The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1922-04-21
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A recent observer of condi-
lions in Russia says that the
Soviet government has killed the
creative spirit by bringing about
a condition of "lethargy and
laziness, soldering and sabotage. :"
He says this is the supreme
tragedy of Russia. But COM
munism can meter bear any other
fruitage because it destroys in
dividual effort and initiative.
While this country has not fallen
into the mire of communism,
there is some ground for feeling
that our modern system of in
dustry is taking away something
of mans interest in his work
and making more or less of a
machine of him. For instance,
you rarely see a.man photograph
ed with his tools or his product.
In a past generation, the work
man was proud of the product of
his own hands and when the
photographer came, he was seen
at his bench, by the smithy or
sitting proudly holding a piece
of his work up to view. This
sort of thing is quite out of date
now.
The "fapper" seems to come
up for a good deal of discussion
and the ministers are using her
to point a moral or adorn a tale.
Usually nothing good is said of
her, but occasionally some one
sees in her eccentricities only
the exuberance of youth. With
all this talk, nearly everyone
agrees that the world is on a
very gradual upgrade and it is
quite likely that the offences,
some so bitterly complain about,
are matters of taste rather than
morals. The length of the skirt
or the bobbing of the hair and
even the smoking of the cigar
cite are not necessarily ques-
lions of morals even though
they may shock the taste of the
more conservative.
Judge Robert S Lovett, Chair
man of the Union Pacific system,
who has recently finished an
analysis of business conditions,
says that the greatest damper
upon business revival in this
country is taxation. He points
out that it is largely the surplus
wealth of the rich, invested in
enterprises carried on by others,
that affords employment for
labor, outside of agriculture. In
come surtaxes take half the
profits but capital bears its own
losses alone. This has made
wealth very loath to invest in
losing game. He says "a man
generally risks his whole fortune
when he engages in business and
therefore he has a notion that he
is Untitled to most of the profits"
Statistics are queer things and
often prove things that aren't SO.
According to statistics only one
per cent of our population goes
to college, but more than so per
cent of those who achieve leader
ship are college bred. Accord
ing to the same figurer, the
chances for being a leader are
one in Al, $50 with an elementary
education and one in 1908 with
high school education. We all
know the exception to these
figures and the exceptions seem
more numerous than credited;
but as high school graduation
day comes apace, it is well to
think on these figures and go to
college if you can.
Asst. Secy. Roosevelt of the
navy department has some char
acteristics of his famous father
in speaking his mind. He says
the passage of the house appro-
priations committee naval bill
will leave us in a bad position.
Or as he puts it Under this
lame duck navy we will be
second rate country. AS such
we will have but little influence
in the world for peace or justice"
"The very people who smugly
announce the loftiness of our
ideals when they advocate such