"D- own,town!>~ S·.. oClaI-Ism E. W. Dykes

A Farmer Fights for Freedom (~y Peterman

Toward a lLabor Government Donald R. Richberg How much would you contribute for a socialistic U. S. A. ?

Not a nickel, you'd say. light and power companies, with money from But you are helping to pay for one more step­ millions of investors, have built the greatest elec­ pingstone toward a socialistic America every time tric industry in the world. the federal government builds an electric power That way is still a better way to build. plant that business stands ready to build. • It gets the job done quickly and efficiently. There are persuasive groups of people who want • It doesn't use your tax money. to push government farther and farther into the electric business. They are encouraging govern­ • It's why Americans today enjoy far more low- ment to keep on building new power plants-with price electricity than people anywhere else. your tax dollars. Since Anlerica's Electric Light and Power Com­ All that spending of tax money by government panies* are ready, willing and able to provide is not necessary. plenty of power, isn't it wasteful of tax dollars "'YOU ARE THERE"­ For there is a better way to produce electricity's CBS television ­ for government to try to do the same job? The witness history's benefits for Americans. government way leads straight downhill to a great events It's simply the way the hundreds of electric federal electric power monopoly ... and socialism. *Names on reqtle8t from this magazine THB A Monthly New Names

For A secondary, but important, function of the FREEMAN is to offer a medium of expression reeman Libe,·tarians to embryonic writers who have something of interest to contribute. Since the advent of the New Deal (an Americanized version of Fabian Editor FRANK CHODOROV socialism), the mass circulation media in this Managing Editor MABEL WOOD country have virtually closed their columns to Business Manager IVAN R. BIERLY opposition articles. For this they can hardly be blamed; their business is to sell paper at so much a pound and advertising space at so much per line. They must give the masses what they believe the masses want, if they are Contents JUNE 1955 VOL. 5, NO. 12 to maintain their mass circulation business; and there is no doubt that the promises of Editorials socialism, reiterated by the propaganda ma­ chine of the government, have made it popu­ Freedom Isn't Cheap 501 lar and dulled the public mind to the verities S:gending Money 502 of freedom. The President Resists 502 Under the circumstances, those who aspired Political Polio 503 to be professional writers were compelled by Profits and Profits 503 economic necessity to fall in with the social­ istic trend; the editors wanted nothing else. Articles Those who could not stomach that trend had "Downtown" Socialism E. W. DYKES 504 to abandon the writing field. As a resuU, the The Age of Un-Reason NATHANIEL BRANDEN 506 skill that writing requires was not developed Fore! STERLING MORTON 508 by those convinced that freedom is best. Want to Be a Bee? REV. IRVING E. HOWARD 511 As far as its limited space permits, the Distrust Thy Neighbor as Thyself ANDRE VISSON 513 FREEMAN hopes to offset this deficiency. To A Farmer Fights for Freedom CY PETERMAN 515 do a good job of developing writers, a dozen The Double Standard in Education publications spelling out the story of freedom, ANTHONY T. BOUSCAREN 518 in its various phases, are needed. Toward a Labor Government DONALD R. RICHBERG 520 In the meantime, we offer in this issue three World Trade War OSCAR W. COOLEY 522 articles by writers who are new to the trade: A Prediction for America THOMAS B. MACAULAY 523 NATHANIEL BRANDEN, doing graduate work in Why Do It Yourself? F. R. BUCKLEY 524 I Left Government Service EDWARD R. VINSON 526 psychology at New York University. STERLING MORTON, chairman of the board of Books the Morton Salt Company, Chicago. E. w. DYKES, an architect of Ca'nton, Ohio. A Reviewer's Notebook JOHN CHAMBERLAIN 529 Others we are pleased to add to our con­ Untying Knots in Nothing E. MERRILL ROOT 531 tributors: Anti-IMarxist Guide HELEN CARTIER 531 REV. IRVING E. HOWARD is associated with the Invited Attack JOHN T. FLYNN 532 Christian Freedom Foundation, Inc. Labor Monopolies BETTINA BIEN 532 Honestly Partisan RUSSELL KIRK 533 ANTHONY T. BOUSCAREN is an associate pro­ Behind the Mask IRENE CORBALLY KUHN 534 fessor in the Department of Political Science, Competition Does It DEAN RUSSELL 534 Marquette University. A European's View H. C. FURSTENWALDE 535 DONALD R. RICHBERG is the well-known national Well Worth Reading 536 authority on labor legislation. ANDRE VISSON is a roving editor for the Washington, D. FRANK C. HANIGHEN 509 c. Reader's Digest, specializing in international Readers Also Write ; 498 affairs. EDWARD R. VINSON is now in the D.A.'s office in Dallas, Texas. His articles have appeared in the American Legion Magazine, American Weekly, Christian Herald. The FREEMAN is published monthly at Orange, Conn., by The Irvington Press, Inc., Irvington-an-Hudson, N.Y. Copyri.ghted in the United ~tat~s, 19~5, by ~he Irvington Press, Inc., Leonard E. Read, Preslde.nt; Fred Rogers Falrchl1d, Ylce Presldent; Claude Robinson, Secretary; Lawrence Fertig, Treasurer; Henry Hazhtt and Leo Wiolman. Entered as second class matter at the Post Office at Orange, Conn. AN OSCAR TO RATES: Fifty cents a copy; five dollars a year; nine dollars for two years. America's Electric Light SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE: Send subscription orders, correspondence and instruc­ tions for change of address to: and Power Companies The FREEMAN On the opposite page appears the first Subs'cription Department "Advertisement of Note," the FREEMAN's Irvington-an-Hudson, N.Y. badge of excellence for free enterprise CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Send old address (exactly as printed on wrapper of your QOPY) and new address, with zone number, if any. copy-prepared by N. W. Ayer & Son, Inc. EDITORIAL AND GENERAL OFFICES: Address the FREEMAN, Irvington-on­ Nominations welcomed. Whether or not Hudson, N.Y. The editors cannot be responsible for unsolicited manuscripts unless re­ turn postage, or better, a stamped, self-addressed envelope is enclosed. Manuscripts the advertiser has been represented in must be typed double-spaced. Articles signed with a name or initials do not necessarily the FREEMAN makes no difference. represent the opinion of the editors. Printed in U.S.A. by Wilson H. Lee Co., Orange, Conn. him over the coals for "carrying water on both shoulders." ..• Also, I was about to write you folks -elader-i suggesting that you sic one of your wrITe' good reviewers on Walter Lippmann's a so shrewdly disguised line of baloney. R Either you folks are really alert, or ... and an inexpensive way, in­ else the old libertarian mental telepa­ Governor Lee of Utah deed, by which you can take part thy is at work; in any event, Frank in the battle against collectivist In the article on Bracken Lee (April) S. Meyer in his revie,w of the book propaganda is by distributing your writer stated that he was in (May) ha.s exposed the intellectual FREEMAN reprints. favor of the handing over by Lee of dishonesty of the "liberals" once again. the State Teacher Training schools to Good work. Order a supply to send and give the Mormon Church. Has not one of Houston, Tex. HENRY C. YOUNG to friends, neighbors and thought­ the basic principles of American free­ leaders in your community. dom been the separation of church and state? Has not a'nother of the "Why Teach Freedom?" basic freedoms been a free school sys­ If I were to accept the hypothesis in GUARANTEIEING YOUR INCOME telu? ... your May editorial, I, too, would ask (May 1955) How can you, who claim to pub­ the same question: "Why Teach Free­ Is the guaranteed annual wage lish only that which is pro liberty, dom?" The editorial says that no "So­ the answer to /lsecurity/l for the come out for a deed which is a step cialist" is sincere. And if, by chance, workingman? F. A. Harper's for a state church? I am well aware he is sincere, he is not rational. With penetrating analysis of some of the fact that the majority of the this I cannot agree. /lifs" in the UAW's current drive. residents of Utah are of the Mormon Men are all alike in one respect: faith, but there are other denomina­ they act, or refrain from acting pur­ TO SAVE THE CONSTITUTION tions represented in that state.... posively, in the hope of improving their (March 1955) Stony Brook, N. Y. ROBERT KNECHT situation. Their choice of means may The former president of the be wro'ng ones, but the fact remains American Bar Association points Frank Hughes' fine article on Gov­ that all men strive to improve their out the dangers of "treaty law" ernor Bracken Lee did three things to situation, as they see it, with as little to U.S. sovereignty-and what me. It made my mouth- water, it effort as possible. And here lies the we can do about it. brought a tear to my eyes and made answer to your question. Teachers me wistfully dream of-;-and then, should explain the laws of human ac­ RAILWAYS IN THE RED profoundly pray to God for-more tion and the science of economics (April 1955) statesmen like Bracken Lee and more which show why the free market is What happens when the govern­ writers and reporters like Frank the best way for men to a1ttain their ment takes over your company Hughes. goals, both material and spiritual. They should explain why government or industry? A graphic picture of Park Ridge, Ill. BEA VON BOESELAGER British railroads under national­ interference actually causes cO'nditions ization. even worse, except from the point of Capsule Comment view of the would-be dictator, than Prices, postpaid to one address ... Boy, that UN issue (March) was those it was designed to correct. 10-$1.00 100--$ 6.00 a beaut! Both "Socialists" and "libertarians" 25- 2.00 500- 25.00 Beverly Hills, Cal. MORRIE RYSKIND want to use the best known means to 50- 3.50 1000- 45.00 attain their goals. And this is the rea­ son for teaching freedom, to help folks Baseball THE FREEMAN learn the best way 'to accomplish their As editor of the Little League Base­ desires, intelligently, by peaceful a'nd Irvington-on-Hudson, N. Y. Rush me the fol'lowing reprints: ball page in our very local news week­ moral means. (Quantity) (Title) ly, I have often been stumped in try­ Dobbs Ferry, N. Y. BETTINA BIEN ing to answer the question, "Why shouldn't every boy have the right to Your editorial "Why Teaoh Freedom?" make a Little League team?" Your Name contains this sentence: "Perhaps it is ...... (PI~~~~' p'ri~t) editorial, "Play Ball" (May) is such ...... • an inner need that impels the Socialist a perfect answer to this question that Stree't ...... to his ideology, for I have never met I would love to run it on my page.... City ••••.....•.••••••••••• Zone •••••• an advocate of government interven­ I would also like to congratulate you State ...... ••.•..•.....•.•.•.• " tion who did not admit, inadvertently, for the sple'ndid articles in the FREE­ his own capacity for commissariat MAN. I really think the May issue is functions." And "But socialism is not Copies of the March FREE-MAN, superb. devoted sol'ely to the topic an intellectual pursuit, it is primarily CAROLYN E. FINNERAN a drive for political power..." These ONE WORLDISM Rockville Center, N. Y. thoughts hit the nail on the head. All and the teachers, preachers and writers w:ho UNITED NATIONS The Lippmann Line advocate socialism display this pro­ are still available. After reading excerpts from Walter pensity. They all think that in the up­ Prices, postpaid to a single address heaval they will receive the man­ 5 copies-$2.00 10 copies-$3.50 Lippmann's book, The Public Philoso­ 100 or more $.30 a copy phy, appearing in a recent issue of agerial positions and boss things. order direct from U. S. News and World Report, I was Truly, socialism is primarily a drive The FREEMAN just about to write that magazine's for political power. Irvington-on-Hudson, N. Y. editor, David Lawrence, and-. rake Kansas City, Mo. R. W. BYRNE

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Number of stores closed ~~~.~ during the year 83 71 President Number of stores in operation at end of year 1,998 2,037

LIBRARIAN, SAFEWAY P. O. Box 660 0 kl :T0RES, INCORPORATED , a an 4, California Please send copy of your 7954 Annual Report reemanTHE JUNE 1955

Freedom Isn't Cheap

··· HE LATE.Garet Garrett had a genius for terse­ ficult to say. In their public pronouncements they T ness. He could say in a sentence what an­ are frequently sound enough; they are all for other writer would need an editorial to explain­ private property, competition to the hilt, the dig­ like this one-and say it better. nity of the individual, and all that. But too often One evening a group of businessmen had fore­ these generalities do not square with their con­ gathered in a private dining room of an exclusive duct. As an illustration, I once found myself in club for the purpose of discussing the state of a heated discussion with the head of a real estate free enterprise. In due course, Garrett-who was lobby in Washington; he was against public hous­ one of several writers invited apparently for gar­ ing on the ground that it was an invasion of nishment-wasasked to contribute his wisdom to private industry; on the other hand, he was strong the subject. He said: "Free enterprise can be for government guarantees of mortgage loans. saved only if you are willing to risk bankruptcy No amount of reasoning could convince him that for it." That was all. these guarantees put the government into the Garrett was evidently indulging in a bit of hy­ banking business, with more far-reaching effects perbole to drive home the point: free enterprise than its going into the building business. And it is under attack from powerful and determined is a notorious fact that so-called free enterprisers forces-educational, social and political-and a have never been able to equate their principles successful counterattack calls for equal determina­ with free trade. The evidence is all too clear that tion and equal power. It is a struggle to the free enterprisers are willing to strengthen the death; either freedom (of which free enterprise hand of government (just like the collectivists) is an integral) or collectivism will prevail; coex­ when a special privilege to them is involved. istence is impossible. Unless and until free enter­ prisers recognize the nature of the struggle and Freedom involves an obligation and a responsi­ are willing to meet it head-on, regardless of cost, bility. It puts on the individual the obligation of their case is lost. So far, taken as a class, they self-reliance and the responsibility of respecting have shown neither, an understanding of the prin­ the rights of every other individual. The golden ciples involved in the fight, nor a willingness to rule of freedom is a fair field and no favors. risk their all for these principles. The observance and the violation of this rule are The collectivists have the advantage in that illustrated in two articles appearing in this issue they know what they want: the abolition of the of the FREEMAN. In "A Farmer Fights for right of private property and the establishment Freedom" we have the story of a man who in­ of a strong centralized State. For the moment, sists that the government must not intrude in his they may advocate nationalization of the educa­ private affairs because he has neither asked for tional system (so that they may the better indoc­ nor accepted its proffered subsidy; he is a true trinate the young), or FEPC,or further debauch­ free enterpriser. In "'Downtown' Socialism" we ery of the currency (for the purpose of destroying have a case .of so-called free enterprisers asking the value of savings), or a spate of "sociallegisla­ that·their fellow citizens be compelled to provide tion." But whatever their immediate urgency, a facility that will prosper their businesses. their ultimate aim' is the. liql1idati()u .of ,private It is this ambivalence, this contradiction '.be­ initiative and the substitution of a regime of tween their stated'aims ana' their actions that regulation. Whether or not they so state their keeps the free enterprisers on the defensive. They case, the direction of every measure they advo­ fight with their hands tied by cupidity. Their cate is toward the centralization of political power. philosophy-if they knew it-would tell them What do the free enterprisers want? It is dif- that a government that does things for you can

JUNE 1955 501 also do things to you, and that the cause of free­ in either case, your economy and mine would be dom is advanced only as the power of government bettered, and the prosperity of the country would to do anything for the advantage of any group be real, not fictitious, because it would be based is restrained. Freedom is a social environment on production, not on spending. in which government is restricted to the function of safeguarding the individual in the enjoyment of his inalienable rights; whenever it goes beyond that it is a threat to freedom. The strategy of the free enterprisers should be, therefore, to relent­ The President Resists lessly oppose any program tending to enhance the HE OPPOSITION of President Eisenhower to the power of government, even when such enhance­ T proposed Bricker amendment is historic, not ment might redound to their own benefit. personal. Executives have always been jealous of As a beginning, free enterprisers would do well their prerogatives and powers, have always resisted to urge the repeal of all laws which give them efforts to curtail them, and have never relinquished profitable advantages. Perhaps that is what Gar­ any of them except under pressure. It is charac­ rett meant when he said that free enterprise could teristic of authority to expand, not to contract. be saved only at the risk of bankruptcy. General recognition of this fact led to the intro­ duction of constitutional restraints on executive power, particularly the device of shifting the law-making authority to legislative bodies. But Spending Money throughout history the head of state-czar, com­ missar or president-has tended to resist or out­ NOTHER YEAR-and our Chief Executive again flank such blocks to his freedom of action. A asks us to shell out more billions of our hard­ President Eisenhower is no exception. We must earned money for "foreign aid." The brazen reiter- keep in mind, however, that the President is not ation of this hackneyed phrase lends support to a person but an institution. If Mr. Eisenhower were the Hitlerian theory of the Big Lie. Even though a private citizen he might well be on the other side the idea has worn thin, and the proponents of of the controversy; as President, his judgment is "foreign aid" now have to support it with another rather that of the bureaucracy over which he pre­ spurious argument-that it is related to our "de­ sides. This is necessarily so, because in a manage­ fense" program-there is some belief, officially en­ ment as large as that of the government of the couraged, that our money goes to feed, house and United States, the decisions of the titular head clothe the unfortunate victims of war. That is the must approximate the consensus of his staff. And Big Lie. the staff of the executive is even more jealous of "Foreign aid' is merely spending money. It is his powers than he is, for the importance of each all spent in the United States. What little is member of it is in direct proportion to the authority distributed abroad, by soldiers and roaming bureau­ he wields. The royal court is ,always reactionary. crats, also comes home to claim goods made in this country. To buy a bottle of wine in France you The case of John Foster Dulles is illustrative. need francs. As a private citizen and as a lawyer, he provided, In short, the billions appropriated by Congress in a public speech, the basic argument now being for "foreign aid" have all been spent in this used by the proponents of the Bricker amendment: country; they paid for goods manufactured here that treaty law can supersede the Constitution and and exported. Whether or not any of it reached bypass the Bill of Rights. Now that he is Secretary indigent persons is a matter of doubt; there is of State, the most important cog in the machinery evidence that most of it went to shore up socialistic that is the President, he finds reason enough to governments and their paternalistic schemes. refute the judgment of his private days. Yet, one This "foreign aid" money is spent here for can dismiss his logic-chopping in the knowledge purely political purposes: to keep the wheels of that he is only rereading the script of history: industry going, so as to simulate "prosperity," so the head of state must not permit the shackling of that the deluded electorate will return the spenders his authority. to office. It is a vote-buying scheme, supported by Despite the legalisms that are being bandied the Keynesian notion that a nation can spend about in the present debate, the issue is not un­ itself into plenty. like that which was fought out at Runnimede, N'ow, if you and I could keep the $3.5 billion whether the executive shall have a free hand in that Mr." Eisenhower is requesting for next year's carrying out his purposes. The opinion of the ma­ "foreign aid," what would we do with it? We would jority of the constitutional lawyers of the American spend it, of course. But we would spend it for Bar Association is that treaty law as currently in­ things we want, things that improve our circum­ terpreted can invest the President with powers stances, '. not for the building of air strips in the that he does not have under the Constitution, that ~ahara. Some of it we might save and invest, but he caJ:1. use it to defeat the decisions of Congress

502 THE FREEMAN and to override the autonomy of the states. In short, he can use it to achieve that centralizat.ion Profits andProfits of power which the Constitution specifically prohi­ bits. If the Bricker amendment is passed and rati­ "HOW,,, yelled a man from the audience, "did fied, this easy access to the pinnacle of executive the corporations make twenty-eight billions success will be blocked. Therefore, he is against it. last year?" The query fairly reeked of socialism. Behind it was the notion that profits are part of produc­ tion which the owners of capital filch from the Political Polio workers. The questioner wanted to draw me into that argument; so did the audience, which ap­ HEN penicillin was first discovered, there was plauded the question, loud and long. When quiet Wgreat skepticism about it among the doctors. was restored, I said to the questioner, who ap­ The responsibility for using it was on their parently did not have the price of a clean shirt: shoulders, and until experiment.ation had proved "The corporations ,made those profits simply the drug efficacious they withheld their endorse­ because you bought the goods they made. If you ment. Their personal reputations, and their in­ had gone without those goods they would have comes, were at stake. had no profits. If you object to profits, don't buy." Now comes the polio vaccine. If it were left to The answer served its purpose, which was to the doctors and pharmaceutical manufacturers as ~nd confound the heckler; but it was one-sided. free enterprisers, the same skepticism, caution There are profits and profits. When they are de­ experimentation would have preceded the general rived from voluntary sales they reflect the well­ use of the drug. This would take time, but in the being of the customers. The buyer willingly gives end, if the vaccine proved itself to the satisfaction up possession of what he esteems less in order to of those whose integrity and livelihood is involved, acquire possession of something he puts a higher its use would have been free of doubt. value on. He profits by satisfying a desire, while In this case, however, the politicians decided to 1Jhe seller profits by giving up what he has in take a hand in the medical business. First they abundance for what the buyer has to offer. In a licensed certain manufacturers to make the vac­ free economy, therefore, profits are an exact cine; thus the manufacturers were relieved of all responsibility save that of following the prescribed measure of the general welfare. formula. Secondly, the administering doctors were However, if the profits are derived from sales reduced to mere technicians, without other re­ to the government, they may, and usually do, indi­ sponsibility; if the drug proves ineffective or cate a diminished standard of living in the coun­ harmful, they can in clear conscience tell the try. The payer is compelled, through taxation, to bereaved mothers, "sue the government." foot the bill for something he does not want, some­ The politicians got into the business of vaccina­ thing that does not add to the sum total of his tion for purely political reasons. As parents, to satisfactions, and is thus deprived of something be sure, they are interested in saving children he would like to have. The manufacturer of an from the terrible disease. But as politicians, the elevator donated by the government to India will possibility of making political capital did not escape profit from the transaction, but only at the ex­ them. If the "ins" could point with pride to their pense of the taxpayer, who get.s nothing in re­ achievement in public welfare through the han­ turn for his forced contribution. He is exploited, dling of the vaccine, their chances of being re­ as the Socialists say, but by his government. turned to office would be improved. (Public senti­ Corporations do not report, and perhaps do not ment prevented the "outs" from opposing the keep records of, profits on government orders and move, even if they wanted to; but, if anything profits on consumer sales. That is a pity. For, if should go wrong with the politico-medical pro­ such records were kept and made public, it would gram, they will have a much-needed campaign be possible for the exploited taxpayer to recoup issue.) some of his earnings by ,investing what he can save Something did go wrong with the political ven­ from the tax-collector in the securities of the com­ ture into medicine, at the very outset, and the panies which show large profits on government "ins" are in a quandary. They cannot let go without business. The dividends he would receive on such admitting failure, which a politician simply cannot investment (though the government will take part do. If they continue to act as doctors, they assume of that, too) are part of what he was compelled a responsibility for which they have no compe­ to contribute to the company's profit account. tence; what, for instance, will they do if a better Perhaps the public, in its usual hit-or-miss way, vaccine is discovered? On the other hand, further has discovered this method of getting back some­ mishaps can be politically ruinous. thing of what government takes out of peoples' All of which simply proves again that we are mouths and off their backs. In the current rise of better off if the government minds its business, stock market values the "w,ar babies" are doing which is not medicine. quite well.

JUNE 1955 503 "Downtown" Socialism

What's wrong with the proposal for city-owned By E. W. DYKES parking lots now being made by many merchants.

"Downtown" is an institution created by trans­ city-owned parking lots. (Socialism is always portation facilities. Because the consumers can "public spirited.") They run like this: get there easily, merchants locate there; and 1. Unless "downtown" is saved, its taxable because many merchants do so, more consumers property values will decline, and the city will come to the area so that they may "shop around" lose needed revenue. with the least exertion. "Downtown" is a con­ This is a specious argument. No business is venience as well as a business center. established for the purpose of providing revenue But we are really talking of the past. A new for the city or any other taxing body. If "down­ kind of transportation-the automobile-has cre­ town" were really sincere in its solicitude for the ated a condition that threatens the growth, if not city's revenues, why doesn't it ,ask the tax ap­ the existence, of "downtown." This personal, praiser to assess its properties at their true mar­ pleasant and fast means of transportation has ket value? It is a wen-known fact that "down­ made it possible for many of "downtown's" cus­ town" is always objecting to what it calls over­ tomers to live outside the congested city areas, assessments. beyond the reach of the public conveyances which Putting that aside, the proponents of city-owned channel customers "downtown." Where there are parking lots overlook the fact that real estate people, there will be merchants and other serv­ values rise in the outlying sections built up by icers to cater to their wants; so that many who the automobile, and that the increased taxes on formerly took their trade "downtown" are now these locations will offset the loss of taxes on taking it to the local shopping centers that have "downtown" properties. If they are really con­ sprung up in suLurbia. The automobile has cre­ cerned about tax revenues, why don't they provide ated serious competition for "downtown." their own parking lots so that the values of their The old and established "downtown" still has properties will not decline? advantages over the upstarts in that, because of 2. Private parking lots are poorly located. its larger cl,ientele, it can offer a -greater variety of That is, they are not located next door to the goods and usually at more favorable prices. The stores that need them. So the city should exercise automobilist knows this and would like to patron­ its right of eminent domain to obtain "proper ize these merchants, but the inconvenience of sites." To which one is prompted to ask, how ar­ getting rid of his automobile once he reaches the rogant and selfish can a special interest get? What central mart induces him to pay more for what he "downtown" is saying is something like this: can get at the neighborhood shop. The parking "We believe that our businesses are more im­ problem is more of a threat to "downtown" than portant (to the community, of course) than are new outlying competitors. the businesses in the areas where we would like The merchants and servicers who built "down­ to have parking lots. Unfortunately, the law does town" thrived on competition and the problems not compel a man to sell his property to another of business. They met them in their own ways and man, regardless of price. Eminent domain solves never asked for help from government. But these that problem. The city could use this power to are different times. It is in the modern spirit to seize the property we want, the court could set a seek "security" in the bottomless pit of the public proper price, and we could have the parking space treasury. So, instead of tackling off-street parking so badly needed by the public." as a business problem-like advertising, merchan­ That is in essence the proposal made by those dising, warehousing, etc.-"downtown" in many who consider themselves champions of private cities is demanding that the taxpayers' come to its property. rescue. It is after the city to provide parking lots; 3. Private lots are inadequate, and besides they of course, it insists that these facilities are for are generally held on short-term leases, with no the "general good," not for the benefit of its own assurance of continuity. business interests. In short, these dauntless free The charge of inadequacy of the lots is based enterprisers are taking to the path of socialism. on the fact that there are times when they are And most of them don't even know that they are. full. But there are times when the lots could use It is interesting to note the "public spirit" that customers. Every business has its peak periods, pervades the arguments of these proponents of and to provide facilities for more than that is to

504 THE FREEMAN court losses. Should the city be asked to establish have looked into this business and know that it banks so that depositors would never have to is not likely to be profitable or even self-support­ stand in line? ing? In that case, they are advocating that the It is true that private parking lots are subject city (the taxpayers) take the loss. to short-term leases. But this is also true of many There is an excellent reason for "downtown" retail stores, restaurants, beauty shops, every sort going into the parking business even if an op­ of service. Like any other business, the private erational loss is inevitable. Just as a merchant off-street parking lot will be operated only as long spends money on advertising with the expectation as it is economically justified-as long as it pays of recouping through increased sales, so the cost its way. And no longer. of providing parking space for his customers 4. Cities with parking meters are already in the would be offset by the profits on their trade. The pwrking business,. the lot would simply be an merchant does not suggest that the city publish a extension of established practice. newspaper for the purpose of carrying his adver­ This is what logicians call the "undistributed tisements at lower rates. Why should he ask the middle"; it is fallacious reasoning. The fact is city to provide a service which is fast becoming that meters were introduced for police purposes as essential as advertising to his business? -to stop the practice of all-day parking, to try But, when you start thinking about getting to keep cars off the streets as much as possible­ something for nothing, the principles of free en­ and not as a business venture. The coin put into terprise, or self-reliance, slip out of your mind the meter is in the nature of a tax or fine, since and you find it easy to invent schemes to further it goes into the city treasury along with other your purpose. For instance, the "downtown" taxes and fines, and is in no way related to serv­ Socialists not only advocate city-owned parking ices rendered. Renting parking space on a com­ lots but also advance a plan for financing this petitive basis, or at fees having some relation to venture in socialism. They propose the issuance of costs, is an entirely different thing. municipal bonds to provide the money. They point out that since such bonds would be free of federal Private Lots Could Not Survive income taxes there would be no difficulty in floating them. 5. City-owned lots will be in competition with The thought arises, why does not "downtown" private lots, and parking fees will thus be kept borrow money for the proposed enterprise by down. issuing iits own IOU's? The reason ,is this: when a This is true only because government competi­ private enterprise borrows money, the loan be­ tion with private business is unfair in the ex­ comes a lien on the business, and the borrower treme. The government does not tax itself, and must run his affairs efficiently so that he can meet therefore does not have to include this cost in its the terms of his obligation. A government bond, price. Besides, the government can and does, for on the other hand, is a lien on the general taxing political reasons, set its prices below operational power of the government, not on the specific pur­ costs, passing the loss on to the taxpayers; the pose for which the money was borrowed. If the private operator has no such escape. city should lose money in the off-street parking If the city, therefore, should go into the off­ business, for which the loan was made, the bond­ street parking business it would drive the private holders will still get the interest called for in the operator out of business. Nobody in his right indenture; even if the city should abandon the mind would risk capital in the parking business business, the taxpayers would have to meet the (either in lots or buildings), since there would payments. So, what "downtown" is suggesting is always be the possibility of the city's opening up that the city should hang on the necks of the next door and undercutting parking fees. Thus, citizens, present and future, a long-term or per­ what "downtown" is asking for is the elimination manent debt so that "downtown" can get the of private enterprise in this particular field; and benefit of a service which it does not want to "downtown" consists of men who beat their provide for itself. breasts for free enterprise. No matter how you look at this effort to get the "Downtown" insists that the city would lose municipalities into a business which is essentially nothing in the operation of off-street parking a private affair, you find that it is a step toward facilities; the business would be at least self­ socialism-advocated not by long-haired doctri­ supporting. Putting aside the fact that the gov­ naires but by many who loudly proclaim their ernment seldom makes ends meet in its enter­ adherence to the principles of free enterprise. prises (except by trick bookkeeping), the question arises: if the city can do it, why can't the busi­ nessmen? Their establishments prove that they Reprints of this uTticle may be secuTed from the have the experience and the acumen for running FREEMAN, Irvington-on-Hudson, N. Y. at the follow­ businesses, and surely the parking business is not ing prices: 10 copies $1.00, 25 copies $2.00, 50 copies beyond their capacities. Or is it possible that they $3.50, 100 copies $6.00, 1,000 copies $45.00.

JUNE 1955 505 The Age of Un-Reason

"Who can be sure 01 anything?" is now the By NATHANIEL BRANDEN watchword 01 the collectivist prolessors' attack on logic and the reasoning process.

"It lis foolish to limagine that man can think," Hon is not, 'Contrary to common belief, represented declared the professor of psychology. by the card-bearing professors, planted on faculties It w'as my first year at college and my first class by the Communist Party, nor by advocates of Marx­ in psy.chology-so I asked the professor what ist economics. It is represented, rather, by the vast seemed like the most self-evident of questions: number of teachers who have accepted premises "But, if that's true, then by what process did you fundamental to collectivism without identifying reach that conclusion?" them as such and who, day after day, preach all the "What?" said the professor, frowning; he looked ideas that lead the student, if he ,accepts them, [nto sl,ightly puzzled. For the past half-hour he had the camp of the Statists. been explaining that everything an indiV1idual 'The philosophy of collectivism-of communism, thought, said or did was determined by his heredity faseism or the "mixed economy"-cannot be de­ and 'environment; that it was childish to believe fended by reason. It is a philosophy filled with con­ that anyone had real freedom of choiee; and that tradictions which have been exposed ove,r and over "mind" was only an old-fashioned metaphor which again; its econom1ic tenets are of a kind no serious referred to wha,t was 'actually a collection of neural economist could permit himself to endor'se. Collec­ impulses and complex 'conditioned responses. tivists 'are not unaware of this. Consequently, if I repeated my question: "If all our thinking ds they wish to win aceeptance for their doctr,ines, determined by factors over which we have no con­ there is but one means open to them: to destroy rea­ trol-namely, our biological inheritance and our son itself. environment-if we cannot think in any free or volitional sense of the word, then how, Professor, Unwitting Allies were you 'able to ~arrive at that kmowledge? Wouldn't that have taken thinking? And if your The offiCiial form of the collectivists' attack on position was arrived at without thinking, then reason is represented by their doctrine of class-logic what's your claim to its validity?" and by dialectical materialism; but they are aided "Oh," said the professor, shrugging, "now you're in this process of destruction by all professors­ getting philosophical on me." He turned away and, including conservatives-who proclaim that man without another word, went on with hi,s lecture. is a mindless robot. I did not know, as I walked out of that classroom, They are aided every time the teachings of their that in the four years that followed-during which I unwitting allies perm'it ,students to ask-as I have studied :at two of America's largest universities-I frequently heard them ask: what credit is due a was to he,ar a great many such ideas. I was con­ successful industrialist if his productive ability is stantly to be battered with assert'ions that-"objec­ the result of his heredity and the chance faetor,s· of tiv.ity ,is jmpossible,impartiality is a delusion"­ his particular surroundings? Since-I've often "man can know nothing for sur'e"-"the dec,ision heard class'mates argue-the rich and the poor, the to be reasonable is an arbitrary preference"-"all competent and the incompetent, are conditioned to our ideas are the product of accidental condit1ioning" be what they are, it is unfair that certain "environ­ -"reality, if it exists at all, is forever beyond hu­ mentally favored" indivliduals should enjoy the man gra,sp." These ideas were taught to students 'in material advantages which the le.ss for,tunate lack. almost every .subject I took; the forms of pres:enta­ Why, they ask, should one man be allowed to live tion varied, but they all seemed aimed at achi,ev,ing in 'a mansion and another sentenced to }live in a a single result-the destruction of the student's con­ slum, when neither is responsible for his position? fidence in reason and in his own mind. And since all financial inequalities are a matter of In the space of those four years, I had the oppor­ blind chance, shouldn't the State, being the guardian tunity to observ,e the exact nature of this destruc­ of justice, rectify the error made by an arbitrary tion, Who was accomplishing 'it-and whos'e purpose environment? dtwas servling. If psychology teaches students that thought is A great deal of attention has been given to the impossible, philosophy teaches them that knowl­ communist penetration of our colleges---'but what edge is impossible. "Logic"-asserted a professor I saw was that the major threat to modern educa- who was a follower of .a leading contemporary

506 THE FREEMAN philosophical movement-His an arbitrarily chosen of capitalism, evidenced by the 1929 depression"­ tool of investigation; we have no right to believe "the philosophy of individualism which has been it will lead us to any understanding of reality, conceded to be inadequate to the needs of our since it is only a product of human imagination." age"-"greedy industriialists who trample on "Logic"-asserted a professor who was a follower rights"-"the moral superiority of socialism over of another major but not very different philosoph­ capitalism." ical movement-"'is a social convention, an instru­ Collectivist professors feel free to toss off such ment of inquiry which must evolve with the ideas as these, as though their allegations were times; what is logical in one age may not be log­ incontestable, self-evident truths, because the act ical ,in another; today, we declare that a contra­ of pronouncing an assertion as true or false, ra­ dict'ion is imposs'ible-but we cannot say with tional or irrational, is the very responsibility their certainty that it always will be impossible." students have been taught to renounce. There are, students are frequently told, no un­ alterable principles of existence; existence is in a Heard in Classrooms constant state of change. "And don't be so sure," -some professors like to add-"that there's such In a Political Science class, a professor an­ a thing as existence at all, perhaps there's only nounced: "Any individual-any decent individual change." -must applaud the goals of communism." The The doctrines taught in psychology and philos­ statement was presented as a fact, with no at­ ophy-the two fields in which I specialized-fil­ tempt at justification. It was not the sort of re­ tered down through all my courses, so that I en­ mark one heard often, but the students listened in countered one version of these ideas or another respectful silence. It might be true, and it might in almost every classroom I entered. not be true-who were they to say? "Who can be sure of anything?" asked the pro­ In an American Government class, when I at­ fessor of economics who declared that there are tempted to state to my professor why slave econ­ no economic laws, and that the government can omies initiate wars, why, after a dictatorship has enforce whatever restrictions it pleases and make looted the wealth of its own citizens, it must look them work, if only the public will "want" them to elsewhere for sources of exploitation-I was an­ work. "Who can be sure of anything?" asked the swered by him, not with a rational argument, but professor of physics who announced that the ac­ with a reprimand: "The trouble with you is that tivity of science is the manipulation of arbitrary you're just prejudiced against dictatorships." He symbols which mayor may not have anything to did not find it ne,cessary to answer or refute what do with material reality. "Who can be sure of I had said: he knew he had an advantage over anything?" asked the professor of aesthetics who me that would carry more weight with his class insisted that there are no rational principles ap­ than any argument he might muster: he was an plicable to art, and that an artist is successful to authority. Who were the students to think for the extent to which he does not think. "Who can themselves? be sure of anything?" asked the professor of gov­ In an Economic Theory class, I heard a pro­ ernment who stated that the kind of government fessor advocate the doctrine that the solution to men want-a free society or a dictatorship-is all governmental financial problems lies in the ex·· only a matter of personal preference. "Who can pediency of printing more paper money. I asked be sure of anything?" asked the professor of the professor to explain the difference-in moral political science who claimed that there are no terms, and in economic results-between what moral principles, and that a man's right to exist she was suggesting and the action of a gang of is a matter, not of justice, but of a special priv­ counterfeiters flooding the market with millions of ilege granted by society. phoney dollars. She refused to answer, stating Few professors who hold such ideas as these that my question was not relevant. She left her are members of a conscious political conspiracy. ,class with the problem of choosing, not between Although some professors are avowed collectivists, two arguments, but between a student and a pro­ many others are not, and would insist that they fessor. But the students were not disturbed: have no sympathy with any totalitarian move­ truth, they have been taught, is a matter of opin­ ment; they would insist that they simply are ex­ ion. This same professor endorsed the belief, as pressing those beliefs which constitute the dom­ part of the above doctrine, that men may consume inant intellectual trend of our day. But the in­ more than they produce. Her students were not tentions or motives of these men do not alter the disturbed by this, either: had they not learned consequences of their teaching. And one of the that the law of cause and effect was a myth? more blatant consequences of their teaching may I do not mean to imply that students agree with be observed in the too-frequent, unprotesting si­ every theory their collectivist instructors pre­ lence with which students greet references to sent; many of them emerge from college un­ "our archaic Constitution"-"the outmoded doc­ touched by a belief in a power philosophy, but trine of inalienable rights"-"the final breakdown with the uncomfortable feeling that the realm of

JUNE 1955 507 politics and economics is confusingly beyond them. But to the extent to which any student-re­ Fore! gardless of his stated poEtical convictions-has permitted confidence in his Illind to be breached, By STERLING MORTON he has granted a victory to any potential dictator: of what danger to power-seekers can men be who In the community of some 50,000 people where I are certain of nothing, who have been taught that spend the winters, there is agitation for a public to be in doubt is the highest virtue, who have ac­ golf course. We have several golf courses, both cepted that nothing is ever totally right or totally private clubs and fee courses, but proponents of wrong, who are not even sure whether reality 01' the public golf course maintain the fees are too themselves exist? high. It is even suggested that the proposed course The students who do become actual collectivists be made free to all. become so, less by a process of cons.cientious study Thirty years ago, if Angus MacDonald wanted to or rational conviction, than by a process of os­ play golf but could not afford the dues of a country mosis: by an indifferent, semi-conscious absorp­ club or the charges of the fee courses, he had two tion of the not-to-be-questioned political bromides alternatives, aside from not playing. He could 1) of many of their Statist professors. try to earn enough money to take care of his golf, There are, undoubtedly, educators who abhor or 2) steal the golf money from neighbor Jones. the anti-mind assault dominating our universities Now, neighbor Jones wouldn't like this very ,much -men who have no patience with the self-evident and might have Angus put in jail. But if golf was absurdity of those who proclaim that they think really so necessary to him, Angus might risk it. they cannot think, they know they cannot know, This approach is now obsolete. Today, parsimoni­ they are certain they can be certain of nothing, ous MacDonald starts agitation for a public golf and that they and their listeners are mindless. course. Other ardent golfers like the idea of get­ There are, similarly, students who have not been ting their fun at less expense and add their voices affected by the irrationalist philosophies to which to MacDonald's. Jones, a non-golfer, heads an oppo­ they have been subjected-philosophies which sition party. But the members of the City Council, compete with each other, not by measuring the always sensitive to the demands of vociferous respective achievements they claim to have at­ minorities, finally vote to establish the municipal tained, but hy measuring the extent to which golf course and add something to the tax rate to they assert that no achievement is possible. A cover the cost thereof. great·number of students, however, have been in­ fluenced by those philosophies, and the degree of Now, you see, the situation has actually been reversed. Instead of protecting Jones against Mac­ that influence is the degree of the beachhead won by collectivism in the colleges of this country. Donald's theft, the law compels Jones, under dire I do· not know who-if any-of my professors pe:nalties, to pay for part of the golf facilities were actual members of the Communist Party. enjoyed by Angus. If Jones refuses to pay, he is Possibly, none were. It is of little importance, subject to prosecution-might even be sent to jail. one way or the other: the Communists profited, So the course is built. Part of a public park is whether by the professors' intention or otherwise. devoted to the pleasure of a small ,minority of the The professor who asked: "How do you know re­ population. With a course es'tablished, more people ality exists?" may have had no political motives, take up golf and the minority group finally becomes but he prepared his students for the professor so strongly entrenched that any attempt to recon­ who had political motives and who echoed that vert the land to its original purpose would meet question with: "How do you know slave labor with desperate opposition, and any advocate of such camps in Soviet Russia exist?" a heinous crime might well lose his political life', America, the country of individualism, is a pro­ Where will we find a logical stopping place for duct of the Age of Reason. This country was this sort of thing? If the taxpayer is called on to built on the knowledge that man can think, that provide golf courses, swimming pools and tennis his life is his own to shape, and that men, as ra­ courts for those who could not otherwise afford tional beings, must deal with one another by per­ such sports, why shouldn't the taxpayers likewise suasion, not by coercion. Those who now seek to provide the clubs, balls and racquets? destroy this country wish to inaugurate the Age Maybe I'm just an Old Scrooge, but I just can't of Force-as they have inaugurated it through see any end to it! If the taxpayer must provide most of the world. Their deadliest enemy is the in­ one kind of amusement, why not other forms­ dependent mind; it is the independent mind which free theaters (band concerts we have already), free they are struggling to kilL Individualists must baseball games, free peanuts, free hot dogs? Why understand this; they must understand that their give children at school free lunches and deny such cause is the cause of reason-and that the de­ a boon to their parents! And if lunch-why not struction of man's mind is the first step down the breakfast and dinner? road that ends with the enslavement of his body. Did I hear someone say, "Bread and circuses"?

508 THE FREEMAN WASHINGTON, D.C • Ranighen by Frank C.

The clammy shado'w of economic controls falls of what was hopefully named the Wage Stabiliza­ athwart the Republican Administration in Wash­ tion Board. "Since controls were imposed, wages ington. Removal of controls and reliance again on have risen at a rate of over 70 per cent greater than the free market during the first years of the have prices and the level of prices, of course, has Administration brought a new vigor into the econ­ no t bee'n primarily determined by price controls." omy and a psychological assumption that the coun­ And he went on, "Inflation is the result of more pur­ try was permanently released from the hampering chasing power coming into the market to buy goods restrictions that marred the Roosevelt and Truman than there are goods available. .. In the case of regimes. However, the philosophy of the Eisen­ some materials, the government has done more hower re'gime has been based on the same notion than just predict scarcities; it has allocated us that the welfare of the people depends on the ac­ into shortages." tions of the State, and therefore it is not surpris­ 'ing to veteran observers to note the reappearance In view of this history, President Eisenhower's of de-mandsfor some of the outstanding features request for stand-by controls of prices and wages of preceding Administrations. got a chilly reception from conservative legislators, The intensification of the foreign crisis has in­ particularly when Barney Baruch's old phrase, evitably inspired cries for stand-by controls of "economic mobilization," popped up again. The prices, wages and rents. The matter was referred term, it was pointed out, is a misnomer, for it would to the Defense Production Board, while many busi­ engender obstacles to "mobility." Price and wage nessmen moved nervously. The wonder has been controls could hardly be motivated by the desire that that so little protest against consideration of such everyone should be "frozen" in the position he had measures has been raised in the press. For the been in before a war started. That would scarcely experience of the last. fifteen years might well have constitute "mobilization." As Henry Hazlitt re­ prompted economists to point out that such controls marked: "Free prices act faster than fumbling do not control. The ,contortions of the OPA during bureaucrats," in supplying the incentives and deter­ World War Two and the inevitable inflation, with rents that divert production most quickly into the halving of the value of the dollar, could quite justi­ lines where it is most needed. fiably have risen to the minds of many. If so, little As it stands today, industry representatives in has been said openly. the nation's capital believe that commercial and The more recent economic happenings during the manufacturing associations will do well to oppose Korean war can scarcely be forgotten. William J. such controls. They can envisage the possibility Grede, then President of the National Association that the mere existence of such governmental au­ of Manufacturers, told the House Banking and thority over prices, wages and rents would create Currency Committee on May 13, 1952, when the a tendency on the part of a seller to maintain his Defense Production list of two years before was quoted prices high; thus, so runs the calculation, up for amendment and extension, "The record the seller would not be caught in a disadvantageous against economic controls is overwhelming. They position if prices were suddenly frozen at the out­ impede production, impair incentives and increase break of an emergency. Also, stand-by wage and costs both for industry and government... They price controls might contribute to inflation and deal only with symptoms and not with causes. In­ consequent general and continuous unsettlement of stead of continuing economic controls, we urge the business. The existence of such controls might also adoption of a program which will eliminate the prompt a tendency on the part of labor to insist on causes of inflation." Mr. Grede advocated 1) cuts the highest possible wages in the anticipation that in government spending; 2) balancing of the a wage freeze might catch them at a disadvantage. budget by such cuts and taxing as much as the In case stand-by controls are passed and an government spends; 3) use of the Federal Reserve "emergency" appears, who will man the operation? System to stop inflationary expansion of credit. The matt.er is now in the hands of the Defense The NAM official reviewed the sad performance Mobilization Board, whose chief is Dr. Arthur S.

JUNE 1955 509 Flemming. For his record see Who's Who in Amer­ throughout the country, and that failure of state ica, which details his numerous positions in govern­ and local authorities to face it make federal aid ment in recent years. A member of the Civil Serv­ imperative. Mrs. Hobby declared that 407,000 ice Commission bet.ween 1939-48 (where old hands classrooms would be needed by 1960. Challenged characterize him as a "New Dealer"), he has a by the press, she withdrew the figure and said long record of service under many "alphabet" it should have been 176,000 classrooms by 1960. agencies of the Roosevelt and Truman Adminis­ Also, her report asserted that the state of In­ trations. One of his chief aides in the Defense diana suffered from one of the worst classroom Mobilization Board is Edward F. Phelps, who was shortages in the country; the press challenged assistant to Michael di Salle in the OPS during her on this and could find no authorized statistics the Korean war, and before that served in OP'A. to show that such claims had any foundation. These ,affrays in the public prints lead to two "The purpose of the Office of Education is the col­ conclusions: 1) while Mrs. Hobby and Dr. Brown­ lecting of such statistics and facts as shall show ell were honest in putting out such charges, they the condition and progress of education in the were obviously badly served by their statisti­ several states and territories and of diffusing cians-apparently, a bureaucracy in the Office of such information respecting the organization and Education which allowed its hopes for federal aid management of schools and school systems as to outweigh its judgment on figures; and 2) if shall aid the people of the United States in the es­ classroom "needs" have so little basis in statis­ tablishment and maintenance of efficient school tics, why any appropriations for federal aid to systems and otherwise promote the cause of edu­ schools at all? cation throughout the country." So runs the basic Opponents of federal aid here found encourage­ law of 1867 which is supposed to shape the activi­ ment in the appearance of representatives of ties of the U. S. Office of Education, part of the numerous taxpayers' associations from all over Department of Health, Welfare and Education, the country to protest such aid. When these in­ presided over by Mrs. Oveta Culp Hobby, Secre­ dividuals testified before the House Labor and tary in the President's Cabinet. Education Committee, they did not confine them­ Under Mrs. Hobby is the Commissioner of the selves merely to refuting economic and financial Office of Education, Dr. Samuel M.Brownell assertions of the Federal Office of Education. (brother of Attorney General Brownell). Dr. Throughout their testimony there were expres­ Brownell recently told a House Committee: "In sions of fear that acceptance of federal aid in trying to define the function of the Office of Edu­ constructing schools would lead to dictation by cation ...we are guided by the principle that the the central government of what is taught in local control and management of the schools in the schools. What Mr. Robert Armstrong, Executive United States is a local and state function and Director of the Nebraska Citizens Council, says is that the proper role of the federal government is typical: to aid and assist in the advancement of education "Our educators and public officials, and the without interference with the state or localities. people generally, abhor federal control of their To that principle we are dedicated." activities. They have been forced to yield in the Dr. E. A. Fitzpatrick, a Wisconsin educator, matter of public roads, public assistance and writing in the American School Board Journal many other categories of federal handouts. We for March, points out that the "neglected and un­ here and now draw a line across which we say you deremphasized" phrase in the basic law is, "the shall not encroach further, particularly in the people of the United States," and that the Office field of education. We know that eventually, if of Education would do well if it were preoccupied not at the beginning, standards of construction, with the people who support the schools rather and later standards of curricula, administration than the "professional interest of educators." Dr. and certification of our schools will be dictated Brownell in his utterances seems to have a sound by the government which hands out the money to attitude toward the relationship between the fed­ pay the cost. eral government and local schools. But does his "Our state officials, the members of our legisla­ Office staff possess the same view? ture, the members of our State Board of Educa­ Around Washington, those who watch the legis­ tion, and our Commissioner of Education have lative maneuvers for federal aid to education, publicly expressed themselves as opposed to the which has received backing from the White House, principle of federal handouts for education, large­ are impressed with the rather shocking kind of ly because of their fear of encroachment upon the statistics brought forward to justify large fed­ administration and operation of our public eral appropriations. Federal aid advocates claimed schools. This, they say, is entirely a matter of that there exists an acute classroom shortage state and local control."

510 THE FREEMAN Want to Be a Bee?

The author concluded that he didn't, By REV. IRVING E. HOWARD after studying the cOInmunal lije oj the hive he set up in his backyard.

~omeone had told me that bee stings would be and by morning a pile of dead drones litters the good for arthritis and anyhow I wanted to get ground before the Welfare State that has sup­ back to nature, so I ordered a complete beekeep­ ported them in comfort. The drone fulfills his ing outfit from a mail order house. The bees solitary purpose during the summer months, and arrived in a wire cage, with some on the outside no drone ever lives through a winter to see a -to the distress of the postmaster. The hive came spring. The Welfare of the community has been as a box full of sticks; I puzzled over this for served. hours before it began to look as if it would house The worker bee is a frustrated female. Ener­ bees. I did not know at the time that this type of getic, nervous and cantankerous, she is wonder­ beehive is a wicked capitalistic improvement over fully efficient in carrying on the hive. She, too, is what the bees would build if left to follow their a victim of the hive she serves. An elaborate own inclinations. Finally, however, the bees were division of labor assigns different tasks to the merrily setting up housekeeping in the new hive, buzzing workers. Some make honey from the and my education began. nectar brought in by the field bees; others nurse Between struggling with frames full of angry and care for the larvae; others attend to the bees and reading Maurice Maeterlinck's Life of the Queen and feed her. Bee to find out what it was I was looking at, I be­ Some bees attend to the air conditioning, an gan to learn something about my new playmates. important task because evaporization of the First of all, as I suspected, the honeybee is an nectar in the hexagonal vats is an essential part enlightened Socialist. There are individualists in of the process of making honey. Several worker the bee family, solitary bees who live an inde­ bees are stationed at the entrance of the Iiive, pendent, happy life; but the honeybee has chosen to practice a community of goods and has carried out the implications of that with a vengeance.

A Matriarchal Society

Secondly, I discovered that the beehive is a matriarchal society; the male bee is a relatively unimportant fixture. The drone, as he is called, is a stupid, bumbling individual who shambles around the hive all summer, sucking honey, sleep­ ing in a corner and fulfilling but one purpose in life. His day comes when the virgin Queen dances out of the hive and begins her bridal flight. All the drones follow madly after, the largest and strongest usually catching her high in the air over the hive where the mating takes place at the cost of the successful drone's life. ,He falls to the ground dead, leaving his reproductive organs and all his entrails dangling from the Queen who re­ turns to the hive never to mate again. The rest of the drones pay dearly for their life of leisure, too, for as the days grow shorter and the nights colder, a time arrives when the worker bees are suddenly seized with a frenzy and leap upon the drones, gnawing off wings, legs, antenna or whatever comes first. Some are stung, others are driven out of the hive to freeze in the night;

JUNE 1955 511 tails in air and wings buzzing to start the flow a bee escapes without the membrane being rubbed of air. Other bees are scattered around the hive off, it can never fly and is executed as worthless to keep the air in movement. On hot days the to the hive. The hive is supreme! number is increased. The Queen, the most important member of the Some bees are wax workers. They are the struc­ hive, is hardly the ruler. She does not make the tural engineers who layout the streets and build decisions, but is the dumbest member of the col­ the hexagonal cells, solving complicated problems lective, who must be fed, watched over and pro­ in higher mathematics. Others forage for nectar tected by the alert workers. Her reproductive or pollen, never for both at the same time. Other organs have been developed at the expense of her bees are water car- brain. She is no more than an efficient egg-laying riers, especially in machine. Like the workers who care for her, she early spring when wa­ is the victim of the hive she serves. ter is needed to mix The first time a hive swarms, the amateur bee­ with the pollen that keeper enjoys a thrilling experience. The common has hardened in the theory that swarming is caused by overcrowding hive and needs soften­ is not supported by the facts, for many an over­ ing to make the bee crowded hive never swarms. One of the interest­ bread that is fed to ing explanations that has been suggested for this the young to provide phenomenon is that the frustrated female workers the much needed pro­ who have been deprived of a normal sex life tein for growth. Other swarm to give expression to their pent-up feel­ bees sweep the streets ings. They just revolt against their collectivized of the hive and clean life and assert their individuality for a few in­ up after the careless drones. Some bees do toxicated minutes. guard duty at the entrance to keep out strangers Whether true or not, the bees swarm out of the and robbers who would otherwise make off with hive as if drunk, reeling giddily around in the air the golden treasure. (All of these seem to be the until they cluster upon some nearby bush or tree "experts" who loom large in Welfarism.) where they hang like an ··enormous festoon with Who, in this complicated division of labor, the Queen in the center. Bees are in a happy decides which bee will perform which task is one frame of mind while swarming and rarely ever of the mysteries of the hive. The collective seems sting. After a short rest, the ball of bees takes to dictate. off through the air like a great football. It makes The worker bee's labor for the "greatest good straight for some predetermined site of a new of the greatest number" is ill rewarded. When a housekeeping venture which scouts have gone worker bee returns to the hive with wings frayed, before to choose. Thus, the hive multiplies its'elf. she is stung to death. Inefficient bees cannot be However, even in this brief flare of individual­ tolerated. The hive must go on! ism-if such it is-the bee is the victim of the The larva is fed for a proper length of time, socialistic state it has evolved. then sealed up for metamorphosis; it awakens a The bee'S did their best, but their stings did not bee, but must force its own way out of the waxen cure my arthritis. However, they did contribute prison. The nurses will give the bee no help in something more important. They confirmed my the matter, for the struggle to get out rubs off a misgivings of the collectivist heaven. I don't want thin membrane that releases the bee's wings. If to be a bee.

A Status and a Number

In the welfare state the government undertakes to see to it that the individual shall be housed and clothed and fed according to a statistical social standard, and that he shall be properly employed and entertained; and in consideration for this security the individual accepts in place of entire freedom a status and a number and submits his life to be ••• directed by an all-responsible government ••• the govern­ ment cannot really guarantee security unlil it goes to the logical end, which is to ration the national income in time of peace just as all goods ••• are rationed in time of war. GARET GARRETT in The People's Pottage, Caldwell, Idaho: The Caxton Printers, 1953

512 THE FREEMAN Distrust Thy Neighbor as Thyself

At Geneva, the Chinese Reds and Soviets watched By ANDRE VISS'ON each other's moves in an atmosphere of suspicion not allayed a bit by the fact that they were allies.

Since Stalin's death there have been many dra­ curity people. The United States had in all 32; matic changes in the Kremlin. Malenkov and his the Russians and Chinese each had more than 70. short-lived slogan of "peaceful coexist.ence" have Secretary of State John Foster Dulles and Un­ been succeeded by the hydrogen-bomb rattling der Secretary Walter Bedell Smith got about in of comrades Krushchev and Bulganin. cars rented from a hotel garage at Lausanne, But whatever the slogans coming out of the driven by Swiss chauffeurs. The Soviets brought Kremlin, whoever the men taking over the helm 20 cars, two trucks and a complete workshop to of the Soviet empire, one basic feature of the service their cars and planes. Practically all the communist regime remains unchanged. All com­ food for Molotov and the top Soviet officials was munist leaders live and work in a miasma of brought daily by plane from Moscow and East mutual distrust. The members of the Politburo Berlin. It was prepared by cooks and served by distrust one another. The Communist Party dis­ waiters brought from Moscow. They had eight trusts the Red Army. The Red Army distrusts DC 3's assigned to regular flights between Mos­ the Soviet police. The men in the Kremlin who cow, East Berlin and Geneva. Six of them made use the secret police to spy on the Red Army, two flights daily. The other two were held in and on all the party organizations at home and reserve at the Geneva airfield. The Soviets re­ abroad, distrust their own secret agents and in­ fused a Swiss offer to store the planes in Swiss formants. They have at least two secret police military hangars guarded by Swiss soldiers. They organizations, one keeping a close watch on the wanted them out in the open ready to take off other. Every man in a responsible position in at all times; in addition to the Swiss guards Moscow regards his subordinates as secret in­ they kept a watch of five Soviet security men formants or potential rivals. day and night. Since they harbor such corroding distrust, one for the other, at home, it is to be expected that Bulletproof Cars Not Enough the Soviet leaders would distrust their satellites, and even more the nations of the free world. The Red Chinese felt even more insecure than It is both amusing and disturbing to observe the Russians. Though they accepted two Soviet the Communists at international gatherings, such bulletproof limousines for the use of Foreign as the Geneva conference last year. The Com­ Minister Chou En-lai, they were careful to sup­ munists had every reason to feel confident and ply their own drivers. They brought their own happy: the Red regime in North Indo-China was security agents, and they insisted on a direct to be ratified, and the communist position in teletype line to Peiping. North Korea consolidated. Outwardly they were But the bulletproof limousines did not provide all smiles. But their behavior betrayed deep­ Molotov and Chou En-Iai with adequate protection. rooted insecurity and gnawing distrust. Nor were they satisfied with the five Swiss plain­ 'The Western delegations brought to Geneva as clothes men attached to each of them. Their many people as they thought the work would re­ limousines were always preceded and followed by quire. But the Chinese and the Russians vied cars carrying four or five of their own security with each other for the prestige of having the people. Three more bodyguards rode inside each largest delegation. When the Russians announced limousine-one seated beside the driver, the others that their delegation would number 160 persons, flanking the chief's right and left. For greater the Chinese asked for accom'modations for 180. protection Molotov's seat was lower, so that the When the Russian delegation increased to 200, two bodyguards could better conceal his stocky the Chinese raised theirs to 220. 'This went on figure. until each delegation boasted about 300 members. Before Molotov's arrival in Geneva the Soviet All 'international conferences attract anony­ security officers asked for the suspension of traf­ mous agents from every intelligence service. Ex­ fic signals when Molotov's limousine was taking pecting an int.ensive scramble for secret infor­ him to or from the conference hall. This the mation, the delegations from the larger countries Swiss police refused to do. In democratic Switzer­ brought to Geneva a considerable number of se- land even the Red leaders had to respect a red

JUNE 1955 513 light. Molotov's drivers studied the city and chose wire fence around the place. Inside the estate streets with the least number of signals. all the guards were Chinese. Outside it was ,One day the Chinese informed the Swiss that guarded by a picket of 40 Swiss soldiers. Chou En-lai intended to go to Bern to pay a The North Korean delegation was completely government call. The date was set, but they under the Soviet thumb. Nam II, the Foreign wouldn't say whether he would travel by train or Minister and head of the delegation, was trained car. If he chose to go by rail, they wanted a pilot in Russia and only returned to Korea in 1945. train to precede him. However, in case he chose The Vice-Minister, Ki Sek Pok, was born in to motor-and they would not say by what route Russia. It was a complete puppet show. They -they wanted to be sure that there would be moved around 'in Soviet cars with Russian drivers Swiss soldiers at every crossroad. For three days and Russian guards. the Swiss inquired in vain whether Chou En-Iai had made up his mind. UntH the very morning The Case of the Counterfeit Bills of his trip the Chinese withheld the information ----from the very people they were asking for In such a climate of fear and distrust, the protection! slightest incident takes on the proportions of a For his headquarters Molotov rented a spacious catastrophe. One day two White Russian emigres house, "Les Chatillons," which belonged to an came to Geneva from Brussels and threw some official in the Geneva canton council. The Soviets phoney Russian money on the side,walk in front immediately had it surrounded by a heavy picket of the hotel housing the Soviet delegation. One of Swiss soldiers. When Molotov arrived, his per­ side of the ,counterfeit bills looked like real Soviet sonal bodyguards and security officers objected currency. But on the other side was an eloquent to the tapestried wall panels. They feared con­ plea to the Russians to see for themselves how cealed microphones and wanted to remove the much more attractive life was in the free world, tapestries. When the owner refused to have his and to throw off the Soviet yoke. The chauffeurs walls defaced, the Soviets reluctantly accepted of the Soviet limousines standing at the hotel the house as it was. entrance naturally picked up the "money." The "Les Chatillons," cleared of all Swiss personnel, Soviet security people thereupon became frantic. became Molotov's official residence. But the Swiss Though the Swiss police quietly sent the two believe that Molotov hardly spent a night there. White Russians back to Brussels, the Russians Each evening after dark two heavily armored continued to go about as if the next move of limousines with drawn shades left "Les Chatillons" the two might be to bomb the hotel and wipe out for a town house which the Russians had ac­ the 'entire Sovie't delegation. quired from the Latvian Republic when they ab­ The Soviet officials were afraid of all anti­ sorbed the Baltic countries during World War communist refugees, but they were equally sus­ Two. N'o outsider ever saw who stepped out of picious of their own men abroad. Lesser members the cars, or who stepped in them in the morning. of their delegations, housed in hotels, were al­ The Soviets' town house was less ,comfortable, lowed out only in groups,and always watched by but sure to be free of microphones. security men. It was an atmosphere of double For Chou En-lai, the Chinese security people or triple-decker security; every Soviet official inspected the Montfleury estate, a 20-room man­ was afraid of his own shadow, and ,every Soviet sion not far from Molotov's official residence. security man was regarded as a potential traitor, They were about to close the deal when they and watched by the other security men. When heard that the place had been looked over and the conference ended, the Soviets took with them rejected by the Russians. They went into a huddle. their diplomatic successes, their secret papers, Did they fear that the Russians had planted mi­ their cars, their planes and their stooges and crophones in the house? The Swiss told them put them once again behind their Iron Curtain. that the Soviets' visit had been brief, and that Whenever and wherever the Soviets sit down they had not been left alone. With this assurance to tackle fundamental problems with the repre­ the Chinese decided to take the place-and they sentatives of other countries-be they from the camped right there, apparently afraid to leave communist East or the free West-one finds the the new residence of Chou En-lai unguarded for same atmosphere of suspicion and distrust that even an hour. prevailed in Geneva. It is as if the Kremlin's As soon as they occupied the estate the Chinese constant watchword, at home 'and abroad, is "'Dis­ dis,missed all Swiss servants, and put up a barbed- trust Thy Neighbor as Thyself."

The whole of the history of civilization is strewn with creeds and institutions which were valuable at first, and deadly afterwards. WALTER BAGEHOT

514 THE FREEMAN A Farmer Fights for Freedom

The case of Joseph Blattner has become a national By CY PETERMAN issue. The outcome will determine whether farmers have the right to plant their land as they please.

Spring planting had begun, and 82-year-old Joseph among top growers, so that five of the very biggest Blattner, a pious poultryman who has farmed 108 in 1953 collected $500,000 each in federal loans on acres in southeastern Pennsylvania since 1903, was their crops. And the same agencies, dealing with musing on the Apostle Paul's epistle to the Gala­ little farmers, pace off, measure and restrict by tians: "... for whatsoever a man soweth, that aerial photographs the precise amount they may shall he also reap." grow. In the case of Blattner, they didn't even care Farmer Blattner wondered. In half a century, whether he had signed on for the government aid; man and boy, he had seen about all that can hap­ and that's where the trouble began. pen upon the average acreage: drought, flood, frost, fire, blizzard, death, depressions. The Scrip­ Grain for Their Own Hens tural figure of speech had covered a lot of territo­ ry, thought the elder agriculturist. But there was When the County Production and Marketirg Ad­ more, something St. Paul could not have antic­ ministra;tion office in Collegeville, Penr..sylvania, ipated: the often amended but seldom questioned notified Blattner and his son John, who manages Agriculture Adjustment Act of 1938. Revised for the farm, that they could plant 16 acres of wheat wartime with price floors and ceilings, the Act's and no more, they paid no attention. They sovved fa~m marketing and crop acreage control pro­ 24 acres, with more in corn, enough for the proper vision had at last ensnarled him. Because of that feeding of 6,000 laying hens that are the mainstay law, the Blattner who sowed 24 acres in wheat for of their operation on North Wales Road, near the his chickens-instead of the government-,allotted old Welsh community of Center Square in Wor­ 16-had as part of the previous harvest reaped a cester township, just beyond Philadelphia's legal whirlwind which today is moving toward the suburbs. United States Supreme Court. When the agency men came to check on the There at last, it is hoped by Blattner and his acreage, Blattner told them to go away; he wasn't smallholder friends, the case of the farmer who having strangers tromp down his wheat. wantrS no government help and takes none, may ob­ But after the harvest came a notice from the Col­ tain jus,tice. And, in the process, may restore a legeville office. The Blattners were fined $1.12 a measure of private, competitive enterprise to the bushel on an estimated 160 bushels produced on American farm. Blattner is appealing against the the exce,srS eight acres-a total of $179.20. More­ AAA, alleging that his freedorr... to farm and earn over, their entire wheat crop for th~t year was a living as provided under the Fifth, Ninth and subject to government lien, to insure payment. Tenth Amendments to the Constitution, is being When the man came around, Blattner said: denied. Along with tens of thous,ands like him, he "I won',t pay. This is s,till a free country, ain't ilt? is fed up. We need that wheat for the chickens. A man still For Joe Blattner, God-fearing, unsubsidized and has a right, if he don't oblig.ate himself to govern­ independent, is an old-fashioned, grass-roots Ameri­ ment, to f,arm the way he likes." can who decided to put up a good fight. He is at The story broke on August 11, 1954, when Blatt­ odds with the world's bulkiest wheat broker, Un­ ner's lawyer-farmer neighbor, J. Kennard Weaver, cle Sam. He has dared to oppose the United States backed by an indignant farmer group that included Government agency that has been buying up and Bert Shontz, farmer-publisher of the Montgomery storing wheat for so many years it's now running County Farmer, filed suit in U.S. D,istrict Court, out of the federal ears, bulging every granary and to have the f.ederal farm marketing and administra­ available storage, including makeshifts and stacks tion features of the Act declared unconstitutional. that spoil in the field, until the surplus is reported Specifically, the complaint asked that the govern­ to be a billion dollars' worth. Such a surplus, in ment also be enjoined from interferance with the fact, that a White House expert, Mr. Nelson Rocke­ plaintHf's sale of his produce, or purchas.e of wheat feller, was asked to devise ways to give some of it and raising of grain to feed his chickens. away. The basis of the suit was in the fact that none of At the same time, it must be noted, U.S. farm the Blattner farm produce-grain, chickens, 0"­ agents continue to promote bigger wheat crops eggs-w,as involved in interstate commerce, the

JUNE 1955 515 regulation of which provides an all-cover,ing canopy Appeals were ,anticipated, and the :fund raising be­ under which Washington legislates and controls. came serious. In short, the Blattners, their neighbors, and most Incidentally, it is a curious fact that though the of the 1,400 farmers in Montgomery County merely 1,400 Montgomery County farmers were predomi­ sought to be let alone..Joe Blattner didn't complain nantly against farm suppor1ts and controls, or..ly 85 about what others w,ere doing or receiving; he sim­ of that number were eligible to vote on this ques­ ply asked for his inherited privilege of f,arming his tion, under the Farm Administration's rules. Any own land in his own way, with the right to sell the farmer planting less than 14 acres of wheat had product of his own hands in a free market. no vote. Only 27 of the 85 eligibles voted, and they People from nearly every state wrote to Blattner were 22 to 5 against taking federal aid. and his group. Letters and telegrams poured in, and checks in modest sums for the "war chest" needed The "Wheat Penalty Minutemen" to carry the suit through the courts. "It is a rare and wonderful experience, in these The original comml,ttee formed to push the suit times, to know that one man has courage enough included besides the two Blattners ,and Shontz, the to challeng.e the world's course toward tyranny and Herr brothers of Trooper, Harold Fink of North slavery, by recognizing this tr,end in our own coun­ Wales, and Charles J,ensen and his son of Lansdale. try," wrote an Eas,ton, Pennsylvania, citizen. They called thems;elv,es the "Montgomery County Joseph Blattner's house became a meeting place, Wheat Penalty Minutemen," and met the first time his farmyard an open-air forum. Television and in Mr. Jensen's home. The latter is a cattlem,an, lost movie cameras were set up in the chicken runs; his a son in World War T'wo, and holds strong feelings story went coast-to-coas,t by press, radio, TV and the on freedom and individual liberties. These men put magazines-it lasted several weeks. up the first money ne1eded, and called on their neigh­ Editor Shontz blazed away with letters, editorials bors for donations. and reports. Farmers' associations watched close­ A bank account was opened, and enough contri-· ly, and the leaders took counsel. Some came out on butions-from 25 different states-were received Blattner's side, others rode the fence. Privately, to carry the case through U.S. Appeals Court. many a farmer acc.epting government aid, and not "Task Force Blattner" was variously warned to a few in the agencies themselves, hoped the old man layoff, but the farmers didn't scare. There were might win his case. But it was expected the gov­ hints of repri!sals---the long-practiced "runaround" ernment would make a strong defense, and it did. by federal agents, withholding of marketing cards, added penalties, reduced allotments-suggesting Russia. "In this part of the country we are not radiicals," wrote Schontz, "nor are we reactionaries. We'd like the rest of America to know we aren't federal aid moochers, either. We just want to operate un­ der laws of supply and demand, restoring our God-given, democratic fashion of living." Charles Edwards, up from a sick bed, showed up one day at Blattner's farm and endorsed over a $100 check. "I farmed 200 acres here until five years ago," he reported. "Had three nic@ farms. But I just got tired being pushed around by gov­ ernment-hacked competi,tion. When the hired hands began telling me what they would and wouldn't do, and I found myself doing the heavy jobs, I gave up. Small farmers don't have a ghosit of a show, nowadays...." Nevertheless, the Pennsylvania Farmers Associ.a­ tion and the Farm Bureau urged Shontz and his colleagues to "duck it." They said it might prove "economic suicide." The farmers responded by col­ leeting $3,500 and filed the complalint. The original hill of particulars, a,s written by attorney W,eav,er, ,aHeged that the U.S. Government, through farm price and marketing acts originally passed by Congress to encourage the wartime pro. Farmer Joseph Blattner, eighty-two years old, and his duction of more food, was depriving Blattner of the son John 1'ead a wheat acreage control notice they re­ right to make a living and would ultim'ately put him ceived from the Federal Marketing and Control Agency. out of buslines,s. B,ecause the government limited

516 THE FREEMAN his acreage, forcing him to buy wheat outslide at the Fifth Amendment-an appeal wa,s immediately subsidiz'ed prices, Blattner could not remain in com­ taken. petition, the brief held. His income from poultry One of attorney Weaver's .gtrongest arguments is did not perimit purchase of the extra wheat required. his declaration that the Agr,icultural Adjustment Mor,eover, said the complaint, Blattner's chicken Act is class legislation, in that "it takes property and egg production went into strictly local mar­ from one clasls, the rais'ers of poultry, and gives it kets. Since it is the constitutional provision for to another class, the big growers of wheat." Under control of interstate commerce that opens the door the F:ifth Amendment, which, he remarks, is today for the whole AAA program, and in Weaver's frequently used to protect tra:itors and criminals, words, "permits the government to take from one the taking of property without due process of law group to give to another," this point comprised the is prohibited. But, he .adds wryly, "that process" heart of the suit. The brief also stated the griev­ is harder to obtain for the honest citizen. ances of thollsandsof· small farmers who are to­ "If this Court does not sltop the defendant, the day in this predicament of being "frozen out" be­ protection of the good individual and his property cause of the farm assistance act-a boon to the by our Constitution has become a mirage," Weaver's big boys, but a heartbreak to the small holder. appellant brief continues. He descrihes the buck Were the decision to favor Blattner, it would of passing between legislative and judicial branches course upset the whole farm price and control in the following 'way: structure, a multi-billion-dollar operation that has The legislator considers enacting of economic continued now for 17 years. It would l,ikewise cramp legislation by which to transfer by legal force the the farm-vot,e seeker in some sections, send many property of one class to another class. But the a rural tycoon back to the law of supply and demand, constitutionality of this legislation, this transfer, is and put an awful dent in Welfare Statism. quickly raised. Does the legislator pause? He does not. "Pass the law, and let the courts decide its consti­ Complaint Dismissed tutionality," says the legislator.... Later, the courts refuse to consider its constitu­ But Joseph Blattner wasn't destined to wlin tionality, saying: "The decision as to whether taking quickly. In a brief opinion express'ed February 3, from one class for the benefit of another promotes the 1955 by u.s. District Judg,e Allan K. Grim, the general welfare, is a political decision for the legisla­ tor." In the case of Wickard vs. Filburn, on page complaint was dismissed on the grounds that all its 13, the Justice did just this in the following terms: contentions "have been denied in a previous suit "It is said, however, that this Act, forcing some (Wickard vs. FHburn, 317 U.S. 111) in 1942." farmers into the market to buy what they could Attorney W'eaver promptly charged the federal provide for themselves, is an unfair promotion of court was "passing the buck," an old maneuver in the markets and prices of specializing wheat growers., It is of the essence of regulation, that it lays a re-, such highly charged polit,Ical legislation. He said straining hand on the self-interest of the regulated" the Wickard-Filburn opinion, written by the late and that advantages from the regulation commonly­ and liberal Justice Robert H. Jackson, took cogniz­ fall to others. The conflicts of economic inteTest be­ ance of three important factors not present in the tween the regulated and those who advantage by it, aJre wisely left under our system to resolution by the Blattner suit. These were as follows: Congress, under its more flexible and responsible 1. In the suit of Roscoe C. FHburn, an Ohio legislative process. Such conflicts, rarely lend them­ farmer, against the then Secretary of Agriculture, selves to judicial determination. And with the wis­ Claude R. Wickard, the plaintiff was found by dom, workability, or fairness of the plan of regula­ Justice Jackson to hav,e suffered no loss. In Blatt­ tion, we have nothing to do." ner's case, definite loss .j,S admitted in the C,ourt's This is twentieth-century legalism for Pilate's old ruling. hand"wash1ing act. In effect, it is the court saYiing: 2. In the Filburn case, a subsidy was received by "Yes, boys, this is a little rough, but it's regula­ the plaintiff, making him more or less subject to tion, and when it comes to that our Congress regulations contained under the Act. Farmer Blatt­ wisely takes charge, and you mustn't expect the ner refused all subsjdies, and none wereg,iven. courts to step in with a little jurisprudence." 3. In the FHburn bill of pa~t!iculars, it wa'S Professor Walter Gellhorn, Columbia Univer­ shown that some of the wheat had been sold, and silty's law authori,ty, recently took a dim view of while Justice Jackson said its preoise dispos,ition this legislature-to-judiciary shuttle game. w:as not shown, it must be presumed to have entered "Nothing j,s so destructive of democracy as a into interstate trade. Blattner sold no wheat what­ ConstituUon which we hel:ieve protects our freedom, ever, and the product of his own wheat-eggs-was but which in practice i,s construed away by the sold for local consumption on the domestic market. courts," he said, although the statement had no For these "controlling reasons," and because the connection with the Blattner case. government's authority ds claimed under the inter­ The Fif,th Amendm'ent has come into the news in state commerce ,regulation clause, and becaus'e pla-in­ recent years because Americans caned before con­ tiff Blattner is deprived of the use of 92 of his acre's gressional committees, merely for questioning, have for wheat grOWling-thus violating his r.ights under invoked i,t, and almost unanimously the American

JUNE 1955 511 priess, radio and intellectuals have made much of cifically Blattner's right to make a living by feed­ it. Yet in cases like Blattner's, where government ing his own wheat to his chickens. agents with no other purpose than to promote pa­ "We here r,each the Rubicon in our constitutional ternalist measures mareh lin with alloc3kion orders, history," the attorney concludes. "The denial of the acr;eage charts, aerial photographs, and per bushel complaint by this farmer will effect the cross!ing. levdes if there be overlimit production, these same "If this Court gives the Federal Gov,ernment ab­ defenders of the citizen',s rights remain strangely solute control over this non-subsidy takJing farmer, apathetic, if not aUogether sHent, says Weaver. it is the same as sayJing: 'The Nointh and T,enth "Nor shall private property be taken for a public Amendments to the Constdtution are hereby r,e­ use, Wiithout just compensation," reads the F:ifth pealed. The Federal Government now has full con­ Amendment. trol over the indivddual and his property 'in ev,ery Whereupon, Weaver states, the government activity in all states of this Union." seeks to take $179.20 from the plaintiff in fines, and To Joseph Blattner, ponde~ing in the twHight of would force him ,to buy governm'ent-priced wheat a life spent upon the free soil of a once free from already oversubsidiz,ed wheat tycoons, so that Amerric,a, it was all legalistiic and very confusing. the small operator grows smaller and the wealthy St. Paul had stated the problem more suc0inctly. In governmentward grows richer. the third verse of the sower and reaper parable he Under the Ninth and Tenth Amendments, the urged the Galatians: brief continues, the plaintiff is denied rights re­ "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due served to states under the Constitution, and spe- season we shall reap, if we faint not."

The Double Standard • In Education By ANTHONY T. BOUSCAREN

William E. Bohn, writing recently in the N e'w past era, but no effective aid to anti-Soviet under­ Leader, discussed the Remington and Hiss cases, grounds today; no aid to Finland in 1939 be­ and concluded that a system of education which cause it might jeopardize our neutrality, but all­ appears to regularly produce this type of mind out aid to the Popular Front regime in Spain; needs overhauling. He expre'ssed concern that our antagonism and hostility to McCarran, Jenner young people are not receiving "a realistic edu­ and Knowland, but tolerance and understanding cation which will fit them to stand up against for Glen Taylor, Henry Wallace and John the strarins and tricks and traps of life in this Stewart Service; communist teachers in the schools complicated age." in the name of free speech, but no Bundists or Unhappily, there do not seem to be any changes advocates of racial supremacy; and so it goes. forthcoming in our schools and colleges. I refer specifically to the double standard which has "Understanding" the Communists long prevailed in the social sciences especially: nazism and fascism had to be stopped, even at the Far from abolishing this double standard which risk of war; communism, on the other hand, needs ,creates a blind spot in the thinking processes of to be "understood" and accommodated; we must many who later find their way .into government, coexist with communism because the alternative education and the mass media, modern education is war. seems to be perpetuating it. Recently the N e1J) This curious double standard ,is further mani­ York Times Youth Forum discussed the question fested in these various ways: no diplomatic rec­ "Is Coexistence With Russia Possible?" The gen­ ognition of Manchukuo or de facto Hitlerian eral 'Consensus of guest Harrison Salisbury and Europe, but recognition for Red China; support five of the six college students participating was of congressional committees investigating crime that we had to coexist 'with the U.S.S.R. or there and corruption, but not of congressional commit­ would be war. It is not the purpose of this article tees investigating communism; censure of Mc­ to analyze the coexistence issue, but suffiee it Carthy for intemperate language, but not of to say that if we have decided to .coexist with Flanders for intemperate language; economic aid an expansionist-minded dictator, we will have to to ~ommunist-ridden Indonesia but not to Spain; continue to retreat "in order to keep the peace." effective aid to anti-faseist undergrounds in a Neville Chamberlain wanted so much to coexist

518 THE FREEMAN with Hitler that he handed over Czechoslovakia them credit for realizing that war won't solve to "keep the peace." Roosevelt at Yalta wanted the problem. . ." (communist attacks on Poland so much to avoid a showdown with Russia that and Finland in 1940, :Greece in 1947, and Korea he conceded East Poland and Manchuria (with­ in 1950 were not wars?). out consulting the Poles or the Chinese). Truman Bertrand Pogrebin of Rutgers reduced the mat­ was so eager not to antagonize to Soviets that ter of our relations with the Soviets to a re­ at Potsdam he granted almost all their requests lationship between democracies and dictatorships, in East Germany, East Austria and the Danubian as did Gracine MacCarrone of Hofstra College. basin. Eisenho1ver wanted "peace" and eoexistence The former held that we should be able to get in Korea so much that he permitted the ag­ along 1vith Russia because "the United States gressor-Red China-to remain in North Korea has found it possible to get along with other which had been invaded in violation of the UN nondemocratic nations" (like Hitler and Tojo?). Charter and UN resolutions. Mendes-France was This argument also overlooks the fact that some similarly motivated when he and his associates dictatorships, however undesirable, r'efrain from sacrificed twelve million North Vietnamese on aggressive wars against their neighbors. Miss the altar of coexistence at Geneva. Here was MacCarrone sought to clinch the argument when the true measure of the morality of the coexist­ she exclaimed: "I feel! that w,e can get along with at-any-price policy. Russia; we get along with Franco, who is a dictator" (but not a dictator who invades the Student Opinions territory of his neighbors, inflicts casualties on 150,000 American boys, and murders 10,000 war 'Getting back to the New York Times Youth prisoners) . Forum: Mr. Salisbury started things rolling by The only dissenting voiee was that of Judith stating that coexistence "could be accomplished Sheridan of St. Joseph's College, Brooklyn. She if there ,is courage and good will by both parties" suggested that Russia should "prove her good (one is tempted to say here that the courage intentions" before the United States removed and good will of the Czechs in 1938 and the trade barriers. From what the other panelists Koreans in 1950 was of little avail). Edward White had said, however, it was clear that this sort of New York University expressed the opinion of "anti-Russian" talk would only serve to "in­ that the UN would serve as "a buffer" to pre­ creas'e tensions" and jeopardize ucoexistence." serve the peace between the United States and I sympathize with William Bohn's appeal for the U.S.S.R. (just like the League of Nations more realistic education about totalitarianism. served as a buff,er between the West and Hitler?). 'Experience indicates, however, that a double Leland Jamieson of Trinity College insisted standard of thinking continues in our schools. that we must affer the Soviets a umodus vivendi Unless and until social science teaching cleans that is not anti-Russian" (recognition of Red house, we shall be 'educating more Hisses, Rem­ China and no rearmament of West 'G,ermany?). ingtons, Coes, Whites and Glassers. As things Sarah Lawrence's Ruth Aeker said: "I don't stand now, education is not the answer to com­ think the Russians want war. We have to give munism.

As a Private Citizen

... I would flatly oppose any grant by the federal gov1ernment to all states in the Union for educational purposes .... unless we are careful, even the great and necessary educational processes in our country will become Y1et another vehicle by which the believers in paternalism, if not outright socialism, will g,ain still additional power for the central govern­ ment.... Very frankly, I firmly believe that the army of persons who urge greater and greater centralization of authority and greater and greater dependence upon the federal Treasury are really more dangerous to our form of government than any external threat that can possibly be arrayed against us. I realize that many of the people urging such prac­ tices attempt to surround their particular proposal with fancied safe­ guards to protect the future freedom of the individual. IVry own conviction is that the very fact that they feel the need to surround their proposal with legal safeguards is in itself a cogent argument for the defeat of the proposal. DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, from a letter to Ralph Gwinn, published in the Congressional Record for June 14, 1949

JUNE 1955 519 Toward A Labor Government

Leaders 0 J labor unions, a favored class, By DONALD R. RICHBERG now seek openly to establish a compulsory society under their personal government.

The purpose of the leaders of organized labor to he must join the particular union which made establish a socialist labor government of the the agreement with his employer-or lose his job. United States was made evident in an argument You may also note that all kinds of unions made by the American Federation of Labor, in a are included in the description of a "social organi­ case which I argued against it in the Supreme zation founded upon equality, justice and law." Court of the United States: Perhaps you may wonder whether communist-ruled unions merit such a flattering description, or, The worker becomes a member of an econo.mic society when he takes employment ... The union whether unions ruled by extortioners or violent is the organization or government of this society and tyrannical bosses should be classified as ex­ ... It has in a sense the powers and responsibili­ emplars of "equality, justice and law." ties of a government. Obviously, to govern such an economic society A Challenge to Liberty you must control its political machinery. This is well understood by our labor leaders, whose imme­ Now, as a matter of fact, unions at best are diate program to increase their political power simply organizations of men and women who by has two principal objectives: concerted action try to make a better living under First, to unite all labor organizations in one better conditions. This is also the aim of many federation, or at least in a concert of action, to other organizations that make no claim to holy have laws enacted which favor union labor. virtue and im,munity from criticism. But there Second, to repeal the state laws that forbid a is a vast difference between voluntary organiza­ union closed shop, and then to force employers tions, whose members can resign if they don't everywhere to agree not to hire or to retain any like their.policies or their management, and a employee who does not join a union, pay its dues, closed shop union whose members are compelled and submit to its discipline. to support union policies and bosses or lose their There is nothing uncertain about this determina­ livelihood. tion of union officials to acquire monopoly power The development of societies of human beings over all industrial employment.s. Again I quote cooperating for their mutual benefit has raised from the Supreme Court ,argument of the A. F. man from animalism to civilization. But even of L.: a voluntary society must have some sort of gov­ ernment. As long ias membership in it is volun­ We can summarize the nature of union member­ tary some restraints of individual liberty are nec­ ship as a common condition' of employment in an essary, and will be accepted, to prevent disorder industrial society by again comparing it to citizen­ ship in a political .society. Both are compulsory and anarchy. upon individuals. . Unfortunately, the organization of any society develops a governing class that inevitably seeks The union leaders have a short answer to the to increase its power. Sometimes this desire for argument that compulsory membership in a union power ri.ses from apparently laudable motives: is a violation of the fundamental freedoms which to make people happier, more prosperous or more are constitutionally guaranteed to all Americans. virtuous. Such intentions are always claimed by The A. F. of L. argues: aspiring rulers. Sometimes power hunger is just The liberty of the individual is not the right a base desire for power itself, an ambition to to license, but particip'ation in a social organiza­ rule others for personal profit or glory. These in­ tion founded upon equality, justice and law. The tentions are never admitted. The corrupting influ­ union is that organization for employees. ence of power is one of the few positive laws of Accordingly, the liberty of an A,merican worker political science. does not include the right to refuse to join a For centuries, human beings formed economic union, but only the right to be a member of a and political societies of every conceivable charac­ union. Even this peculiar liberty, however, does ter for mutual aid and protection. As these soci­ not include a right to join any union the worker eties grew larger, their governments became big­ chooses because, under a union shop agreement, ger and more powerful-and more tyrannical. Then

520 THE FREEMAN the demand for individual freedom, which seems prises to yield to their demands, the union bureaU­ to be born in every human being, became strong crats will be able to maintain their private tyran­ enough to challenge the concept of a compulsory nies. The unions are the only private organiza­ society governed by a divinely qualified ruling tions permitted to carry out vicious conspiracies class. A free society for free men under controlled against public and private interests in open dis­ government became the objective of mankind. regard of the laws that elsewhere protect the Here in America it seemed for many decades fives, business and property of a free people. that this ideal had been achieved. The only chal­ It is not surprising that such a favored class lenge to our' concept of individual liberty, the only now seeks openly to establish a compulsory society demand for unlimited government, came from a under their personal government. Already the small number of ineffectual Socialists. Then came unionists have been authorized by federal laws a great depression and two world wars, each con­ to fortify their autocracies with union shop con­ tributing to the expansion of government power; tracts under which every worker must pay them the expansion was made possible by a growing tribute and become subject to their rule. All that acceptance of welfarism. now stands as a legal barrier to compulsory union­ Welfarism included a special solicitude for or­ ism are the laws of eighteen states which forbid ganized labor. Laws were passed favoring the the union closed shop contracts which in other purposes of the union leaders. Their political states employers are compelled to sign; a clause power increased even as did their economic power, in the Taft-Hartley Act permits the enforcement and in time they conceived the idea of making of these laws by the states. This is most offen­ big government subservient to big labor. sive to the unionists because otherwise in all inter­ The strategy of the political laborites was, first, state enterprises the unions would be permitted to capture the Democratic Party. But because in by federal law to ignore and nullify these state some areas-particularly the South-the party was laws. historically committed to the principle of local self-government, and was therefore opposed to the Competition to Union Monopoly centralization that welfarism requires, the labor leaders could not put all their eggs in this basket. Their campaign against state right-to-work laws Nor did they write off the Republican Party; it emphasizes the fact that union officials are not contained a number who had been fortuitously sure they can persuade more and more workers converted to welfare state socialism. Their sup­ to join their unions. Most workers know how port of the laborite majority in the Democratic helpless they are to control union policy or to ad­ Party was needed. So, the purpose of achieving a vance their ideas or complaints. They have one of socialist labor government called for bi-partisan two choices. They can remain voiceless amd accept activities. the inevitable. Or they can resign from the union W,e now have a Republican President who, if employment in a non-union field is available. despite his earlier opposition to welfarism, has But if there is a union monopoly of the employ­ promoted many of its projects, like social insur­ ments for which they are fitted, they will submit ance, public housing, federal control of education to compulsory unionism rather than starve. -all deserving of more applause from labor than There is plenty of evidence that high union it has given. Eisenhower has not been adopted officials are concerned over two threats to their by the leaders because of a friendly disposition monopoly position. One is competition between toward free enterprise. They do not trust him unions; the other is competition between union to go all the way with them. When his Secretary and independent workers. They aim to end both of Labor openly advocated compulsory unionism, competitions. First, they would stop the unions he said that the Secretary spoke for himself only. from competing for members. Second, they would We have a Democratic Congress. But there are end the competition between workers by making many Republicans in Congress who are easily per­ all workers submissive members of non-competing suaded by union labor arguments, and many unions. The A. F. of L. argument in the Supreme Democrats who are not. So it is still sound strat­ Court made this policy plain in the extraordinary egy to work on both parties so that union labor contention that "workers cannot thrive but can only can always command a bi-partisan majority on die under competition between themselves." crucial issues. The crucial issues are more pro­ It is a curious fact that for thousands of years labor laws, of course; but even more important is workers have been competing without dying the prevention of any government action aimed to as a consequence. Despite labor organizations free industry from organized labor violence, or to that from time to time have tried to limit weaken the monopoly control of labor by its or end competition between workers, they have, leaders. under persistent competition, steadily improved So long as government-local and federal­ their abilities, increased their productivity and allows labor unions to use brute force to paralyze their wages. With the aid of machines and other vital industries and to compel business enter- managerial devices to increas-e productive capacity,

JUNE 1955 521 which labor organizations have usually opposed, first, as to the unselfish virtue of labor unions and competition bet.ween workers has brought about labor leaders, and, second, disillusion as to the a constantly rising standard of living. The great­ comfort and security of life in the welfare state est restraint on the continuing increase of the which organized labor is promoting. workers' productive capacity is imposed today by uniform union wages and rules which are designed [Reprints of the above article are available from the to end this beneficent competition. FREEMAN. See botto!Jn of p. 505 for prices.] The real fear of labor officials appears to be that the power and profit of their offices might vanish if they depended on the voluntary support of their members. They fear to have the value of their serv­ World Trade War ices tested by competition. Their customary claim is that practically all union members are loyal sup­ By OSCAR w. CO:OLEY porters of their union bosses and that. only the non­ union man is ,a menace to union solidarity. But. now "Pure, unadult,erated dumping," was the bitter and then an important unionist reveals the truth, comment by the New Zealand Dairy Board when which is that the object of compulsory unionism the U. S. Department of Agriculture offered ten is not to bring in new members but also to· establish million pounds of butter for export at competitive a power of discipline over old members. This was bids. Similar sentiment was expressed by Aus­ the frank admission made to a Senate committee tralia. The Netherlands and Denmark dispatched by 'George M. Harrison, President of the Railway sharp notes to the U. S. State Department. Clerks and a notable labor politician. Meanwhile, the House Appropriations Com­ Harrison told the Senators that he wanted to be mittee urged that more government-held com­ able to impose discipline on old as well :as new modities be offered in the world market on com­ members by having the coercive power of a union petitive bids. Secretary Ezra Taft Benson asked shop contract. Later he testified before a presi­ if he should sell commodities to the point of dential emergency board that it was very difficult breaking world markets. Jamie Whitten (Missis­ to govern an organization of 300,000 persons with­ sippi) chairman of the agriculture subcommittee, out having the police power of a public government. replied: "If it is essential to keep the American farmer from being cut back to domestic consump­ Peace or Submission? tion, I would say yes." Benson indicated he favored offering other There is a vast difference between the present commodities competitively, but he is opposed to campaign for universal compulsory unionism and "dumping." Commenting on competitive bids, he the negotiat.ion of many closed shop contracts in the said: "That's about the only way to find out what past. In the days when competition between many the world market price is... We've got to get our employees and between many unions left many fair share of the world market and fight for it." doors of employment open to independent workers, That, according to Henry Gemmill of the Wall no labor monopoly was established by such con­ Street Journal, is what practically every govern­ tracts. There was no threat of the concentration ment is doing-fighting for a share of the world of economic and political power in the hands of a market, using export subsidi,es and aids of a dozen union autocracy. Frequently an employer only kinds, including tax rebates, government loans, sought industrial peace by ending union rivalries guarantees against trading risks, currency reten­ when he signed an exclusive contract with one tion privileges, barter, double-price systems, and union. provision of artificially cheap raw materials to The repeated claim of the unions today is that manufacturing exporters. France this year is labor monopolies will bring peace. The establishment budgeting 100 billion francs for export aids. When of a business monopoly will likewise end competi­ a Frenchman exports a bushel of wheat and gets, tive strife. But a labor monopoly as well as a busi­ say, 600 francs for it, he in addition gets a sub­ ness monopoly can bring only the peace of submis­ sidy of some 440 francs from his government. sion to dictatorial power. When a Brazilian sends a dollar's worth of coffee Today the union bureaucracies are plainly seek­ to this country, he also pockets more than a dol­ ing supreme economic and political power. The lar's worth of cruzeiros from the government of union closed shop contract is a weapon of awesome Brazil. Thus, foreign protests at our dumping are force in that battle for power. The prospect of a very much a case of the pot calling the kettle socialist labor government is not remote. It would black. be clearly an early prospect except for two retard­ When governments support the prices of domes­ ing factors. One is the rivalries and jealousies that tically produced commodities, a world trade war still divide union labor and hamper the exertion of is bound to ensue. The obvious and only remedy united strength. The other retarding factor is the is for governments to get out of the business of disillusion spreading among the American people, trading in commodities.

522 THE FREEMAN A Prediction for America

This letter was written nearly a century ago by Thomas B. Macaulay to Henry S. Randall, an American literary friend.

Kensington, London, May 23, 1857 maintenance of order. Accordingly, the malcon­ Dear Sir, tents are firmly, yet gently, restrained. The bad ...I have long been convinced that institutions time is got over without robbing. the wealthy to purely democratic must, sooner or lat.er, destroy relieve the indigent. The springs of national pros­ liberty, or civilisation, or both. In Europe, where perity soon begin to flow again: work is plenti­ the population is dense, the effect of such in­ ful: wages rise; and all is tranquility and cheer­ stitutions would be almost instantaneous. What fulness. I have seen England pass three or four happened lately in France is an example. In 1848 times through such critical seasons... a pure democracy was established there. During a short time there was reason to expect a gen­ Through such seasons the United States will eral spoliation, a national bankruptcy, a new have to pass, in the course of the next century, partition of the soil, a maximum of prices, a if not of this. How will you pass through them? ruinous load of taxation laid on the rich for the I heartily wish you a good deliverance. But my purpose of supporting the poor in idleness. Such reason and my wishes are at war; and I cannot a system would, in twenty years, have made help foreboding the worst. It is quite plain that France as poor and barbarous as the France of your government will never be able to restrain the Carlovingians. Happily the danger was averted; a distressed and discontented majority. For with and now there is a despotism, a silent tribune, you the majority is the government, and has the an enslaved press. Liberty is gone, but civilisa­ rich, who are always a minority, absolutely at tion has been saved. its mercy. The day will come when, in the State I have not the smallest doubt that, if we had of New York, a multitude of people, none of a purely democratic government here, the effect whom has had more than half a breakfast, or would be the same. Either the poor would plun­ expects to have more than half a dinner, will der the rich, and civilisation would perish, or choose a Legislature. Is it possible to doubt what order and property would be saved by a st.rong sort of a Legislature will be chosen? On one side military government,and liberty would perish. is a statesman preaching patience, respect for You may think that your country enjoys an vested rights, strict. observance of public faith. exemption from these evils. I will frankly own On the other is a demagogue ranting about the to you that I am of a very different opinion. tyranny of capitalists and usurers. .. Which Your fate I believe to be certain, though it is of the two candidates is likely to be preferred deferred by a physical cause. As long as you by a working man who hears his children cry have a boundless extent of fertile and unoccupied f or more bread? land, your labouring population will be far more I seriously apprehend that you will, in some at ease than the labouring population of the old such season of adversity as I have described, do world; and, while that is the case, the Jeffersonian things which will prevent prosperity from re­ policy may continue to exist without causing any turning; that you will act like people who should fatal calamity. But the time will come when New in a year of scarcity, devour. all the seed corn, England will be as thickly peopled as old England. and thus make the next year a year, not of Wages will be as low, and will fluctuate as much scarcity, but of absolute famine. There will be, I with you as with us ... hundreds of thousands fear, spoliation. The spoliation will increase the of artisans will assuredly be sometimes out of distress. The distress will produce fresh spolia­ work. Then your institutions will be fairly brought tion. There is nothing to stop you. .. to the test. Distress every where makes the As I said before, when a society has entered labourer mutinous and discontented, and inclines on this downward progress, either civilisation or him to listen with eagerness to agitators who liberty must perish. Either some Caesar or Na­ tell him that it is a monstrous iniquity that one poleon will seize the reins of government with a man should have a million while another cannot strong hand; or your republic will be as fear­ get a full meal. fully plundered and laid waste by barbarians in In bad years there is plenty of grumbling here, the twentieth century as the Roman Empire was and sometimes a little rioting. But it matters in the fifth-with this difference ... that your little. For here the sufferers are not the rulers. Huns and Vandals will have been engendered The supreme power is in the hands of a class, within your own country by your own institu­ numerous indeed, but select; of an educated class, tions.... of a class which is, and knows itself to be, deeply I have the honor to be, dear Sir, your faithful interested in the security of property and the servant, T. B. MACAULAY

JUNE 1955 523 Why Do It Yourself?

The current "do it yourself" movement is more than a craze or a reversion to the By F. R. BUCKLEY stalwart pioneer: it's a revolt against the high cost and inefficiency of labor.

When one of my neighbors discovered how much stirs the mixture to keep a scum from .forming it would cost to build a walk from his front stoop on it." to his garden, he decided to cut expenses by pour­ You can guess what happened. My father's ing his own concrete. An energetic sort., he did, friend, an elderly gentleman, got to work with his and he buried his billfold (all but the tip), and son and did the job himself. He simply was not with it seventy-five dollars, his driver's license, going to be taken for a financial ride by the union, assorted keys and photographs. The moral of this and his determination caused a man to lose busi­ story, he tells me, is that there is more than one ness through no fault of his own. way to pour money down the drain. Verily, agree economists, we worship at the clay It Can Snowball feet of a new craze-the "do it yourself" fad which has swept the country, causing the sharpest in­ Laissez-faire economists, a more humane bunch crease in the accident rate noted in the last than people give them credit for being, worry thirty years and creating a brand new and boom­ about a man who is deprived of employment. This ing business for the hobby-shop proprietors. Five kind of thing can snowball, they muse. And rub­ years ago, it is estimated, there weren't 400 shops bing bald spots into their hairlines, they ponder in the nation devoted exclusively to hobbies. To­ what may be the consequences. They mumble, day, they reckon the number at 8,000. And while thinking out loud, "One housepainter, plumber or the "do it yourself" spirit has helped to create carpenter out of work can act as a symbol of the a flourishing industry in the manufacture and inability to buy. A sudden lack of wherewithal on supply of cement mix kits and three speed power the part of a considerable segment of the con­ screwdrivers, economists regard the phenomenon suming population can be disast.rous in a nation with glum disapproval, wagging their heads and geared to high production. If there is a temporary reminding us that "do it yourself" has but one abatement of demand in an economy still largely economic significance: we are retrogressing to based upon the law of supply and demand, it is the primitive days of our pioneering forefathers. economically like being all dressed up with no­ How so? Because unions have priced labor not where to go." only out of competition, as in the coal industry, Let's leave the economists muttering to -them­ but out of work itself. I remember what may have selves for a few moments and see what other fac­ been the start of this "do it yourself" revolution tors may have brought about the "do it yourself" (a revolt against the high cost of labor). Ten spirit. The high price of union labor isn't the years ago my father told me the story of a friend whole story. Most people are willing to pay for who decjded that his house stood in need of a new production, but they are not willing to pay to be coat of paint. He got hold of a painter and asked cheated. Three years ago there were several brick­ for an estimate. When he received the estimate, layers engaged in putting up a garden wall at a he could not credit his eyes. It seemed to him resort town in South Carolina. Union regulations a monstrous charge for doing a small home. He decreed that only two (or three) hundred bricks called the painter and said, "How can it possibly could be laid by a man in a day; and yet the em­ be so much?" The painter looked at him, abashed; ployer was charged seveTal dollars an hour for the he answered in a conciliating tone, "I know it labor. Work proceeded slowly, with many men em­ seems like an awful lot, but that includes my ployed at great expense, and it seemed as if the helper, and he gets a dollar an hour." garden wall would never be completed. One eve­ "Your helper!" father's friend cried, "Why ning, the houseowner took a walk in his garden. would you need an assistant for this little job­ Since it was way after working hours, he was and if you had one, why wouldn't the painting go surprised to find an old man still on the job. The faster?" The housepainter, apparently an honest speed at which this ancient worked was something fellow, seemed even more confused. He said, "You to see! The movements of his hands were deft, see, the union insists that I have a helper. He and a smile of satisfaction hovered over doesn't paint. He just hands me my brush and his lips as he manipulated trowel, mortar and bricks

524 THE FREEMAN ,vith the perfection of a person who loves his every thirty days. This worried the politicians, occupation. who 'were hellbent on creating a national emerg­ As the houseowner came up to him, the brick­ ency, and an elaborate study was rushed through to layer started back, a fleeting shadow of fear see if production could not be raised. Six months clouding his face. When he saw who it was, how­ of study and many Gallic tempers later, not an ever, he was visibly relieved. He laughed. "I guess additional airplane had been produced. Of course, you think I'm crazy working overtime?" The house­ one might lift up one's hand in mock despair, owner did not know how to answer, except to re­ shrug one's shoulders, and say "Mais les franfais; mark on the man's skill. "Yes, I'm a master," the que voulez vous?" And the man ,vho told me this old man agreed with straightforward regard for may have exaggerated. But the moral of his story the truth. "These apprentices, nowadays, they're is clear. No government blueprint can shore up an no good-never will be. Why, any bricklayer worth economy staggering under the twin burdens of his salt, any master, can lay fifteen hundred bricks high costs and low production. a day without sweat. That's why I'm here. I couldn't stand the slow pace. They get real mad if Bad Economics, hut ... you do any more than you're supposed to, so I had to sneak back. Somehow, it isn't right to cheat Economists are quick to point out that "do it the man who pays you." yourself" is not an answer to sky-high wages and Ridiculously high wages, coupled with the slow­ inefficient labor. Rather, they claim, "do it your­ down practices of unions, result in that absurd self" compounds the bad economics of the situation economic condition-expensive inefficiency. It is which it reflects. It is scarcely efficient (or cheap) to have Joe Dough, the accountant, play the plumber; or John Bro'wn, the bank clerk,attempt to build his own fireplace. Plumbing and masonry require high manual skill. They are not talents easily come by, acquired with the donning of khaki pants and an old shirt. Joe Dough and John Brown usually end up, after great expenditure, bleating for the man who is trained to do the job. Sometimes, though, the amateurs muddle through. The chair an amateur hammers and tacks together may not bring much at an auction in Parke Bernet, but it can be sat upon. This partial success is further weakening to the general econ­ omy, for it builds an economy based upon the jack-of-all-trades. The industrial progress of the last century has taught one important lesson, and that is that the jack-of-all-trades, howeveT lovable, is not efficient. Specialization is required for the complex system of mass production and distri­ bution which makes a modern industrial economy strong. Laissez-faire economists scoff at "do it yourself" enthusiasts who applaud the "new spirit of self­ sufficiency." Economists are realistic fellows, and *"For years Crosscut had me believing his union wouldn't let him repair things around the house." they are not taken in by romantic allusions to our pioneering forefathers; how those wilderness­ tamers stood on their own two feet, did everything this factor which makes a man take up his trowel for themselves from ploughing the ground to and do his own bricklaying; the significance of he,ving the timber. Economists jeer at such "do it yourself" lies in the fact that it indicates notions. Nonsense, they chorus. Our forefathers expensive inefficiency is becoming the rule. One may have been handy chaps, but they were a doesn't have to be an economist to realize what harassed lot living in a primitive economy, and this can do to a nation. A member of the French quick as a flash they would have traded (in fa~t, Maquis blamed his country's humiliating defeat on did) some of their precious self-sufficiency for just such a situation. He told me that several one or two of the conveniences we possess today. months before the war the French military air­ Economists, who may be joy-killers, delight in craft industry was producing but one airplane pointing out that if you would replace the popula­

-x. The cartoon for this piece has been reprinted by permission of tion of New York City with seven million sod­ Julian Messner, Inc., distributors of the book, Do It Yourself, Or: busting pioneers, they would all starve to death. ~i[), Neighbor Is An Idiot, by Brickman. 176 cartoons. New York: Gilbert Press, Inc. $2.95. The laissez-faire economist does not argue the

JUNE 1955 525 value of material progress-whether it is good or cially boost prices by inflation and subsidy, and bad. He is content to maintain that if you want only if the unions do not try to get something a lot of the things people seem to like, such as for nothing. "Do i.t yourself," warn laissez-faire television sets, foreign sports cars, mixmasters economists, means that prices have risen so far and, yes,even "do it yourself" kits, specialization's above the market value that people no longer will efficient mass production system is the only way of tolerate them. When this happens, we had better getting them. This system works to the advantage watch out. The man who can do it himself is likely of the consumer only if government does not artifi- to build his own cradle and dig his own grave.

I Left Government Service

A first-hand story- of how it feels to be By ED'WARD R. VINSON enmeshed in the red tape, directives and demoralization of the federal bureaucracy.

Ten months ago, I resigned from an $8,000 posi­ to be sure that no one sloughed off five minutes tion with Uncle Sam, and took a job for approxi­ before quitting time. One tall and bony boss I mately one half that much. I did this after putting remember particularly. He would flit from one door in more than ten years with the government, after to another, appearing suddenly out of nowhere passing my fortieth birthday, and with two children only to vanish and reappear in another doorway to support. W"as I in my right mind? a second later. It was like seeing an old-time Mack The end of World War Two found me with a Sennett comedy, without being able to laugh. good legal background and a multitude of friends, but no office, no clients and no income; so when I No Safety Valve found a job with the Veterans Administration near home, I swung onto it. It was in Civil Service; And speaking of laughs, that brings me to a sub­ it offered short hours, long vacations, loads of sick j ect that is closest to my heart. The going can leave and retirement benefits that would take care get awful rough and the future dark and dim, but of me in myoId age. What more could a man if a man can laugh at himself and at the brass, want? I found out, in short order. he can endure almost anything-for a while, any- I had not been working for Uncle Sam a week how. That is one of the purposes of a company when the boss called a meeting and told us that we magazine. It allows the hired help to forget their were making a bad impression on the public by troubles; it lets the bosses see how they look to the leaving the building for coffee; we would have to employees, and provides a safety valve for pent­ get our coffee inside the building. That didn't up complaints and emotions. sound too bad, but a few months later, we received That is what we thought was the purpose of our another call. This time it was decided that too publication until one day a hapless reporter made many of us were going for coffee together; the a crack about "the boys from the bridge," and coffee break would have to be staggered. Next before he knew what was t.aking place, the un­ time we were staying too long. The time limit was fortunate scribe was summoned to the sanctum of ten minutes. New orders were issned. The brass the holy one and ripped from stem to stern for his met every week, and although there were other ill-chosen words. I know because I was in the problems discussed, coffee "vas the one we heard defendant's chair. The only excuse, said the prose- the most about. cutor, for a company paper, was to tell the em­ Getting to work on time was almost as bad. It ployees about marriages, births and deaths, and didn't matter very much what you did after you when a reporter ventured outside that field, he reached your desk, but if you were two seconds might hurt someone's feelings. Needless to say, late arriving in the morning, you were in serious nobody's, feelings were ever hurt by this reporter trouble; and that was true whether you happened from that day on, because he never reported for to be a file clerk or a medical doctor. You had to the paper again. Topside maintained its self­ explain your tardiness. respect. It was not at all unusual to find a $9,000 boss One day a field representative from Washington in front of the building in the morning, taking was in the office looking things over to see if we names of late comers, hanging around in the coffee were following the manual. (A manual is a book shop to see if anyone stayed too long, or watching of instructions which tells an employee the proce-

526 THE FREEMAN dure for carrying out a given law.) I had just com­ Job descriptions are written and rewritten all pleted a legal decision. It contained all the essen­ the time, and civil service teams are constantly tials of a decision and was only five lines in investigating to see that federal employees are length. I showed it to the man from Washington. doing what the job des1criptions tell them to do, "It's got to be longer," said he, "if you don't want to see that pay grades are proper and that un­ your pay grade cut. Stretch it out." necessary positions are eliminated. Since the Re­ So we stretched, although we alr1eady had more publicans have been in power, large cuts in per­ work than we could possibly do, and claims were sonnel have been made; but as a rule, the lower stacked to the ceiling, waiting to be adjudicated. paid positions suffer the most, and when the Several years later, when the work began to shuffling is all over, the supervisors are still slacken, there was no need for any such instruc­ there. tions. The natural processes of governmental opera­ I am not taking the position that the federal tions had been at work, and decisions had to be government should do away with all supervisors. long in order to comply with the multitudinous I do believe, however, that Uncle Sam's white regulations that had been issued. collar \vorkers are sufficiently intelligent and A simple law may be enacted by Congress, but by responsible for the government to get by with a the time an administrative agency of the govern­ whole lot less supervision, ·without sacrificing the ment has gotten hold of it and sprayed it. with quantity or quality of work performed. interpretations, garnished it with regulations and bolstered it with bulletins, it cannot be recognized. Is There Security? It. is like a snowball that grows larger and larger as it rolls down the mountainside. But the snow­ One day I was expressing my views to a well­ ball must stop rolling some time; regulations con­ known civic leader. "There are bound to be ob­ tinue until death of the statute, and old statutes jectionable features," said he, "to working for never die. Uncle Sam. You have to expect that, however, When I entered the government service, the law because any organization that is so large must upon which our operations was based was com­ operate systematically. But," he went on, "you paratively new, and we worked close to the statute can get one thing in federal employment that you itself, but as time went on there began to pour cannot find anywhere else. That is security." forth instructions and directives, manuals and There may have been a time when the civic flow charts, procedures and regulations, technical leader's statement was true; there may be some bulletins and emergency issues, and by the time I agencies of the federal government today where left, everything we did, from the way we punched you can be sure, if you do your work well, that holes in paper to the wording in our decisions, you will have a job until you are sixty-five. But was governed by some specific instruction. On top that is not the way I found it. of all this procedural mess, there was a little mat­ From the time I entered the government serv­ ter of reports. ice until I resigned, there was never a month free The person who re,ceived the mail in the office from rumors of one kind or another, demoralizing had to keep a report covering the various types of rumors. Reductions-in-force, commonly referred letters received every day; the lawyers kept a to as RIF's, were forecast every four to six record of the cases they handled and where the months, and were a constant specter haunting files went after leaving their desks; the stenog­ every office. Topside was usually operating far raphers kept a record of the number of lines enough below ceiling so that when the RIF's took they typed each day, and everyone's supervisor effect, few people actually lost their jobs; but no kept a record of the mistakes made by those under one knew for sure how drastic the cuts would be, his supervision so that he might prepare effi­ and the employees with the lowest retention points ciency reports. There were also daily reports, (figured on the basis of veterans' prefer1ence and weekly reports, monthly reports, annual reports, number of years in civil service) live in dread of work measurement reports and time-lag reports. a letter of termination. Throw all these things together and you can I remember two lawyers in the office with me. understand why most federal employees were They received formal notice of termination to desperate. take effect thirty days hence, and suffered the And there is the problem of supervisors. Are usual strains and rigors of facing unemploy­ they untrained or inefficient? Not on your life. ment. On the 29th day they were saved when two They have to spend half their time training and others resigned, but like the condemned man who learning how to do their jobs better, and the other receives a last-minute reprieve, they will never half is spent making reports. Yet the supervisors be able to forget those hours when the future I knew were, like the thousands who worked un­ looked dim. der their direction, as conscientious and honest Rumors of RIF's are bad enough, but rumors of as any people I have ever known. The trouble is consolidation are worse. Under General Bradley, there are too many of them. the Veterans Administration was decentralized,

JUNE 1955 527 and instead of one mammoth organization in If there are so many things wrong with federal Washington, there were created 13 branch offices, employment, why do so many people continue to strategically located over the nation. But when work for Uncle Sam? The answer is simple. General Bradley left the VA, reports began to In the first place, most federal employees de... circulate that some of the offices would be con­ velop hobbies which take their minds away from solidated with others. When the axe fell the first the frustrations of government work and give time, the number of Branch Offices was reduced them a certain peace of mind. Among thirty or from 13 to 10, and soon rumors began to boil forty persons in the office where I was employed, again-of further consolidations. If you have there was almost every kind of hobby imaginable, ever faced the threat of having to pull up roots from raising dogs, birds, flowers and cattle, to and move your family to a strange city, you know painting, writing and building. Here the employee what I mean when I say that it shakes you to the was boss, there were no regulations, no ceilings base of your spine, especially when the move does and no limitations. Here was something positive not carry a promotion with it. and creative. The ten offices were reduced to five, and then The second and principal reason is this. Ex­ to three. And although I believe that the Admin­ perience gained in government work has little istration acted wisely in consolidating the of­ value outside of government service. With few fices, I have to think of all the thousands of gov­ exceptions, work for Uncle Sam has no counter­ ernment employees whose lives were changed by part in private industry. A civil servant may the moves. Everyone was assured that he would know everything there is to be known about his be given a job of some kind if he wished to trans­ particular branch of the federal service, and be a fer to the new office, but the principal reason for real stem-winder in his department, but most of the consolidation was to save money for the gov­ this knowledge is useless to private industry. ocnment, and you don't do that by keeping the And in the event a government employee is same number of employees as before. fortunate enough to find someone willing to give "Bumping" employees with less retention points him a trial, he must start at the foot of the lad­ determined who got the jobs, and when one per­ der. This calls for the difficult job of revising son was "bumped" out of his position, he pro­ one's standard of living. If he decides to leave ceeded to "bump" the person beneath him, reten­ the government, then, he must make up his mind tion points permitting, and so on down the line to sacrifice the extra-curricular activities-shows, until someone was pushed out of the bottom. dances, football games, weekend trips and vaca­ l\iany people lost from one to four pay grades in tions. It's a high price to pay for the self-respect order to stay on the payroll, some of them with that comes from carving out a niche for oneself thirty years of service; others lost out completely in a competitive world. But I have found it worth or resigned rather than start again down the all the gold in Fort Knox, as well as all the tea in ladder. Don't talk "security" to these people. China.

On Compulsion

The only substitute for voluntary cooperation is compulsory cooperation. Where men cannot hope to receive an increased individual reward for increased exertion, the only alternative capable of inducing exertion is compulsion. Fear must take the place of hope; sullen resentment that of cheerful anticipation; distaste for exertion that of joy in the work produced. The feelings and opinions of the slave­ gang, cowering under the lash of a driver, must displace all other motives to exertion, and the efficiency of labor under socialism must sink to the inefficiency which is the universal attribute of slave labor.... The inevitable result of reduced efficiency is a reduction of the amount and a lowering of the quality of goods and services rendered.... As labor becomes less productive, the production of goods required for comfort and for ornamen­ tation must be curtailed, and labor must be concentrated upon the production of bald necessaries. With every further loss of efficiency this process 'must be ex­ tended, until the national dividend, receivable by every citizen, will consist of a smaller amount and variety of goods and services than is now at the command of average artisans. Not only monotonous uniformity, but general poverty, is thus the inevitable result of socialism. MAX HIRSCH, Del1wcracy Versus Socialism, 1901

528 THE FREEl\1AN A Reviewer's Notebook' J By JOHN CHAMBERLAIN j . _-S311

Nobody wants war. On the other mation from Crawford Sams, he York: Knopf, $3.75), which are hand, practically nobody wants to pressed Washington for an all-out good examples of the two types of give the world to the Communists attack, including an air bombard­ books which we have been getting without making a fight for it. ment of the installations across the about the Orient. Caldwell's is Strung up between these emotional Yalu. But instead of an order to hard and factual, a book built up antitheses, the nations of the West­ attack, Washington accepted the out of close investigation on the ern world pursue policies that fre­ communist bid for a truce. The spot. Reischauer's is vague ,and quently add up to precisely noth­ disease-ridden Red Chinese thus ideological, based on long-term ing. They are caught by the same wriggled off the hook. considerations that presuppose a "do-don't" psychology that kept The second time they wriggled off complete willingness to test out Washington, in December of 1941, the hook was at Dien Bien Phu. such concepts as the "two China from anticipating and frustrating That famous fortress had been built theory" and the possibility of co­ the Japanese attack on Pearl Har­ incomprehensibly in the middle of a existence and accommodation be­ bor. shallow bowl-the worst possible tween the West and Moscow. If there is a way of voyaging place for a fort in the days of old­ Now, it is entirely possible that successfully between Scylla and style or pre-atomic warfare. But, as the "two China" concept will have Charybdis, it would be first to find Admiral Radford, Vice President a ten, fifteen or twenty-year run for where the Communists are most Nixon and others in Washington its money, and it is also possible vulnerable and then to act close to pointed out, Dien Bien Phu could that coexistence of the communist the point of abandon when confront­ be easily defended by the newest and capitalist worlds can continue ing them at that particular spot. type of tactical atomic weapons. The just so long as the West has better Then they would have to put up or thing to do would be to wait until military weapons. Reischauer, in shut up. If the calculated risk were the Reds were climbing the outer other words, may be describing what to run into war, it would be war on sides of the bowl in which Dien Bien is going to happen. Caldwell's book, our own terms. Once-and even Phu was situated. Then light on the other hand, causes the reader twice-in the past five years we had bombers from U. S. aircraft carriers to ask just one question: why, since the Communists right against the could go over the Red lines and drop they are struggling against a thou­ wall. The first time was in the spring the small tactical atomic bombs. The sand disadvantages in trying to con­ of 1951, just before the North blasts would be deflected upward on solidate their shaky regime, why, oh, Koreans and the Chinese Com­ the Dien Bien Phu side-and so why should we let the Red Chinese munists cal1~d for a truce. The Reds would miss the French soldiers in­ off the hook for the third time in had staged an abortive offensive. side the fort. But the Red soldiers, five years? They seemed unable to push through whether Indo-Chinese or Chinese, with an attack. would be wiped out. The virtue of Mr. Caldwell's book It was at this moment that Since timidity-"nobody wants is that he has been to Quemoy and Brigadier General Crawford F. war"-prevailed just before the Matsu and knows what Chiang Kai­ Sams, who was General MacArthur's Korean truce and at Dien Bien Phu, shek has to throw against the Com­ public health officer, slipped behind the Communists got away with vic­ munists who have been trying to the enemy lines in North Korea. He tories at two places where they had build up a viable force on the in­ discovered that both the military led with their chins. Now, at Que­ vasion ,coasts of the mainland. It is forces and the civil population in moy and Matsu, they seem about to not so much that Chiang is really communist territory were suffering get away with another victory while very strong: Quemoy and Matsu from hemorraghic smallpox. They presenting a jaw that is patently could be overrun if a good push also were smitten with typhus and made of glass. could be mounted against them. But typhoid, and had no way of controll­ Mr. Caldwell, the son of a mission­ ing any of the dread diseases that I would not be so sure of this if ary, happens to have spent his child­ were causing the communist offen­ I had not read John C. Caldwell's hood on the coast opposite Quemoy­ sives to sputter into impotence Still the Rice Grows Green (312 pp., or Kinmen-and he has a great deal after any third day of sustained Chicago: Henry Regnery, $3.75) to tell us about the difficulties which fighting. and Edwin O. Reischauer's Wanted: the Red Chinese are encountering in When MacArthur got this infor- An Asian Policy (276 pp., N'ew their attempt to build up a force on

JUNE 1955 529 the mainland capable of crossing tactical type of atomic bomb, and the Caldwell, do they even know about even a few miles of water. Red Chinese would be compelled it here in America. The first big difficulty is either to desist or to pay through the The problem, then, is to get the the tangled geography of Fukien, nose. They might get Quemoy and news of Formosa agrarian reform Kwangtung, Chekiang and Kiang­ Matsu after a tough and debilitating to the folks in both Washington and si, which are the provinces that face fight. But Formosa, no. Peiping. Professor Reischauer does Formosa. From the coast of Fukien Since Mr. Caldwell proves pretty not tell us how that is to be done. there are only two highways into conclusively that Red China can be Lacking programmatic ways and the interior. The coastal highway checked by a show of firmness, why means, his generality is hardly from Amoy, which is just opposite bother with Professor Reischauer's worth very much to practical poli­ Quemoy, to Foochow has never been sophisticated proposals for dealing ticians and journalists in a practical completed through to the north. In with the heirs of Mao Tse-tung over world. order to reinforce their armies in the decades? All we have to do is This strange fact must hit a the neighborhood of Amoy, the to sit tight and let Chou En-Iai sput­ reader who has a long memory with Communists must move troops by a ter. If the Eisenhower Administra­ peculiarly telling force. For it roundabout way over seven hundred tion should, however, make it possi­ wasn't so long ago that the news miles of highways from Shanghai, ble for the Red Chinese to take about Mao Tse-tung's "agrarian re­ or over three hundred from inland Quemoy and Matsu without firing form" in Yenan, among the loess Kiang-si. a shot, then Reischauer's book would hills of northwest China, was every­ John Caldwell has traveled these become relevant. It would, however, where. The American press told highways by bus, by jeep and be the relevance of impotence. For about it in a score of articles. Theo­ on foot. The road from Fukien into once that it is granted that the U. S. dore White, Edgar Snow, Agnes Kiang-si crosses two five-thousand­ is a "paper tiger," we could hardly Smedley and heaven alone knows foot mountain ranges that remind hope to do more than Professor how many other journalists got paid Caldwell of the Great Smoky Moun­ Reischauer asks. handsome sums for telling us all tains in the American South, save about those wonderful "populists" that they are covered by vast bam­ Professor Reischauer has some and "Jeffersonians," the Chinese boo forests instead of hemlock and good general ideas. For example, agrarian Communists. It all sounded pine. he says the continental Chinese can just like Old Bob La Follette's Wis­ The mountains of the China coast hardly think in terms of a political consin! Yet now that Formosa has abound with tigers, leopards, wild alternative to communism unless provided its own agrarian reform, boar. Tigers have been shot within they realize one exists. "Formosa," an Iron Curtain seems to have de­ the city limits of Futsing, which is he says, "is the logical place for such scended on the U.S. press. Why? on the invasion coast just north of a demonstration." Its seven or eight It might be worth Professor Rei­ Quemoy. It would be impossible for million population stands far above schauer's while to find out. Of course the Communists to mass tanks in the mainland Chinese in living stand­ there is a possibility that Mr. Cald­ such country-and a single bomb ards, technical skills and literacy. well exaggerates about Formosa. can block any highway in Fukien at With this to build on, it is up to the But Caldwell is at least willing to a thousand different spots. As for Nationalist government, says Rei­ go out into the field with a pair of the rivers of coastal China, they schauer, to develop Formosa into a e'ars, a pair of eyes and a notebook. offer transportation of a sort. But successful democracy-and then to He can name names and quote state­ they are not exactly barge canals for advertise the product on the main­ ments. Somehow I trust that type placidity. The Min River, connecting land. of reporter. with the inland highway at Nan­ Well, what has been happening on ping, 150 miles from the sea, is Formosa? Mr. Caldwell, unlike Pro­ I also trust Emily Hahn, author wild and turbulent. It can be navi­ fessor Reischauer, went there with of Chiang Kai-shek: An Unauthor­ gated by launch·and even by sam­ the precise mission of taking a long, ized Biography (382 pp., New York: pan and junks---'but no junk, says hard look at the attempts of the Doubleday, $5). No Chiang idolator, Mr. Caldwell, has ever been able to Nationalist Chinese to make For­ Miss Hahn is an objective writer 5hoot the gorges and rapids of the mosa over on democratic lines. What with a mind of her own and a style coastal rivers at night. And, of he found was extremely encouraging. that is both illuminating and amus­ course, the Red Chinese cannot He discovered that real land reform ing. She calls a spade a spade. Writ­ move troops by sea to the invasion was already in the works. "The ing about the Henry Wallace war­ points opposite Formosa, or oppo­ thousands of ex-Communist pri­ time mission to China, she says: site Quemoy and Matsu, for soners of war who renounced Red "He was surrounded and advised by Chiang's navy, to say nothing of China at the tents of Panmunjom," State Department officials, most of the U. S. Seventh Fleet, controls he says, "and who now have re­ whom had made up their minds to Formosa Strait. turned to Formosa marvel at what encourage a policy of softness to­ In short, both Formosa and the they have seen. Over and over they wards the Reds." And writing about smaller islands are going to be the say, 'Why, if the people on the Chiang as of now, she quotes a very deuce for the Red Chines'e to mainland knew how you handled Kuomintang follower: "Chiang is so capture. A little firmness, a mere land reform there would be a revo­ obstinate he won't even stop hoping." willingness on our part to put in a lution!' Unfortunately the people Somehow you've got to like a man small air force armed with the there do not know." Nor, says Mr. like that.

530 THE FREEMAN ence" led to more "experience" but Untying Knots in Nothing never to a pearl of great price. Such a-philosophy of education, eagerly caught up and even The Nihilism of John Dewey, by Dewey, metaphysical - and there­ worsened by the sedulous apes of Paul K. Crosser. 238 pp. New fore useless. In such an a-philoso­ the minor schoolmen, is a perfect York: Philosophical Library. phy, how could science, metaphysics, explanation of our present educa­ $3.75 truth, exist? tional debacle. Dr. Crosser shows that Dewey Dr. Crosser has read the books So many catast.rophes have hap­ also destroyed art. Dewey objected for us and borne the pain. His pened to the American mind since to reverence for great works of art scholarship has documented and ex­ 1900 that it is presumptuous to -the Parthenon, the Ninth Sym­ posed. All serious students of Dew­ choose the worst: yet we cannot be phony of Beethoven, the plays of ey will always turn to this authori­ far wrong if we choose John Dewey. Shakespeare-in themselves. The tative if unhappy book, to under­ Dr. Crosser's thesis is well stated social tissue of events-the barking stand more clearly why so many in his preface: "Dewey's philosophy of an excited dog, the "need, say Americans' grasp of metaphysics in all its major aspects constitutes hunger for fre'sh air or food" that is rudimentary; why so much of our an attempt to destroy all philosophy. "denotes at least a temporary lack criticism and creation in art today ... Dewey has deprived those Amer­ of adjustment with surroundings" is ludicrous; and why so much of icans 'who have come under his in­ -are the basis of art, and are more our education has been and still is fluence of a general framework with­ important than experience-in-itself a parlor game of blindman's buff. in which they could place their become expression-for-itself. Crea­ E. MERRILL ROOT everyday activities. Dewey has made tive reflection upon life which raises America lose its perspective and life to a new intensity of being has thus greatly weakened the in­ was alien to him. Art was link or tellectual potential of American focus in an indiscriminate flux quo, Anti--Marxist Guide leadership at home and abroad." always functionally seeking to And who today has not come under change disturbance into equilibrium. The Anti-Bolshevik Bibliography, his influence? Thus art was a bridge that ended by Thomas Wilcox. 89 pp. Dis­ As this sound (if heavy) book in the passage across it. Art was tributed by Thomas Wilcox, 712 proves by text and line, Dewey's a brute formless contact with events, W. Second St., Los Angeles 12, nihilism-in relation to science, to not a selection and patterning of Cal. $4.00 art, to education-has fostered the events into meanint;". Denying value intellectual artificialities of today, because he saw only use, quality 'fhe author has compiled a bibliog­ carrying us toward the famous because he saw life as a flux of raphy of anti-Marxist lit.erature academy of Luggnag, to which only quantity, ,meaning because he which should s'erve as an excellent the pen of a Swift could do justice, thought life an eternal tying and guide to libraries, bookstores and where blind men mix paints for untying of knots in nothing, Dewey the reading public. artists and savants spend their time tended to destroy the sense for art. "Our side" has been woefully trying to extract sunlight out of 'weak on the ideological and propa­ cucumbers. Finally, Dr. Crosser proves that ganda fronts because its effective Dewey's prose was the bleakest Dewey destroyed education. To literature has not only been scant, aridity. Clumsy and abstract, it re­ Dewey, education must be "experi­ but also subtly suppressed in the minds one of a just wakened and ence" which is "growth"-but he popular review media and the broad­ peculiarly crabbed bear with arthri­ was unselective, uncritical of ex­ er fields of distribution. But the tis, trying to dance a minuet. For perience, void of values, so this list is growing, and this bibliogra­ Dr. Crosser, this is too bad; since "experience" is again a tying and phy alone contains more than 400 he must quote to document, his untying of knots. Discipline, skills, titles and 500 authors. They fur­ own book is heavy with Deweyisms, mastery of a subject, garnering of nish a real insight into the results as a barge that dredges a channel true experience into wisdom, the of Marxism, or, as the author pre­ is heavy with sand. Noone will read discovery of truth above the battle fers to call it, Bolshevism. He con­ the book for joy; but many should of relativities, were alien to him. tends that Marxism in practice is read it as a supremely good sum­ "Interrelations of means become something entirely different from mary and dismissal of Dewey as more urgent" (he said) with matur­ Marxism in theory-this is inevit­ philosopher. ity. "Interactions" was a favorite able because of the theory's inap­ Dr. Crosser shows that Dewey word. But interrelations of what, plicability-and that the difference reduced both the perceiving subject and means for what ends? Plato should be designated as such by and the perceived object to shadowy said that true education is to turn name, i.e., Bolshevism. abstractions, where the only "real­ the eye of the soul toward light; Libertarians who ask for this ity" seems an aroused need seeking to Dewey, it was the fixing of a bibliography at their library or a new equilibrium. "Mind" thus is blind man's fingers upon knots. The favorite bookstore will find it an a functional relativity-the flicker little busy bees of the world were excellent reference source. And they of an amoeba's pseudopodia probing to move, without direction or pur­ may prod bookdealers and librarians water or acid for functional· ad­ pose, through the "existential matrix into consulting it for guidance in justment to need. The nature or of inquiry," assuming that they recommended reading. being of amoeba or water were, to were "growing" as long as "experi- HELEN CARTIER

JUNE 1955 531 orders were, instantly on 'a' declara­ their supporters since Adam Smith Invited Attack tion of war, to get out of Pearl first mentioned the so-,called "dis­ Admiral Kimmel's Story, by Hus­ Harbor. advantage" of uncombined labor. band E. Kimmel, Rear Admiral Roosevelt and Marshall and Stark The author's thesis is that when USN (Ret.). 208 pp. Chicago: knew the Japanese planned to at­ laborers organize, excluding non­ Henry Regnery Company. $3.75 tack and put out of commission the union members from the special fleet under command of Admiral privileges they obtain, the effect is The chief difficulty with the Pearl Kimmel. Through dispatches in the not only to hurt non-union workers Harbor story is that it is "unbe­ broken code they knew every move but also to reduce production of lievable." The normal American is of the Japanese. But they carefully the goods consumers want most, and asked to believe 1) that Roosevelt withheld these facts from Admiral to raise prices to all purchasers, and Marshall had promised Ghurchill Kimmel and General Short in Pearl including union members. to put this country into the war, Harbor. They wanted to ensure the The evil in labor monopolies lies 2) that Roosevelt could never get a attack in order to get us into the not only in their driving the less declaration of war from Congress war. All through the afternoon, fortunate to relatively badly paid and 3) that the only way to get evening and morning of December occupations but also in their rais­ America into the war was by in­ 6-7 Roosevelt was receiving the in­ ing the cost of living to them as ducing the Japanese to attack us. tercepted orders to the Japanese well. ... The ultimate gain of workers by combinwtion when not This is exactly what was done. air and fleet command. at the expense of excluded com- The plan was hatched at a con­ These are the facts; and that is ,pet_ors are obtained by exploiting ference in mid-Atlantic between why I say this story is almost un­ the consumer.... Hence, we can Churchill and Roosevelt. Churchill believable. However, it is all em­ say that monopoly-gains by any bedded in a shelf-full of reports of factor are ultimately obtained by induced Roosevelt to deliver an ulti­ exploiting the consumer, although matum to the Japanese that, if they a joint Senate and House investiga­ incidental losses are usually thrown moved further westward, the United tion. Now the story is told with upon other co-operant factors.... States would go to war. Roosevelt great restraint and conviction by Workers' combinations are im­ agreed and did send the ultimatum Admiral Kimmel, the commander pote'nt to secure a redistribution of who was kept in ignorance of the the product of industry in favor -all of which is a matter of record. of the relatively poor. Such a re­ approaching attack and then, with sult cannot be achieved by inter­ The Japanese were fearful of General Short (now dead), removed ference with the value mechanism. American participation and sent from command and censured. ambassadors here who made the If the demand for labor is in­ JOHN T. FLYNN most extensive appeals to enable elastic enough, Professor Hutt Japan to get out of the war with­ shows, unions may appear to gain out injuring the position of the advantages for their members in Emperor by humiliating him-a Labor Monopolies the short run at the expense of condition essential to the Japanese 'rhe Theory of Co~lective Bargain­ capitalists and other workers. But government. They made sweeping ing, by W. H. Hutt. 150 pp. Glen­ the ultimate cost must be paid by concessions, but Roosevelt rejected coe, Ill.: The Free Press. $3.00 consumers. Union practices create every appeal. Meantime, the J ap­ rigidities, distort production and anese war lords had made a plan, in Twenty-five years ago there was destroy the sensitivity of prices and the event of hostilities, to begin the published in England a small eco­ wages to market conditions. This war by crushing the American Navy. nomic treatise, The Theory of Col­ interference with market phenomena Roosevelt, IGeneral Marshall and lective Bargaining, by W. H. Hutt. increases costs. And so dues-paying Admiral Stark were well aware of Although it made a contribution labor union members help pay the this plan because of one of the most to economic theory in a field of vital cost of their own higher wages closely guarded secrets of the war importance, few of the authors of through higher prices and a lower -the tremendous job done in the books and articles on labor unions standard of Iiving. intelligence departments of the since that time have given evidence This book has lots of other in­ armed services where certain master that they were familiar with the formation on the history and de­ code experts actually had broken ideas it contained. It has been out velopment of the theory of collec­ the Japanese secret machine code. of print for many years, but is now tive bargaining. The author ex­ The American Pacific Fleet had available once more, in a new re­ plains that labor unions could per­ been ordered stationed in Pearl print edition. form a benefit to all workers and Harbor by Roosevelt-against the Professor Hutt is an Englishman, consumers if they "had, and ex­ advice of his top admirals. The Professor of Commerce since 1928 ercised, the power to break down Japanese knew their only hope in and Dean of the Faculty of Com­ capitalists' monopolies." But, in fact, the event of war with the United merce at the University of Cape­ their actions encourage capitalists States, if their appeals for peace town in South Africa. He does not to join with unions, frequently failed, was to destroy that fleet by write for the dabbler in economics. abetted by the State, in a "joint a great air attack. A'merican war This small book is a scientific cri­ monopoly," thus lessening competi­ plans, made long before, recognized tique-learned' precise, technical tion, production and job opportuni­ that the fleet would be vulnerable­ and detailed. It analyzes the incon­ ties. a sitting and helpless target-in sistencies inherent in the apologies Professor Hutt is of the opinion Pearl Harbor. Its commanders' for labor unions promulgated by that the extended industrial de-

532 THE FREEMAN pression in Great Britain in the Party. As Mr. Bowers suggests, it malished to make way for a park­ 1920's was "primarily due to the is only through a healthy party­ ing lot. But though Polk was an widespread existence of monopolistic system that "democracy" (though I interesting man, Mr. Bowers applies bodies on both [capit.al and labor] should prefer to write "free govern­ his whitewash with rather too en­ sides," which prevented necessary ment") can exist in modern States. thusiastic a brush. In his discus­ adjustments of wages and prices. The less attractive aspects of party­ sion of the Mexican War, there is Similar policies are pursued today, management, however, Mr. Bowers scarcely a mention of the "Sable and we can only hazard a guess at leaves out of account: there is no Genius of the South," the Slave what the result will be for this mention of Jefferson's abandonment Power, which was the proximate country and for the world. of strict-construction doctrines, cause of that arrogant and ill-con­ Serious 'economists will find much once he was in power, nor of J ack­ ducted conquest: Polk is presented of interest in this little book. son's spoils system. Far more than without qualifi'cation as the cham­ BETTINA BIEN Macaulay, Mr. Bowers tends to pion of democracy against the les­ bestow a monopoly of virtue upon ser breed without the law, the his heroes: Adams, because he hap­ Mexicans. On reading these pages, Honestly Partisan pened to disagree with Jefferson, I could not help recalling Irving iR described as unbalanced; while Babbitt's powerful chapter entitled Making Democracy a Re,ality: Jef­ as for Biddle, he was a deep-dyed "Democracy and Imperialism," in ferson, Ja1ck,son, and Polk, by villain. Democracy and Leadership. Claude G. Bowers. 170 pp. Mem­ Mr. Bowers' endeavor to restore Nevertheless, this is a book writ­ phis, Tennessee: Memphis State the reputation of James K. Polk ten with a kind of Roman piety, College Press. $3.75 is courageous. President Polk has and I like it. I hope that Mr. Bowers, been harshly treated by the New now retired from the world of Mr. BoweTs always has been a England school of historians, and diplomacy, will have time to write democrat and a Democrat; indeed, his memory is neglected even in longer books. It would be good to he has long implied that the two are Tennessee, where his house near the see· him try his hand upon Alex­ identical. Loyalty is a noble emo­ Capitol in Nashville has been de- ander Stephens. RUSSELL KIRK tion, and loyalty to party is a good loyalty. Without true party, as Burke argued two centuries ago, representative government is im­ possible. A more well-defined party loyalty, and a better understanding FRANCE of what our American parties rep­ The Tragic Years resent today, are much to be desired in our present hour. When, the'll, I 1939-1947 say that this readable little book is partisan history, I do not mean to An Eyewitness Account denigrate Mr. Bowers' work. One of the last (I am afraid) of our of War, Occupation, long line of literary diplomats, Mr. Bowers always has written history and Liberation with feeling and sincerity, and has made no secret of his allegiance. By SISLEY HUDDLESTON Honestly partisan history is much to be preferred to a pose of "ob­ Told for the first time in this urbane book is the true role of Mar­ jectivity," or to the self-delusion of shal Petain as chief of occupied France ... his personal struggle writers who think themselves most and his powerful effort to preserve France's honor ... the conflict­ ing forces that vied for supremacy during that period ... the final innocent of prejudice when actually shameful slaughter of over 100,000 "collaborators~" denounced by they are steeped in doctrinaire as­ the true collaborators turned ,Communist. 'One of the most honest, sumptions. interesting, and important books of our time, by the internationally honored correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor-essen­ Mr. Bowers' opInIons on J effer­ tial to an understanding of France and her role in European poli­ son and Jackson are well known: tics today. Illustrated, 384 pages~ $5.00 his three books on Jefferson and his BOJttles of the Jackson Period have ------_. exerted a wide influence. (I think, THE DEVIN-ADAIR COMPANY however, that The Tragic Era is his 23 East 26th Street, New York 1O~ N.Y. best book.) His lectures on these Gentlemen: Please send me ...... copies of FRANCE: THE TRAGIC YEARS by Presidents, in this new slim volume Sisley Huddleston (the first book to be published by o $5.00 enclosed D Please send list of your books the Memphis State College Press), Naule (please print) " .. are intended principally to describe Street .. the part that Jefferson and Jackson had in molding the Democratic City ZOlle State .

JUNE 1955 533 up a little fuss to get it. That date, works justice. Had they been armed Behind the Mask in itself, is proof of the hypnotic I know they would have pulled the School of Darkness, by Bella V. hold communism had on her, for trigger against me." Dodd. 262 pp. New York: P. J. by that time virtually all the "ideal­ Now, at last, she saw the evil Kenedy & Sons. $4.00 ists" had been disillusioned. World face of communism, felt its ruth­ events were awakening even some les'S power. She was persecuted, re­ The repent·ant ex-communist teach­ of those warped personalities whose viled, her livelihood virtually de­ er, Bella V. Dodd, calls communism emotional insecurity had driven stroyed. In this terrible period of a "school of darkness," and her them into communism's shelter. darkness and despair she turned book which bears this title dis­ The evidence Bella Dodd presents back to the Catholic faith into which closes the aptness of the phrase. in this autobiography shows she she had been born; once again en­ This volume of experiences and con­ was not one of these unstable people. folded in its strength an'd mercy, fession has more value than most On the contrary, she was voted the she came into peace of mind and books written by former Commu­ most popular girl in her senior soul. IRENE CORBALLY KUHN nists, because it gives the clearest year at Hunter College; she was picture yet of how communism was successful as a high school teacher able to recruit intelligent, educated and later as a Hunter College pro­ persons during the twenties and fessor. And she was able to pass the Competition Does It thirties. But while Bella Dodd is bar examinations easily in 1930 able to explain convincingly the rea­ after she had studied law. Material Human Progress, by Jacob sons she embraced communism, she It was as a student that Dr. Dolson Cox, Jr. 107 pp. Cleveland: does not make clear why she could Dodd became interested in commu­ Cleveland Twist Drill Co. $2.00 not recognize the true face of com­ nism. Then, as both a teacher and munism behind its mask, why she a lawyer, she was for thirteen years If you were to ask a cross section of did not understand the real nature a lobbyist and top-level leader of successful American businessmen of this "device to control the com­ the New York Teachers Union and why they have been so successful, mon man." the American Communist Party. probably not one in ten would men­ There was a touching and beJ.uti­ The steps by which she became in­ tion the fundamental reason on the ful musical which played for many volved with the Communists, the first try! months in New York, The King and work she did, the associates she A popular answer would be "hard I, and through it ran the refrain had, are all described with teHing work." Y'et few if any of them work of the Oriental monarch's bewilder- force in this book. any harder than the ten-cent-a-day . ment over the many differences be­ Chinese coolie who may labor from tween his Eastern world which re­ Perhaps the most interesting part 12 to 14 hours every day! spected power and force, and Anna's of the book for serious students of While none would say it, some world of English justice and indi­ the utter subservience of the Ameri­ might think that their material suc­ vidual rights and dignity. "It's a can Communist Party to Moscow's cess is due to superior intelligence. puzzlement," cries the King, over orders, is her portrayal of the com­ Yet, on a truly objective test, equal and over; and, in a smaller voice, rades' reaction to the change in inherent intelligences can be found "It's a puzzlement," echoes his son. party line in 1945. The beginning among comparatively poor persons in Dr. Dodd's intense nature and of her doubts and disillusionment Japan, Russia, Spain, and other real 'identification with the causes are here set down from the time countries. of the poor and the oppressed en­ Earl Browder was suddenly ousted Many might say that the correct veloped he'r in such emotionalism from command and she saw the answer is "natural resources." But through the years she was a Com­ meanness, pettiness and downright the Arabs, Indians, Africans, and munist that she could use her not evil, the cowardice and frantic fear others are literally sitting-and inconsiderable brains and talents in her "dedicated" associates as often starving-on natural resources only to obey orders and serve the they sought to escape the conse­ which compare favorably with ours. cause. Her "sense of dedication" quent purge. Probably the most frequent an­ appears to have become habit or Dr. Dodd was expelled on June swer would be this: W'e have accum­ hypnosis, and to blind her to the 17, 1949 after a farcical "trial," ulated more capital, and employ more way she was being used; and, it conducted by "petty employees of "mechanical horsepower" per person, must be said it appears also to have the party, those at the lowest rung than the people of other nations. enabled her to rationalize about the of the bureaucracy." When the trial That is true, but it still leaves un­ way she was using others to serve was over, she was dismissed. She answered why this greater indus­ the Communists. The party's cynical walked downstairs and into the trialization, mechanization, speciali­ use of her fidelity is found in the street. "The futility of my life zation, and capitalization exist in fact that although she worked like overcame me," she says. "For twen­ this nation than in others. What lies a dog for communism, sacrificing her ty years I had worked with this behind our Material Human Prog­ marriage, even, and the family rela­ party and now at the end I found ress? tions she set such store by; and al­ myself with only a few shabby men The answer is given to us by Jacob though she did every single thing and women, inconsequential party Dolson Cox, after a lifetime as a the party asked of her all those functionaries, drained of all mercy, successful buslinessman. Mr. Cox years, she was not given a party card with no humanity in their eyes, completed his 107 page book in 1953, until 1944-and not until she had put with no good will of the kind that at the age of 71. He is dead now, but

534 THE FREEMAN his logical development of the rea­ whatever savings they might make, confirmed by great names of the sons for our progress-both material and get no pay if they made no past. To name just a few, Polybius, and spiritual-is destined to live on. savings, the people would jump at Nietzsche, Montesquieu, Burckhardt, the chance to sign them up. Yet Mr. Cox's simple answer is "com­ these are the very terms on which Herman Melville and a de Tocque­ petition." IIis thesis is that as long all American businessmen are work­ ville shown to be just the opposite as we can compete in an unrigged ing for the American consumers of the "democrat" he has been made market, the other necessary factors right now. out to be, are no mean allies. for progress in any sphere of human Mr. Cox combines theory and Liberty and equality (while a activity will automatically appear. practical experience-plus a talent contradiction in ter,ms) are asso­ But if competition is forbidden, prog­ for writing simply and clearly-in ciated in most people's minds by ress stops and the people stagnate explaining the functions of prices the French Revolution's Liberte, in body and mind. and profits in a competitive econ­ Egalite, Fraternite. Kuehnelt-Led­ Restrictions of all kinds against omy. He also effectively demolishes dihn undertakes to demolish this competition are responsible for the familiar claims for the socialist conception in Chapter III, "A Cri­ poverty. There can be no economic or Marxian economy. And he shows tique of Democracy," written in a progress without political stability beyond a shadow of a doubt that in delightful style reminiscent of Ana­ and just government. Without them a truly competitive economy the tole France. The author takes a you have tyranny on the part of "ultimate benefits necessarily go to rather dim view of the chances of individuals, and competition ceases. consumers, and it is controlled and survival of democracy as against Government must be strong enough regulated by them so as to yield totalitarianism, and finds even the to provide protection for persons them the maximum satisfaction.... Constitution no absolute safeguard, and property and to enforce just Throughout a free economy the pointing out that "The Constitution laws. consumers are in the driver's seat, of the United States has been suc­ On the other hand, government and they should think a long time cessfully adopted by many a South is frequently responsible for the before they consent to surrender and Central American dictatorship fact that competition is suppressed their position of control to someone ..." Perhaps he should have said "adapted" instead of "adopted." He or not allowed to happen. else." DEAN RUSSELL In some cases the government argues, in essence, that democracy, hamstrings competition by grant­ the rule of the people, can only ing monopolies to private owners. A European's View function as the rule of the majority ; In other cases, the government sup­ and that, in turn, premises equality, presses competition by becoming Liberty or Equality, by Erik von which really does not exist in nature. the sole owner and employer. But Kuehnelt-Leddihn, 284 pp., notes He finds a "leveling tendency" in it may accomplish the same thing and index, Caldwell, Idaho: The democracy, an antithesis to liberty. by excessive rules and regulations. Caxton Printers, Ltd. $6.00 Democracy, we are told, is basically collectivist. As for the voter who Every man's wages are a part of Like all good books, this bears the votes in "irresponsible secrecy," he some other man's cost of living, unmistakable stamp of its author. "is counted and not weighed." A and only increased efficiency of Dr. Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn, lukewarm 51 per cent may rule a production can raise the purchas­ from the Austrian Tyrol, has studied fervent 49 per cent. Candidates and ing power of the wage earners as a and taught in various places in platforms being "prefabricated," the whole. To increase efficiency of Europe and at Georgetown, Ford­ voter "can often indulge merely in production, we must stimulate ha,m and Chestnut Hill. negations ('voting against' some­ capital development and use. The jacket-blurb states that "This one or something)"; or, one might is a European view of ideologies add, not voting at all. As for candi­ When governments legislate 1) to force up wages; 2) to force down and their implications" and speaks dates for office, Kuehnelt-Leddihn prices, and 3) to confiscate profits of "the Continental mind." Mind, finds "a fatal Gresham's Law oper­ through excessive taxation, they however, is where you find it, and ating: the' inferior human currency unwittingly slow down progress by when the "Continental" thinks cor­ drives the better one out of circu­ rectly, his thinking is just as valid lation." H. FURSTENWALDE hindering competition and the c. in the New World. formation of new capital. The only With intellectual honesty and way for all to have more is for all Just published- logic, Chapter I is devoted to def.ini­ BEHIND THE U. N. FRONT to produce more. Juggling with tions and basic principles which by Alice Widener money, wages, prices, or profits will foreshadow the aUJthor's line of 125 pages-$2.00 never do it. thought. In Chapter II he marshals THE BOOKMAILER Probably the most thought-pro­ an array of classic writers, repre­ Box 101 Murray Hill Star voking passage in Mr. Cox's book New York 16, NI Y. sented by most quotable prophetic is this idea: quotations. It is many years since If the American people had an we have encountered such erudi­ WANT,ED: BOOiK MANUSC·R1PTS opportunity to place under contract tion-not since Oswald Spengler's on any subject-political or general. We of­ a large number of the ablest and fer expert editing, pinpoint promotion, com­ Decline of the West in 1920. Liber­ plete publicity, fair, honest cooperative con­ most successful businessmen in the tarians should be pleased to see tract if your work is acceptable. Write, or United States, to work for them on mail manuscript directly, without obligation. the terms that the businessmen their thinking, including what part j G·REENWICIH BO,OK PU~LISHERS, Inc. would take for their pay a part of they may have considered original, Allen.: Mr. Ferguson _ 489 Flflh Ave., ~.Y.C.

.T TT N R 1 fl h h 5 ~ 5 lABOR taxes? And it was President Taft, its citizens will remain 1" We must not some wild-eyed Populist, who have an amendent which will force They bashed Ellis Poole's face in broke the dam and started the re­ taxation to provide revenue at least with a lug wrench. They threatened venue flood by back-paddling from equal to appropriations. his wife, using foul language; they a previous stand when he (in his We Must Reduce Federal Spending, told her they would kill her chil­ message to Congress, June 16, 1909) by Senator Harry F. Byrd. 2 pp. dren. Even after Poole shot one of Spotlight for the Nation, No. E­ advocated a constitutional amend­ his attackers in s,elf-defense, and 307. New York: Committee for Con­ ment which would authorize the in­ the law took the matter up, they stitutional Government, Inc., 205 E. come tax. 42nd St. Single copy f'ree continue to threaten him and his The Income Tax, A Concise History, family. Who? The union. Why? Be­ by Wilbur E. McCann. 16 pp. Los They tell a story in Harrisburg, cause he won't join, he won't strike. Angeles: Lorrin L. MOirrison, 1915 Pennsylvania, about a merchant who South Western Ave. 25 cents Poole has been driven to cry, "Why received in the same mail the re­ do good Christian people believe Cutting taxes without cutting gov­ ward of a trip to Europe for selling the unions are working for Chris­ ernment spending is a way of kid­ so many refrigerators and a not.ice tian brotherhood and support them ding ourselves: we're like drunks fining him severely for selling below in their violent actions? .. Is it pretending to reduce our consump­ the fair trade laws. Apparently, we possible for a workingman to live tion by taking scotch without soda. are all for competition, but... Any without violencle in America?" Cutting taxes without reducing competition which is keen enough Shooting on South Flower" by government extravagance means in­ to threaten our complacency and Thaddeus Ashby. 6 pp. March issue, make us return to earlier habits of Faith and Freedom. Los Angeles: evitably either further inflations to Spiritual Mobilization, 1521 Wil­ cheapen the dollar or more taxation. hard selling is nasty and bad and shire Blvd. 25 cents One buck in 1939 could buy you not ought to be put a stop to. Indigna­ only a pound of coffee, but also a tion at ~uch competition garbles ECONOMICS pound of hamburger, a dozen eggs, syntax and spumes out copybook Today, nearly all of us pay an income a quart of milk, a pound of shorten­ virtues as businessmen trample each tax. Strangely enough, few of us ing-and even a loaf of bread. To­ other in the rush to Washington for have any real knowledge of its origin day? Not even the coffee and the subsidy and legal protection against and development. How many of us bread. Inflation did that to the dol­ a compet~tive economic system. know that this form of legalized lar. Progressive taxation (thanks Competition.? Yes~ but .. ., by Charles F. Phillips. 21 pp. Irving­ thievery began in 1580 B. C., when to government spending) has meant ton, N. Y.: The - Foundation for the Grand Vizier of Egypt was that if you earn from $3,000 to Economic Education, Inc. Single charged with collecting income $10,000, your group pays 48 per copy :free cent of all income taxes. $20 Bid-For Your Vote! by Harry SOCIALISM T. Everingham. 3 pp. Chicago: The The totalitarian mind is rationality SOCONY MOBIL Fact Finder, 35 East Wacker Drive. debauched into reflex. The totali­ OIL COMPANY, INC. Single copy five cents tarian mind is a reflection of party Dividend No. 177 Presumably, every American wants dogma, and all deviationism from the nat.ion to have a sound dollar. the tohtlitarian mentality is indica­ This can't be had unless immoderate tion of capitalist intransigence. pressures are resisted through a "Goodness alive," shriek the totali­ determination to keep the country tarians quoted in this pamphlet, The corporate name of Socony­ on a sound fiscal basis. The new "independent thinking is an intoler­ Vacuum Oil Company, Incor­ highway program has been produced able canker that might knock the porated, has been changed to daylights out of the grand unifor­ SOCONY MOBIL OIL COMPANY, by just such pressures. This pro­ INC. gram will be "paid for" by an issue mity of the partyI" Passage after The Board of Directors on April of bonds. Based on all recent federal passage in the communist lexicon 26, 195'5', declared a quarterly experience, it is a violent assump­ shows this repeated emphasis on the dividend of 5'0¢ per share on fact that the totalitarian mind must the outstanding capital stock of tion to predict these bonds will be this Company, payable June 10, paid off at maturity. "You can not cease to be a thinking organ in 195' 5', to stockholders of record order to remain useful. at the close of business May 6, avoid ,financial responsibility by legerdemain and you can not evade The Totalitarian Mind, compiled by 195'5'. Rev. Claude Bunzel. 15 pp. P'as,a­ W. D. BICXHAM, Secreury debt by definition. The obligations dena: Twentieth Century Evangel­ of the Federal Government and all ism, PO Box 234, 15 cents

536 THE FREEMAN It seems to me by Philip M. McKenna President, Kennametal Inc., Latrobe, Pa.

Discrimination against citizens the same privilege this country now grants to foreigners. Don't you agree? u. S. citizens must ceasel The Gold Coin Standard will also re-establish a standard of measurement for all financial, business and THE UNITED STATES TREASURY discriminates against long term borrowing for sound purposes. We will have citizens of this country by refusing to give you and me a definite standard of value to work with. Any savings gold in exchange for dollars, while at the same time it made possible by industry ... with Kennametal,* for does not refuse foreigners their demands for our gold. ... U.S.TREASUR,Y Any foreign central bank, except that of an enemy country, can exchange dollar credits of its citizens for AMERICAN gold at the U. S. legal rate of thirty-five dollars for FAMILY each troy ounce of gold. You and I cannot.

U.S. TREASURY

let's keep the window open for Americans, too

example ... can then be passed on to consumers in the form of lower prices, thus increasing purchasing power. Many business men and citizens generally will be encouraged when our Congress repeals out-of-date laws now inhibiting us from legal use of our standard of value-gold at $35 per ounce. I urge you to give this your consideration. You will Of course, the Treasury is forced to discriminate. The want to discuss it with others, not excluding public law suspending specie payments in gold, which was officials and candidates for office. I invite you to write passed in 1933, makes it illegal for the Treasury to to me, too, whether it is about the Gold Coin Standard payout gold to U. S. citizens. The Treasury cannot or about Kennametal ... the hardest metal man has refuse other countries, except enemy countries. Does created to help increase productivity by as much as that mean the United States Government is at war 10 times. KENNAMETAL INC., Latrobe, Pennsylvania. with its own citizens? It seems to me that this discriminatory law should *Kennametal is the Registered Trademark of a series of hard carbide alloys of tungsten, tungsten-titanium and tantalum, for tooling in the metal­ be dropped immediately. In its place we should have a working, mining and woodworking industries, and for wear parts in Gold Coin Standard, which will re-establish for us machines and processing equipment.

7252 One of a series of advertisements in the public interest c::::J~~ ,', I H DUS TRY AND Q @: :J ®~ MINING, METAL AND WOODWORKING TOOLS KENNA~ETAL AB~ON~RES~TS ~~ W WEAR AND HEAT-RESISTANT PARTS •••(jJ~ ..fAt., (JJM?hM4 PERCUSSION AND IMPACT PARTS Thompson brings electronics to the kindergarten

~A Sound Division markets low-price, long­ playing tape recorder

APE RECORDERS now go to school! T From kindergarten to college, the new 3-speed Thompson-made Bell tape recorder aids both teachers and pupils. Whether a collection of 4-minute nursery rhymes or a 4-hour physics lecture, this machine captures it com­ pletely on one tape, to be played back whenever needed. Its 3 speeds permit High Fidelity reproduction. Whatever is recorded on this Thompson-developed tape recorder can never be accidentally erased. Its fast forward speed permits quick selection of any portion of the record­ ing; its fast rewind speed permits quick changes of reels. Other Thompson electronic products are fou,nd in the field of communica­ tions. Thompson coaxial switches help bring radio and TV programs to you. Television cameras, HI-FI amplifiers, The Bell Tape Recorder being used by the children is Bell's ne-west Model No. RT-75. transcription units, and automatic It is the only 3-speed machine and America's lowest-cost long-playing tape recorder. Its handsome, grey-green cabinet, with gold trim and knobs, blends with any home controls for our newest jets are other or office furnishings. Its uses are unlimited-in hospitals, church work, office Thompson electronic developments. conferences, theatres, music studios--whole families have fun with it, too. Just as Thompson's original equip­ ment and replacement parts for cars and planes help transport things and people, Thompson's electronic products now help transport words and music. Thompson Products, Inc., General Offices, Cleveland 17, Ohio. For additional information about Bell Tape Recorders, write: Bell Sound Systems, Columbus 7, Ohio. You caneounton CJhompson A truly portable, battery operated tape recorder, weighing less than 13 POUNDS is another new product in an expanding line of tape recorders and play-back machines being developed in the Bell Sound Systems laboratories of Thompson Products. The extreme portability of the Cub Corder gets it around. Dugout interviews at the Products ballpark, testimony in legal chambers, consultation data in doctors' offices, voice and MANUFACTURERS OF AUTOMOTIVE. AIRCRAFT. delivery studies by actors, sales meetings, business dictation aboard planes and trains, INDUSTRIAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS. police reports of accidents ... this lightweight recorder can really travel! FACTORIES IN SIXTEEN CITIES.