The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-04-22
COUZENS LAYS
lob CRISIS TO
GREED OF RICH
WeaIthiest Senator Warns
Capitalism to Put Its
House in Order
CITES DRY LAW HISTORY
Money Made Yardstick of
Success; Education Is
Seen Only Hope.
BY LYLE G. WILSON
United Press stan Correspondent
loopgrieht. laal. b. unlted pre..l

WASHINGTON. April 22.-Sena-
tor James Couzens. rep, Mich.),
multimillionaire. attributes unem-
ployment and attendant ills in the
United States to ullrestrained greed.
This wealthiest member Of con-
gress Is convinced the capitalistic
system must be put IN order by
those in charge of it or suffer the
consequences Of regulation by the
people.
Although he prefers the scheme
OF private initiative upon which
american business and industry
mas based its phenomenal develop
ment, Couzens says he is beginning
TO doubt the American people can
continue to rely on it.
He discussed such matters in an,
interview with the United Press
Ills ideas illustrate the extent to
which he rejects the accepted rich
mans philosophy, and similarly re-
Jects claims of the Republican
party upon his vote when party
principles counter his own ideas.
The senator splits his votes be-
tween the regular and progressive
republican groups and belongs to
neither. The best definition of his
political status in the senate is cir
regular"
Queried on Blame
The United Press sought from
Couzens the answer to this uues-
ton:
Who is responsible for that
economic strain?"
4 doubt if you can say who is
responsible he replied. But YOU
can say what is responsible. It is
unrestrained greed. And. all who
are actuated by unrestrained greed
share responsibility for these con-
ditions.
One OF the best examples of how
these things come about and what
is likely to be their development is
given in the history of prohibition.
Il used to be police commissioner
IN Detroit at the time agitation for
prohibition was increasing on ma
tional scale.
I know I warned brewers and
dlstillers and / know others warned
them that unless they put their
own house in order the people would
do it for them. The manner and
method in which the people did
that job is now history.
Sees Tendencies Now
Without any more claim to pro-
phetic vision now than / could have
had then, I can say the same thing
is going to happen to capitalistic in
dustry unless 1t puts its house in
order.
Il think I see tendencies to-
ward realization of that situation
I think there is beginning to be
some understanding of it and of
how inevitable it must be unless the
capitalistic house is put in order.
But, unfortunately, we have
adopted the money 'yardstick as the
measure of success. The men
achieving success by that yardstiek
are able men. They have one-track
minds.
They drive toward single
objective. That objective is to make
their own organization g success by
the money yardstick and they think
of nothing else.
IF had not got out of the Ford
Motor Company at an age which
would enable me to absorb some
new ideas, / am reasonably certain
l would have felt the same way
about money and success. And YOU
must understand I make no COM
plant against making money.
Industry must be self supporting
It must make money. It does seem
to me, though, that great indus
trialist ought to get some satisfac-
ton out of considering the human
equation In his plant-more salts
faction from that than merely from
making money
Cites Steffens' Definition
Couzens thought Lincoln Steffens
made a Just estimate of the money
yardstick group. Steffens as a re-
porter said of big business at the
turn of the century that it was
greedy. inhuman and cruel. But
in his autobiography Just pub
hshed, Steffens says most of the
business leaders of whom he wrote
we're good men.
Their difficulty. Steffens ex-
planned, was that they lacked in
telligence and information. Cou-
zens suspects that is true. But he
believes. also, that industry can
solve its ploblem.
The only hope for social mind
edness among industrial leaders, .
he continued in response to ques-
tions. lis education. Industry might
be educated TO its responsibility. If
it assumed the responsibility of pay
ing an annual income to its work
ers it would find means of getting
its moneys worth.
1T could guarantee an annual in
come based on forty-eight weeks
employment Having done that, in
dustry would see to it that there
was work to be done If American
industry can do anything it can get
: its moneys worth. 1t has shown
that"