Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-01-09
100 DENY CLAIMS
OF TECHNOCRACY
Leaders in Finance, Industry
and Research Declare Ma
chine Age Will Win.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, January 9.-More than
$50 leaders of American life in the fields
Of finance. industry and research have
joined in expressing the view that "the
machine age" will hnd a way out Of the
present economic situation.
The opinions. published today, were
contained in messages replying to a
telegram from Alfred P. Sloan, jr.,
PRECEDENT of General Motors Corpora
tion in which he said that the in
evitable progress and momentum of
America go on in spite CT depressions."
TechnOcrats Answered.
Although the views were not assem-
bed with view to answering opposing
expressions from some quarters. notably
by advocates of democracy, Sloan said
that they may well be taken as an
answer"
The messages were unanimous in eX-
pressing belief that the uninterrupted
development of research, invention and
labor saving devices would improve pro-
duction and create new needs and that
American industry should unremit-
tingly prosecute research and invention
through the depression and should not
sacrifice value and quality"
In his statement quoting the replies
Sloan said:
Il am firm believer in the idea
Iat Il h.
know about what we can do"
Smith Sees Trade Demand.
Former Gov. Alfred z. Smith, one
of those replying to sloan's telegram,
said:
Everything we use has been wear
ing out and there is piling up back
log of demand that must soon burst
its bounds and be reflected in the
manufacturing industry. Those manu-
facturers who have stood tiptoe waiting
for this to happen and have gone ahead
in their research departments and
their laboratories TO improve their
product and sell it cheaper are they
who will first win the rewards of their
foresight, their initiative and their
courage"
Prof. W,llford I. King, economist, of
New York University, said:
There can be no question but that
every improvement which results in
increasing the amount of utility OBJ
tainable from the expenditure of an
hours labor serves to increase the gen.
eral welfare"
FirestOne, Jr., COncurs.
Harvey S. Firestone, jr., vice presi-
dent of the Firestone Tire & Rubber
Co, Akron, Ohio, said:
We fully concur with you regarding
the extreme Importance of keeping up
scientific development in time of de-
preston. 1t Is vital to continue prog
ress, without which no company can
hold place of leadership
Will d. Hays, president of the Motion
Picture Producers and Distributors of
America, Inc, declared:
We need planned recovery as well
as planned economy. Every great or
ganiZation which through research and
development is making possible new
and better products, new and greater
services. new and necessary industries
is contributing to that end
George H. Lorimcr, editor of the Sat-
urday Evening Post:
Research and invention are not out
NODDED but are more important today
than ever before in our history. Progress
sion and not retrogreSsion from the
scientific approach will take us out OF
the depression"
SarnOff Encouraged.
David Sarnoff, president Of the Radio
Corporation of America:
1t is an encouraging sign Of the
times that during period of slackened
trade the march Of science and inyen-
ton has gone forward increasingly"
John E. Edgerton, chairman Ma
tional Association of Manufacturers,
Nashville, Tenn:
Your example of vision and well
founded confidence and of increased
energy should and will be inspiring to
other manufacturers. This is the sort
Of sane and constructive leadership
which the small manufacturers and
other business units have right to ex-
pect from the nations largest corpora
tons We will increase the speed of
recovery as other big concerns like yours
give similar evidence of their faith,
vision, courage and good sense
Roger w Babson, economist, Babson
Park, Mass:
Believe that 'salesocracy'-
selling of improved products. increased
per dollar value, more through scien-
tific distributions the quickest and
surest way to get men back to work,
build ~ nd ha ciT1o 1Anurar