The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-04-17
Babson Says Standardization
Brings Benefits Both Ways

Washington. d. c.. APR. IRA
tioning is becoming a familiar word
in our speech. Now Standardization
is 10 be its twin in the vocabulary
OF our war economy. We amt seen
nothing yet" in the way OF actual
rationing or Standardization. The
necessity OF doubling our industrial
war production every twelve months
and the Importance OF eliminating
waste in luxury and non-essentials
will shortly strip US OF many things.
Our heretofore free indulgence and
mode OF life. characterized BY ma
terial abundance. should slowly bu.
lily scene.
The U. =, A. has the greatest in
dustrial production facilities in the
world. Ii is also a large agrarian
country although exceeded in this
respect by India and Russia. Our
industrial activity in the past has
been devoted to the production OF
goods of a peaceful. nature. Almost
overnight We have been obliged 10
about face and turn our industrial
capacities and our agricultural out
put into vast coordinated machine
for waging an offensive war.
Great Britain and the United
States have been such powerful
peacetime nations that they have
underestimated the war prepare
tions of other countries. Further
more. they have relied too much
upon sending a boy to do a mans
work. This has been true in diplo-
matte functions, in the handling o.
production problems. and in the
strategy employed in battle areas.
The jolts and jars OF recent weeks
have done much to wake us up. We
now face facts rather than a con-
tinuance of fancy living. No longer
j.. will 1t be possible or fashionable
to have two cars in the garage, two
maids in the kitchen. and two mort
cages on the house,
Eliminate Waste
The elimination OF waste in all
forms is an important factor In
winning the war. We should volun-
tarily give up the Injuries and non.
essentials, the production OF which
interferes with war needs. 1t Is
necessary to provide labor supplies
and productive facilities and stor.
age space for the more important
needs of war production. Hence. We
have restrictions and standardiza
tions in many. many lines OF con.
sumner goods.
Women's skirts will get shorter
and their stockings may disappear
Mems suits, while pretty well stan
dardized, will be cut on new lines
to conserve cloth. Many liquid food
stuffs will appear as dried varie
ties packed in paper rather thar
in metal containers. Plywood AM
plastics will become standard sub
stiuttes for many metal products
This will help certain wood work
ing and chemical companies whicl
are now being converted into sourC
es of new supplies.
Get Accustomed To Changes
Consumer goods, especially pei
sonal and household effects. wi
show marked changes. Living hal
its and standards must be revise
for the duration. Only in a broa
general fashion do householder
and civilians now know what
ahead for them. To the casual shoI
per, most department store an
other retail shelves appear con
fortably filled. Watch out, howeye
for scarcities when replacement
become necessary. Substitutes an
simpler standardized products viii
however, be available and serve tn
purpose of countless present pr,
diets.
This entire column could be d.
voted to lists of everyday items du
for changes. In addition to the fey
already mentioned. there may
noted table silver, linens and blal
kets. kitchen utensils, persona
clothing. furniture. tools. laundr
necessities, electrical and mechan
cal appliances. dyes, medical an