The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-09-20

NEW YORK.-Whether Benedict
Crowell is a good prophet or
not may yet be revealed. Mr.. Crow
ell, assistant secretary Of war in
Il the World
CrolDeHGrooUed named spe-
Into Present Job cial consult
ant on e
tense, by Secretary Stimson. Ad-
dressing the Institute of Public AT
fairs at the University of Virginia,
July IL, 1881, Mr.. Crowell said:
"Should a great war ever
again engulf our country, Amer
lean manufacturers, including
the new industrialism OF the
South, as well as tho older in
dustrialisms of the North and
East, without waste of time, ma
terial or priceless human lives,
will perform their essential func-
ton Of munitions supply our
national security is on a sound
foundation"
Mr.. Crowell, who was a consult
ing engineer before he became
Cleveland banker and industrialist,
is brigadier general in the ord
nance reserve. His specially, as as
sistant secretary of war, was in or
ganizing our munitions industries
for the war effort.
He was widely praised for his
efficiency in this and gained
fame as the most ruthless cutter
Of red-tape in the army high
command. This may have some
thing to do with his selection as
defense consultant at this mo-
ment. Yale university, his alma
mater, recognized the above
service by giving him an homo
rary master of arts degree in
1918.
A native of Cleveland, II years
old, Mr.. Crowell began his business
career as a chemist with the Otis
Steel company. He rose in execu-
tive positions and at the same time
gained technical qualifications which
made him a metallurgist and con-
sulting engineer.
He Is the author of several
books, including six-volume Sc
ries called "America Went to
War;" of which Robert Forrest
Wilson was cO-author. One Of
these volumes is entitled "The
Armies of Industry" singularly
pertinent to problems and back
grounds of our present national
endeav0r.
Reporters, interviewing Mr.. Crow
ell in the old days, frequently used
to note his resemblance to ruby Bob
Fitzsimmons, and deduce, from this
his capacity for hitting and staying
power.
IN HIS novel, LIE Couple" pub
lished in 1925, Victor Marguer.
rite, the French writer, foresaw
the disaster which was to overtake
French Prophet d dranGs; ne ne
of Doom Accepts debacle quite
Conquest ForetoId accurately
but put the
date at 1943 instead of 1910. Today
the author accepts the conquest
which he tragically described anc
makes common cause with the con
querors. He denounces General De
Gaulle and his followers as the hire
lings of England.
In present and future clinical re
search into the fall of France anc
its causes, M. Marguerite Lament
and prophecy, as of 1925, will bs
interesting. After describing the al
lance of French politicians with
"Prussian and Bavarian junkers, >
and the subsequent collapse anc
conquest, he says:
"And then we shall be reap
ing what we have sOwn. It will
be the result of our policy Of at
tempting the semblance Of gran
deur-stupid because it Is not
warranted by our power, nor by
our national wealth, nor by our
trickling birth-rate, nor by our
exhausted finances"
Years Of seIf-indulgence, mad
pleasure-seeking, the sOftening
Of moral fiber and the ebbing Of
national vitality, he said, would
precede the final destruction of
the French nation. The League
OF Nations, he predicted, would
be a CHASTITY failure.
M. Marguerite is the son of Z
famous French general of the
Franco-Prussian war. In his study
were medals and memorials of hi.
fathers war service. He is a stall
wart man, tall and straight will
abundant pompadoured hair and I
Van Dyke beard.
He was q member of the Legion
OF Honor and honorary president o
the French Society of Men of Let
tiers. Poincare, no defeatist, hac
urged his Legion Of Honor decora
ton. This and all his other honor,
were stripped from him when h,
published an offending book, 81,
Garconne."
He had been for 10 years an Off
Ger Ia the French army. In hi,
books, which he continued TO writ.
during his army service, he cham
Y1ionod vfrila Eranoh va4ionoI3.-.