Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-06-03

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
q 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 hong step to-
ward creating an economic detesta-
ton of war. The experience of the
United States in the World War at
fords basis for the belief that the
plan herein discussed is practical. In
fact, it Is more than a belief-it is
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 Presf-
dent Coolidge-Mr. Coolidge as re-
Gently as last October in his Omaha
speech to the American Legfon-by
the fact that the plan they advocated
rs a part of the regular national war
agencies had once been set up and
successfully operated under the War
Industries Board.
Preceding the Presidents recent
clear 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
spondence resulted in the establish
ment of lectures at the Page School
(of Johns Hopkins University on this
theme Previously the Atlantic Month
IN printed an article by Sisley Huddle-
ston, who pointed out that Europe saw
great strides toward peace in the
American idea of taking the profit
out of war" in systematic way. His
basic reference was to the plan OF the
War Industries Board.
The resources of a country might
be referred to as the five Ms: CD
man power; (2) money; 60 main
tenance or food: (4 material re-
sources Gncluding raw materials,
manufacturing facilities, transporta-
ton, fuel and power); and 90 morale.
The Intelligence with which the first
four are directed and co-ordinated as
q whole will determine the fifth, the
morale of the community.
In the war emergency IT early be-
came evident to those who were
charged with the responsibility OF
mobilizing> the resources that there
was a just sentiment among the peo-
pie against profteering. Proiteering
might be willful and profit making
might be involuntary; but, whatever
its form, there was just determine
ton 1t should cease. So 1t became
necessary to fix prices where the sup
ply was limited.
Wherever the government created .
shortage by it's demands, prices were
fixed, not only for the Army, Navy and
the Allies, but for the civilian popula-
ton as well. And in addition to price
fixing on war essentials (such as steel,
wool, copper, and so forth), the bal
ance, after the war program had been
filled, 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 fixed that industry
had to deliver the part which the gov
eminent did not need to the civilian
population, not in the way the indus
try chose, but as the government d.
rected.
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 were being de-
yised and which it became necessary
10 combat.
Our own Army had several divisions
competing one with another for mate