Evening star., 1926-10-29

farmers, who will thus not only gel
behind in the payment Of their debts
to merchants, but also in liquidatine
bank loans. The probable net effect
of this development will be some
freezing of loans in the South and
somewhat SITTER interest rates in New
York and elsewhere than would other
wise prevail.
In spite of this. interest rates Will
decline again sharply alter the turn
of the year II the influx of gold from
abroad continues.
Every so often an amateur reformel
comes along and volunteers. the opin
ion that the direction Of the affairs o1
the Nation would be tremendously i'm
proved If business men would enter
politics.
This notion is based in part on ths
faliacy that competence in one field
necessarily implies general excellence
The same reasoning results In adver
tising attempts to get queens to in
dofye cold creams and base ball play
ers to give expert testimony concern
ing hair tonics.
Politics Are Slower.
have discussed the question of the
fitness of business men for politics
with a number Of commercial leaders
Many Of the analytical ones hold thai
different talents are required for poll
tics. The business executive insists
on getting things done in the most
direct way possible. His job is tG
break through red tape and achieve
results, btOoking no opposition from
subordinates. In politics accomplish
ments come more slowly through the
collaboration Of many minds. Dis
cussion. persuasion and compromise
are usually the fOrerunnerS Of action
And the dominant business leader
who has had absolute power in the
management of the affairs of an en-
terprise, chafes under the delays and
restraints Of public life.
Another significant point is in the
minds Of many business men. 1t Is
that successful business men are not
welcomed in politics, where they are
regarded with envy and suspicion.
Perhaps this generalization, If true, is
less universally applicable than it was
a generation ago. Part Of the reser-
vation on the part Of voters towarl
business men sprang from knowledge
Of the corrupt relations between cor
poration executives and politicians In
the early period of the development
of big business. Twenty years ago
corporation development was So rela'
lively now that ca oh mans conscience
was his only guide. Although virtue
is by no means universal now in busi-
ness quarters, there has unquestion.
ably been a rising sense of business
ethics. Older leaders in private con-
versa.tion candidly say that things
they themselves did in the early days
would today be discountenanced. The
new leadership in business is cogni-
zant of the importance Of the cor
poration in the life Of the community
and recognizes that genuine success
depends on a progressive attitude to-
ward labor. liberal price policy
toward consumers and a more open
attitude toward shareholders. When
the public becomes convinced Of the
changed attitude Of decent business
leaders it will no doubt become more
receptive to their entrance into poll
tics.
In England flrst-rate men, who have
become outstanding successes in the
arts, the sciences and business, regu.
larly enter public life. Stanley Bald
win, the present prime minister, Is a
steel manufacturer.
Perhaps we are on the eve OF such
a development in this country. But.
even if we are, it would be a. mistake e
to assume that business talent alone
was enough to make a. desirable pub
lie servant.