Evening star., 1929-12-01
director of Prosperity"

tional Chamber of Commerce. That
congress laid down the principles
which brought about a public opinion
which eventuated in the formulation
Of the Dawes reparations plan.
AS head of the American delegation
at Rome Mr.. Barnes skillfully played a
difficult role in the then international
drama affecting reparationS. Germany
was not at the moment represented in
the international congress and France
had her troops in the Ruhr. The
European picture was indeed drab and
reparations most delicate issue. which
the French business representatives
were reluctant even to discuss Mr..
Barnes drafted the business mans for
mula for dealing with this tickliSh
question. It subsequently was Endorsed
by European delegates and thereby the
trail was cut out for a specific solution
Of the reparationS problem.
Last Summer, with Thomas w. La
mont Of j. P. Morgan 81 Co., Mr..
Barnes went with another delega-
ton Of American business spokesnen
to the Amsterdam meeting of the inter-
national Chamber. There Mr.. Barnes
was again projected into the spotlight
and his speech on public versus private
ownership and operation of business,
particularly public utilities, created
such comment and interest that it was
translated into several languages.
In this utterance Mr.. Barnes attrib-
uted much Of the great progress made
by American industry to the fact that
in this country there is general ad-
herence to the theory of private owner
ship and operation, under just and in
telligent supervision, rather than gov
ernment control.
For this interview the business phil
osophy" Of julius H. Barnes, selected
by President Hoover to take q leading
part in the existing movement for
maintenance of prosperity and stabil-
tzation Of business, may be cleaned
from an excerpt or two from his re-
Gently expressed surveys and observa-
tions. Mr.. Barnes says:
The foundations of this Republic
were laid by men of courage and am
bition who rebelled against a social
and political autocracy which sup
pressed the freedom of opportunity so
essential to fair play. To those men it
was not fair play when only fortunate
In birth and material wealth possessed
voice In the selection of the admins
trative of1ceS Of the government and
the enactment Of laws under which all
must live.
"1t is not fair play that either from
human laws or from social custom a
system should be evolved which would
encaSe a man in the social stratum in
which he has been placed by the acci-
dent of birth. In the Old World this
rigid caste system freezes into social
strata and stiles individual talent and
ambition. It is, in fact, the cause of
and the excuse for the injection into
government of organizations frankly
devoted to the interest Of a single sec
ton of their people.
I'm America the various sports of
our youth teach the principles of team
play and of fair play Americans,
therefore, clearly recognize that it is a
violation of this fair play when combi-
nations of wealth and power are made
to the detriment Of the public. And it
was to preserve the national policy of
fair play that the theory of government
regulations was evolved. This regula-
ton, however. which controls practices
and affects earnings, must, in the ma
uonal interest, be restrained, and wise
and generous. 1t must attract the en-
llStment Of capital and the service of
superior individual ability in order that
regulated industry may march in step
with non-regulated industry in the de-
Velopment of economies and of service.
This philosophy guarantees indi-
vidual security in the enjoyment of re-
wards secured by the natural processes
of service to society. Organized
business has keenly appreciated that
the incentive to all effort rests on the
confidence that superior service, in any
form. will be rewarded. and those re-
wards secured and protected"
Is Tolerant Of Others.
Turning away, in conclusion, from
the philosophical observations of the
new director Of prosperity" return
again to his human side. AS was said,
he is affable, tolerant. He neither
smokes, drinks, nor swears, but ac-
cords to his neighbor or associate the
privilege of following his own dictates
about such personal habits. Mr.. Barnes
Is 2 a man OF constant energy: one won-
derS when he sleeps. If he has to
catch train he allows himself the
minimum of time to reach the station.
But he's never missed a connection ex-
cept once and then drawbridge, across
the river, caught his car in a lam.
During the period he was emerging
from comparative business obScuritY
into a world figure of commerce he pro-
NOTED boat club in Duluth He was
pioneer In the announcement and
development of flying boats and in the
days when the automobile was new
Mr.. Barnes owned and drove one of
the few machines in Duluth. Once. on
an overnight drive from Duluth to
Minneapolis, Barnes and friend came
to a bridge which, except for the
framework, had been all torn down.
They dragged into place the discarded
planks. crossed the structure and went
their way-not stopping, incidentally.
to take up the plankS again. That was
another early Illustration of Barnes
efficiency and quick action.
As a doer, rather than q dreamer, Mr..
Barnes believes that American business
in the present or any other situation,
is fully capable Of solving its own prob
lens. The forthcoming economic con-
ferences will afford American business
another opportunity to demonstrate to
all the world that it can absorb any
temporary shock or upset without sac
rifice OF its traditional stability and
ability to carry on.