ENERGIES MUST BE REDIRECTED

BY THOMAS NIXON CARVER, LL.D., Ph.D., David A. Wells Professor of Political Economy.

The one great economic problem of the war is that of redirecting our national energy. Questions of money, finance, industry, thrift, taxes, war loans, ships, food, labor,--in fact, every special question is really a part of that great question, and must be solved with reference to it. We must manage some way to redirect our national energy and bring it to bear upon the purpose of the war rather than upon the multifarious purposes of peace. The first question which we must ask regarding every question of public policy, however detailed it may be, is: How will it affect the redistribution of the national energy? Will it, or will it not, enable us to mass more man power at the points where it is needed to win the war?

Many Obstacles to be Overcome.

The work of redirecting our national energy meets with many obstacles because it requires considerable change of habit or of occupation on the part of large numbers of people. They who have been directing their own energy and that of other people toward the objects of peace must, in many cases, be asked to rearrange their plans, their habits, and their work. The people concerned do not always see the connection between the change which is required of them and the winning of the war. Therefore they are sometimes impatient of the necessary discipline or restraint. Again, this redirection of the national energy necessarily involves more disarrangement of plans and change of occupation on the part of some than of others. They who were doing in time of peace things which are equally necessary in time of war will suffer no loss, and may even gain. They who were doing things which are unnecessary for the winning of the war must make a complete change. They may feel that this is unfair and resent it. But there seems to be no help for it if we are really to win the war.

This resentfulness is shown by individuals of all classes who are unfavorably affected. Manufacturers of and dealers in non-essentials have been very active in obstructing much-needed regulation and in opposing economics which are absolutely necessary. Advertising sheets, commonly called newspapers, have persistently fostered the vicious idea that there are no non-essential industries, and have successfully defended a "laissez faire" policy with respect to their own profiteering. There have also been strikes and threats of strikes on the part of various labor organizations, even against the better wisdom and advice of their national organizations.

All Classes Equally Guilty.

This is not the time, therefore, to single out any particular group or class of citizens for reproach. All classes are equally guilty and equally meritorious. That is there are individuals in all classes who are willing to suffer inconvenience and hardship in order to win the war, and there are others who are not. There is not the slightest doubt that a strike in any essential industry is a hindrance to the great work of massing our man power at the points where it is needed. No loyal citizen who sees and understands that fact can possibly favor a strike in an essential industry, when the Government stands ready with its agencies and machinery for the adjudication of all disputes. To refuse to submit to such adjudication is to profess a lack of confidence in our Government. That is not a loyal thing to do in war-time, when the Government is doing its best to so redirect our national energy as to enable us to win this war. When democracy is fighting for its very life, it does not show a very high appreciation of democracy to hinder it in that fight.

Nor is this a time for any of us to attempt to excuse ourselves for refusing to do our duty by pointing to others who are not doing their duty. The fact that someone else is a scoundrel and a slacker is the poorest kind of a reason why I should be a scoundrel or a slacker. In fact, if there are others who are doing less than their share, that is the best reason in the world why I should do more than my share. That is the only way in which we shall ever get enough done to win this war