The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1926-04-01

surprising hoW little knowledge there
was on the part Of those who drew up
the bills of the praeticabiiity and fea.
sibility of so mobilizing 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 we're be-
ing done in 1915
General Crowder, who was In charge
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
we're In the process OF replacing male
labor with women BY a system OF
priorities the Board was aliocating to
our own Army and Navy. to the Allies
and to the essential war Industries the
things they required It 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 In
disentangling and removing the many
conflicts and competitive efforts In
volved In labor and buildings that had
previously occurred because OF lack OF
any co-ordinating agency. II was allo-
eating power and making regulations
for the hitching up OF scattered units
of power 1t was changing munitions
orders from congested to less congest.
ed districts. II had actually carried
into effect an order that no building
involving $4,000 or more could be I'M
dertaken without ths 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-
mltted 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 finan-
cial operation unless It was approved
by the War Industries Board. The
President issued an order that no COM
Wandering should be done 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
| In the country, was organized through
appointment OF committees. and none
| Of these industries would do any bust
ness except under the rulings promul-
gated by the Board Standardization
in every industry was rapidly proceed
ing. These rulings were made known
through the issuance of official bulle-
| tins at irregular intervals and were
distributed by the press. We were
endeavoring to arrange 1t so that the
hghting forces we're to receive those
things which they needed and no
more. so that whatever was not ac-
! tually required at the front was left
to civilian purposes Industries were
curtailed but never destroyed skele-
tonlzed 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
II, In addition to this. the President
in the future has the authority to dx
prices and distribution OF materials
and labor. rent, and the use of man
power, transportation. fuel and all the
things necessary for the conduct OF
the war any rise In prices will be pre-
vented even in anticipation of war.
There are many who claim that war
is caused primarily by the desire OF
profit. am not one OF those. But II
there is anything in this contention
this plan will remove the possibility OF
anybody urging war as a means OF
making profits Even II there are no
men who desire war az means OF
making profit, the fact that profits
would be less In war than in peace,
and wealth and resources would be d.
rected by the government, might have
some active lettering influence on
men OF great resources Instead Of
being passive. they might become ac-
1 i've advocates of peace.
There are many people who are. for
/ tarious reasons, afraid to discuss the
| subject during peace time and prefer
| 10 walt for war There are also some
| great manufacturers who oppose any
such plan because they were seriously
| interfered with during the war time.
! indeed, II has been the experience OF
some OF those responsible for the In
dustrial mobilization in the World
War to remain the objects of ven
nous attack begun during the time
I that the necessities Of the mai on made
it i'm operative to control activities and
profits Some critics were prominent
manufacturers. who said Tell us
What he government wants and we
will III the orders, but don't in erfere
with the sale OF the part Of our prod
uct that the government does not
want to use That was unthnkablo.
President Wilson decreed that fair
prlces for the government were fal'
prices for civilians mus say, how
ever that the vast majority OF amer
'tan manufacturers rose q tne situa-
lion In such splendid way rs to
bring the following commentator
from Woodrow wilson; "They turned
aside from every private interest OF
their own and devoted the whole OF
their trained capacity to the tasks
that supplied the sinews OF the whole
great undertaking. The patriotism,
the unselfshness, the thorough going
devotion and distinguished capacity
th1t marked Their toilsome labors day
utter day, month after month. have
mad them fit mates and comrades to
the ron in the trenches and on the
sem
There are many men who arc afraid
thu the adoption Of th Is nm by Con
gress would give an impetus TO IA.
ism or CO., fem or s9viff N or
whatever tA#4 NAV en- t. because,
they aay Fl Won shov = be done
In war time III re ~ w. demand
that It be do %" no j'mo." II
canrot be 6-no in ea~ce There
can be no --t-. ytthout
a strong moaip~ e-rq f. apce time
the moving c1-'se &, iqtt atlyn
and paymer' 40 med
The substit 'ae LAT III arr time ts