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

rails, transportation. housing. and 50
forth. On top OF that there prevailed
the demands Of the Shipping Board,
with the slogan that ships would win
the war, and Of the Food Administra-
ton, with the slogan that food would
win the war. Further, there was the
Railroad Administration with it's need
for material and labor, and finally
there was the feverish quest for labor
and supplies on the part of the NUM-
tion makers-all competing for labor,
money, materials, transportation, fuel,
power, and each insisting on the
greater Importance OF it's activity. All
this while the labor supply was being
lessened by the flow of men into the
Army
While an endeavor was being made
to bring order out Of chaos, the great
undertaking had to 60 on. Men, ships,
munitions, food, material, had to be
provided. Old organizations, bureaus
and traditions had to be met and
changed, but not destroyed until the
new was set up. The wonder of it all
Is, not that there were so many mis-
takes, but that so. much was accom-
plished.
At the time we entered the war
prices were at their peak, and tending
higher because of the wars Unsuitable
demands. The problem was not alone
to secure the materials and labor and
20 stop the confusion, but to do it in
such way that the morale of the peo-
pie would be maintained The prices
of some things, like steel and copper,
were fixed far below prevailing rates,
and the wages of labor in those indus
tries were standardized. The more
highly organized an industry, the
easier it was to arrange. Order did
not commence to appear until the
Army funneled it's needs through one
man sitting with a section Of the War
Industries Board and until the Navy,
Shipping Board, Allies and Railroad
Administration did likewise Each de-
partment satisfied its requirements
through central authoritative body.
This was called the War Industries
Board, controlling and directing all
materials and co-ordinating through
its chairman the whole system of gov
ernmental and civilian supply and de-
mand. 1t was created by executive
order in March of the year 1918.
Briefly, this board endeavored to
mobilize the industries of America 50
that the fighting forces of the Allied
drox
from the United States-the last res
ervoir of men, materials and money
the things needed for the winning of
the war at the time the things were
needed and with the least dislocation
of industry and the least disturbance
of the civilian population.
The War Industries Board was or
ganiZed like any other supervisory
committee, with a chairman, vice
chairman, members in charge Of va
rious activities, bureau chiefs and sub
ordinate workers. It surveyed and
sought to arrange the whole industrial
war field under the plenary powers
conferred by the President and the
Congress. How well it did this is
story for others to tell What it did
is the basis of the plan am here
drawing.
1t was comparatively easy to fix
prices and to distribute materials, and
indeed to stabilize the wages Of labor
in those industries in which prices
were fixed. The labor situation, how
ever, became increasingly difficult,
particularly when General Crowder
found it necessary to withdraw men
for the proposed campaign of 1919
after 100000 soldiers had already
been taken.
Much has been said about the prof.
teering of labor. 1t is an unjust accu-
sation. 1t is only fair to say that this
condition was primarily brought about
through the inexperience Of the organ
ization within our own governmental
departments and by the furious bid
ding Of munitions makers and ship
builders for services. That situation,
together with the increased prices of
the things that labor had to buy with
the results of it's work, made it inevi-
table that labor must get higher
wages.
So 1t became evident that the price
fixing program had to 80 even fur
Their, and the War Industries Board,
when the Armistice came, was pro-
ceeding with campaign to fix the
prices of all the basic things that Ia
Dor had to buy. Some had previously
been fixed I speak of labor in q much
broader sense than manual labor, for
the unorganized so-called white col
lar" part OF our community-clerks,
teachers, government employees, pro-
fessional men-were less able to meet
the situation than labor In the mar
rover sense. For the protection and
relief of such groups certain plans
were devised. To illustrate