The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-10-19

thinking has been devoted mainly to exploiting, with as little damage as pos sible to special privilege, the spiritual and intellectual resources of democracy. Republican history is not remarkable for the multitude of its outstanding | original thinkers. Standpatism is far from a symptom of original thought, and standpatism Is a republican dis | ease. It is a malady-not an unpleasant one to those who suffer from it-that arises from the contagion of gratify- | ing environment. Our republican friends, thanks largely to the fact that 80 per cent of the newspapers are re- publican, for long periods have sat in the easy chairs of public service. "Now, those who seek persons of men, tai and physical activity do not seek them in easy chairs. Long sitting in easy chairs is the poorest imaginable stimulant of either intellectual or physi- cal, vigor-acts, indeed, as an opiate. Democracy believes the American peo- pie should give it a mandate for action in the sphere of government. It be- IieVes it can do the country a great service" .-..-
 Liberty Of The Individual
 You are an individualist? ?"
 eff were not, I should be no Jeffer- I SOulaH. HI HI LuC nlSlOIy OL ShVd8 Ab who ever appreciated, reverenced, hu- man individuality more than did Jeffer- son? Recall few words from his great declaration: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness Human equality, life, liberty, the pursuit of han In hIa rtphfQ this not, par excellence, the creed of individualism?
 "IndividuaIism and Collectivism are at war in American and almost every where else. Upon the result of the fight in this country depends the future of the American system, governmental and social. We are to keep our indi- vidualism or we are to lose 1t. If col l lecttvism comes-communism, socialism paternalIsm, government ownership standardization of this, that, or the oth- CT industry-if collectivism comes, lief fersonism goes. Jeffersonism Is center ed in the liberty of the individual, in his freedom to aspire, to think and speak his own thoughts, to labor and to enjoy inviolate the fruits of his labor. Running Other Mems Affairs
 "Stagnation and decline would fol low socialism, whatever it's label, be- cause 1t would paralyze the nerve cen ters of the nation, and thus stop the dynamos of our progress. Already we are suffering from the doctrine that the state should run everything in eco monies and social economy. Look al our flood of laws. More and more il tends to swamp out statute books and | courts. We ali, of course, are familiar with the flexible dialects of the collec- tivists-with their sophirtries. They dc not attract me. Men in public office are neither good enough nor wise enough to manage other mems affairs as well as these men can do 1t them selves. Democracy is stanch for the Jeffersonian principles of personal lib. erty, private initiative, and private property"
 Do you see any danger in the rela. tions of capital and Iapor In the United States?"
 Mot if both sides exercise sagacity and good will. If either side tries tC bully, oppress, or wrong the other there will be trouble. If either side gained control of the government, ant other, there would be danger. But 'I have faith in the fair-mindedness of oul people. Throughout the world, iH politics, diplomacy, business, and socia adjustments, I see the dawn of a fair CT day. Democracy is in the ascend ant. To the problems of industry w must apply the same inspiration whicl have given us democracy in politics.
 Labor In An Educated Democracy
 Have you any fear of organized labor?"
 Mot a bit. I respect the men wh, have formed the organizations of labor Their self-reliance, their fair-minded ness, their patriotism and valor, ar written in imperjshable letters in ou history. In peace and in war the, have set a standard of citizenship.
 do not fear that they will ask for them selves more than justice. I think the! are quite intelligent enough to knov that if they asked for more than jus tice-entered upon a deliberate strug gle for more than justice-they woul, crumble the foundations of their owl fortunes"
 mocracy?"
 "only an educated democracy, in m. opiniOn, can survive. But, of course tion" I do not know any answer t that except, All kinds I am sur mere technical education will not mak a great civilization. On the othe hand, I do not believe that stud limited to the classics would meet ou modern needs. There is a great dea of discussion about classicism and mod ernism in education. If one means b, classicism the full utilization of the wis dom of the ages, we believe in that We need all the discipline, truth, an beauty the ancient world can teach us we need it's religion, art and law.
 But there is no necessary quarrt between the classics and science. N one can study Aristotle without realiz ing that he was the most moder scientist of his time. believe W should study the culture of the classics CTS, not as a recreation, but because forms the best possible background fo a comprehension of all that our day doing in the realm of science.
 There are those who think educs ton Is for the few. They think tn hot work, the heavy work, the dirt work, of the world never will be don