
American idea of taking the proit
out Of war; in systematic way. His
basic reference was to the plan OF the
War Industries Board
The resources of country might
be referred to as the five MS: ~
man power; ca money; CD main
tenance or food. ca material re-
sources (fnciuding raw materials,
\ manufacturing facilities, transpoTta-
| ton. fuel and power9; and (5) morale.
The Intelligence with which the first
four are directed and eo-ordinated as
a whole will determine the fifth. the
morale Of the community.
In the war emergency it early be-
/ came evident to those VINO were
! charged with the responsibility OF
mobilizing the resources that there
was a lust sentiment among the peO-
ple against profiteering. Profiteering
might be willful and profit making
might be involuntary; but, whatever
it's form, there was just determine
ton 1t should cease. SO it became
necessary to fix prices where the sup
ply was limited
wherever the government created
shortage by its demands, prices we're
fixed, not only for the Army, Navy and
the Allies, but for the civilian popula-
lion as well. And in addition to price
fixing on war essentials (such as steel,
i wool. copper, and so FORTH, the bal
ance. after the war programs had been
/ filed. was rationed or distributed &C
| cording to the priority needs Of the
various civilian demands. In other
words. where the price of the product
/ OF an industry was fxed that Industry
had to deliver the part which the gov
ernment did not need to the civilian
population, not in the way the indus
try chose. but as the government ai-
rected.
II It must be remembered that when
the war came there was no adequate
preparation. Indeed, it is doubted by
] the best authorities whether any ef-
fective form of preparation then
known would have been OF much avail
in view Of the widespread and engulf-
ing results Of the war and the lack Of
knowledge OF the various instruments
Of destruction which we're being de-
vised and which it became necessary
to combat.
Our own Army had several divisions
competing one with another for mate