Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-09-07
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BY RADICAL TALK
BABSON SAYS WORLD Is NOT
RAPIDLY TAKING TO THE
SOCIALISTIC VIEWS.

With so much talk about Bolshe-
vism and radicalism one is led TO be-
lieve that the world is rapidly be-
coming socialistic. Certainly such
thoughts are evident when one reads
about Russia, Mexico, and certain
other countries. Roger w. Babson
however, claims that this is not true
His exact statement in an exclusive
interview this week upon this sub
ject is as follows
Socialism, as a party movement
is almost dead, so far as the States
are concerned. 1t has never been at
home here. 1t is exotic. 1t does not
fit United States conditions and il
has no great hold upon the workers
of this country The Socialist lead
err know this better than we do.
They are ready now 10 combine with
other people-workers, farmers, any
body VINO will 60 into the combine.
Previously, they have Deen unwilling
to hob mob with anybody except
those who were willing TO take the
party name and party pledges. More
over, there is a distinct tendency on
the part of organized labor TO rid it.
self of the incubus Of Socialism The
battle has been fought out as far as
the American Federation of Labor
is concerned. 1t has been fought
out III the womens' garment indus
try. 1t will be fought out wherever
it is necessary and the conserv-
atives will win.
There remains the farmer group,
the farm bloc, as it is called. This
Fall will probably show more of the
results Of the revolt Of the farmer
states against the conservatism OF
the present Admins Tation. This
revolt was inevitable. Our last cleo
tion was post war reaction and the
tremendous Republican majorities
had to come. The net results Of the
farmer revolt, however, probably
will not Justify the enthusiasm
which it has called forth After sen
ators and congressman have been
elected TO represent the farmers, most
of them will continue 20 act about as
senators and congressman always
act, after they pet to be senators
and congressman. The farmers will
be disappointed. They will turn a
way from their radicalism to other
quarters.
1--WE have reached the extreme
both of radicalism and conservation.
We are headed for a middle-of-t the
road course. The days Of the ex-
tremist in any direction are about
over. Now We must get busy and
saw wood! The man who is busy
laying brick is not going to listen ia
the call of the man who wants to in
terest him in''isme" OF any kind. The
man on the wall is going TO say to
the agitator: 81 am doing real work
and | cannot come down to you"
Nevertheless, we are probably go-
ing to have more OF some things
that a good many Of us do not like
We are probably gcing to have more
Of Government interference in the
railroads, instead Of les5: and more
of Government interference in the
mines, instead of less The drift
seems to be in that direction. But
we are not drifting that way on ac-
count of the theories of agitators. We
are drifting that way because Of the
necessities of the present conditions
President Harding will see to it that
the railroads run and that coal is
mined, not because he is socialistic
but because the country must have
trains and coal. That is all there is
to it.
THAT Is to say, believe that the
lease of life of the soap box orator
and all the rest Of the frenzied ex-
horters of our day, may be, for the
present, cut short. What we do in
the next few years, we are going tc
do because we want to. We are 90
ing to be governed by conditions
and not by theories. The main ten
dency IS toward a middie-of -the-roaC
course. Most Of the people will be
travelling in that way. Our pro-
gress will be along That line. We
are going to be confronted with the
stern necessity of producing the ne
cessities of life at costs which viii
attract the purchaser. That task
will keep us all pretty pusy.
IF my diagnosis is correct" con.
cluded Mr.. Babeon, "this mean.
well for investors and others in.
terested i'm constructive enterprise
The captain of industry is coming
back. The engineer viii take the
place Of the agitator. Money will a.
gain be invested in railroads; public
utilities will be rehablitated and 70,
many years to come the United
States people will 1ertilize THEN
fields and prepare ror that next
period of prosperity"
The Babson chart index of bust.
ness his week stands at 80 below
normal, the same as week ago
Business usually marks time unit
after Labor Day. During the next
few weeks trade should begin tt
brighten up.