New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-05
Coolidge and 10
OthersUnhurtas
Platform Falls
Vice-PresidentEmergesFrom
Wreckage and From Sec
ond Rostrum Urges Policy
of Pay Back, Work Back
Speaks i'm Massachusetts
Ranks Arms Farley With
Landing of Pilgrims as
Great Historic Effort

Vlce-Presldent Calvin Coolidge and ten
other men escaped without injury when
a speakers platform on which they
were standing collapsed here to-day.
The Vice-President, unperturbed by the
mishap, climbed out of the debris, made
his way to another platform and de-
livered the address which he had pre-
pared for celebration of the 15Oth an
niversary of the founding of this town.
Dwelling upon the present economic
situation, the Vice-President said that
the only way for the country to come
back to pre-war conditions was to "pay
back and work back"
Economic success" he said, twill be
found not in resisting. but in obeying
economic laws"
He referred to the dedication to-day
of roll of honor inscribed with the
names of the towns sons who served
IN the World War, recited its contri-
buttons to the winning Of other wars
and added
"But America is not the product of
conquest. 1t has come into being as
the result of a steady and unfiinching
adherence to those principles of human
relationship which provide for the
freedom and the independence Of the
individual.
Refers to Arms Farley
"All of her great historic efforts,
from the landing of the Pilgrims to
the calling of the disarmament con-
ference, have been in accordance with
that great theory and by her efforts
that still greater reality.
1T is this conception Of the individ-
ual that has been nourished in New
England. 1t has become the American
ideal. This conception must continue
to be maintained locally and nationally.
Our people must continue to be free, to
be independent, to be self-supporting
Either they must be that or there may
as we'll be candid confession that we
must return to feudalism and serfdom.
ut may seem at first glance a hard
and cruel doctrine that the government
cannot take from the people the bur-
dens and the responsibilities of exist
ence. But under our system the peo-
pie are the government Whatever it
has they supply. If they cannot supply
themselves directly they cannot supply
themselves Indirectly through the gov
eminent.
Tax REIMBURSEMENT
"This principle has a very present
application. There is growing com
plant at the recession of business &C
tivity. 1t is heard alike in agriculture
in transportation and in industry. 1t
comes from managers, from investors
waiting and expecting the government
to restore business.
1T is recognized on all sides that
there are readjustments in taxation
now urgently required. They are being
made. Credit is likewise being extend
ed to transportation, and agriculture
is being relieved.
"But in America the government.
does not make business. 1t can assist,
it can open opportunity, but here the
people Of the nation make the business
of the nation. All that can be done by
the states or the Federal government
will be in vain without a proper atti-
tude on the part of the people.
mo power on earth can Immediately
restore pre-war conditions. The only
way to come back to them is to pay
back and work back. Meantime it is
perfectly obvious that if the govern
ment is compelled to take five or six
fort as it did before 1914 there cannot
be so much left to the people. This
result would seem to be absolutely in
evitable.
All Must Help
"The government is but the agency
of the people. II will do what it can,
but the issue lies with the people
themselves. There is no help for them
unless they help themselves. No one
likes to see fair profits Or wages d.
minished; but those who have the re-
sponsibility for the management Of
great enterprises should recognize
that it is more in the line of their duty
to operate at diminished profits than
not to operate at all, and those who
perform services should consider
whether it is not better to work for d.
minished returns than not to work at
all. Every business man knows that
many are periodically pursuing this
course.
Economic success will be found not
in resisting but in obeying economic
laws. That country which first recog-
nlzes this and acts accordingly will
take the lead in the business world.
Whether America will be that country
depends on the will of her people. We
can spend our efforts in chickering's and
lose or we can spend our efforts in in
dustry and win. We can fall back with
the argument of kings or we can go
forward with the arguments Of free
men,"