March 1, 1916.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



285 



ness to make distinct sacrifice on the part of individuals for the 

 good of all. The industry, as it exists to-day, would have been 

 utterly impossible with the jealousies, lack of cooperation and 

 self-sacritice common in the rubber industry. One small com- 

 pany in Xew Jersey at one time had 800 different styles of lock 

 nut washers between the sizes of ]4 and 5^8 inch. By standardi- 

 zation this number was reduced to ^. Many manufacturers were 

 obliged to scrap expensive supplies to achieve this benefit of 

 standardization, the result of which was that all manufacturers 

 were able to obtain standardized supplies in large quantities at 

 low cost, and in minimum time. 



Something can be achieved along this line in the rubber in- 

 dustry by co-operation with the Government ; but probably the 

 greatest opportunity for the rubber industry is to set an example 

 to other industries of this country, indicating that we, as rubber 

 men and as individuals, realize our responsibilities and are pre- 

 pared to make sacrifices to live up to them. 



Figuring that there are over a quarter of a million people 

 directly engaged in rubber work, and that these workers have 

 an average of only three persons dependent upon them, there 

 are 1,000,000 people directly dependent for their very existence 

 upon uninterrupted supply of crude rubber, most of which comes 

 half way around the world, and practically none of which is 

 produced within our own borders. Even if this country is pre- 

 pared against invasion, is it prepared to insure that uninterrupted 

 supply of crude rubber, upon which a million lives depend? At 

 least three maritime nations stronger than ourselves could stop 

 that flow, even if we were nominally at peace. 



Those who have had the responsibilities of facing embargo 

 conditions a year ago realize better than the rest of us what this 

 means to America. The adequate supply of crude rubber to the 

 United States under the complicated international conditions now 

 existing is by no means assured ; and it is up to us of the Rubber 

 Club of America to do our part wisely and well to prevent 

 disaster. This cannot be accomplished by leaving the work to 

 be done by any individual or by a committee. If every man is 

 not willing to contribute his part the men conducting the rubber 

 industry, which is more susceptible to injury than most other 

 .•\merican industries, may have to face a terrible responsibility to 

 employes, customers and stockholders. 



Aside from the million directly involved and the other millions 

 indirectly concerned, think of what a calamity it would be if the 

 advantages of the beneiicient services of rubber were suddenly 

 eliminated ! It has been stated that the country would be para- 

 lyzed if the telephone and the telegraph were suddenly destroyed. 

 The day is almost here when the same can be said of rubber, and 

 what depends upon rubber ; and this is especially true of the needs 

 of modern warfare. 



We may think that the tariff question does not concern us as 

 much as it does other manufacturers. Is it not conceivable, 

 however, that the foreign countries which control the entire rub- 

 ber supply of the world might easily manipulate their export 

 regulations so that this country should receive little or no crude 

 rubber, or at such prohibitive prices as to spell disaster to the 

 industry? 



Gur preset tariff contains no provision for international bar- 

 tering or privilege. Our pork barrel, pension expenses and gen- 

 eral governmental extravagance are preventing this country from 

 having the visible naval power which chiefly compels concessions 

 in time of extreme need. We have deliberately and voluntarily 

 turned over to foreign nations the carrying of our products and 

 the bringing to us of our raw material. 



We have permitted our employes by hundreds of thousands to 

 be misinformed and misled by agitators to their own ultimate 

 danger and have not made the slightest effort to present to 

 them the other side of the question. In a country where millions 

 of people care not what flag they are under, we, the business 

 people, have been strangely indifferent to our responsibilities in 

 the field of patriotism, education, humanity and even common 

 safety. 



Much of the agitation for preparedness has been emotional. 

 If the business and scientific men will not unite in a thorough, 

 persistent campaign, based upon logical business common sense, 

 no man can foretell the result. What can the business and scien- 

 tific men do? President Wilson and Secretary Daniels builded 

 better than they knew in forming the Naval Consulting Board, 

 which is composed of conscientious scientific men trained to do 

 things, and to do them thoroughly and quickly. They have 

 organized themselves for results regardless of political pressure, 

 and have secured the cooperation of the 38,000 members of the 

 five leading scientific societies of the country. 



Their plans are well under way, first, to investigate the manu- 

 facturing facilities of this country, and then to organize them. 

 While 1 am not privileged to disclose their plans in detail, such 

 as liavc come to me I can vouch for as being feasible and thor- 



ough. Many scientitic men occupy subordinate positions; so it 

 becomes essential for the greatest speed in obtaining results to 

 have the sympathetic cooperation and support of business men 

 in this mobilization of .\nicrican industries. 



It is believed that a body of representative business men may 

 be created and recognized by Federal executives, who can cooper- 

 ate with the government experts and scientists of the country, 

 not only to mobilize American industries, but to teach efficiency 

 to the government itself. Each industry must be so organized 

 within its own sphere as to be able to cooperate in this national 

 scheme ; and this is one of the opportunities for the committee 

 on preparedness which is today proposed for the Rubber Club of 



Every individual and every company has a direct and distinct 

 opportiinity to assist in this movement. The United States Rub- 

 ber Co., for instance, has made an initial appropriation of $1,000 

 to assist in the education of its employes. As a first move, 

 specially chosen pamphlets are being sent to 4,500 of its most 

 intelligent members, indicating the seriousness of conditions, 

 pointing out some of the weaknesses, and suggesting that each 

 individual should investigate the facts, form his own opinions. 

 write to his congressman and senators, and talk with his friends 

 and customers. 



There must gradually be formed an intelligent public opinion 

 crystallized along several specific lines. All of our resources for 

 defense must be coordinated and directed by a national council 

 of defense. Universal military training must be eventually recog- 

 nized as the only safe and democratic support for our regular 

 army. Every section of the country must be compelled to sub- 

 ordinate local advantage to national safety. General govern- 

 mental efficiency and economy in administration at the expense 

 of the pork barrel must be quickly achieved. 



The budget system for appropriations must be generally ap- 

 plied. The tariff must be scientifically studied, and so applied as 

 to stabilize industry in this country, and protect the interest of 

 Americans both at home and abroad. An adequate merchant 

 marine must be developed in conjunction with naval auxiliary 

 needs along such lines as to standardize and insure the most 

 speedy and economical production and operation. 



Cooperation, rather than antagonism, must be fostered between 

 government and private shipyards, factories and other activities. 

 Trade and business associations should be encouraged and of- 

 ficially recognized as important media for coordination, mo- 

 bilization and efficiency. 



Thorough study must be made of the laws and conditions, 

 whether state or federal, which unnecessarily restrict and 

 hamper business activity. Where legislators are antagonistic to 

 national welfare, dispassionate investigation of the causes should 

 be undertaken to the end that the public shall know the facts. 



Study should be made of the American cable system to make 

 sure that foreign cable communication shall be as little as possi- 

 ble affected by international quarrels in which we are not directly 

 involved. 



An American navy, adequate to protect the 30,000 miles of 

 coast line in this hemisphere, and to sustain the honor and ideals 

 of America at home and abroad, must be built in the shortest pos- 

 sible time. .American education and American patriotism must 

 also feel the influence of the present need for unification. Human 

 welfare, the greatest undeveloped asset of mankind, must receive 

 sympathetic and thorough attention. 



We have aliens in our factories and stores, and can help to 

 make them safe American citizens or more intelligent residents 

 in our American atmosphere. The people who do not care what 

 flag they are under can be shown that the working people suffer 

 most when the enemy strikes. 



Posters containing a concise statement of salient facts, based 

 on well-known advertising principles, are being prepared for dis- 

 tribution in factories, offices, stores, etc. These offer the best 

 means yet suggested for reaching the man- who scoffs at litera- 

 ture and will not read a pamphlet. The fact that, of all nations 

 in the world, America has more international policies, which 

 challenge and antagonize the rest of th« world, must be brought 

 home to every .Xmerican, whether from the point of view of tax- 

 payer, voter, or of the one who desires to live in peace. 



THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ELECTS OFFICERS. 



Immediately after the annual meeting of The Rubber Club of 

 America, Inc., the new board of directors met and elected the 

 following officers for the ensuing year : 



President: Harvey S. Firestone, .Akron, Ohio. 

 First Vice-president: Van H. Cartmell, New York City. 

 Second Vice-president: H. Stuart Hotchkiss, New York City. 

 Secretary and Treasurer: Harry S. Vorhis, New York City. 



