Evening star., 1933-01-18
FRANKLIN SPIRIT
IS URGED BY BECK
Depression of 1857 Recalled,
When Individual Reliance
Was WatchWord.

America needs to regain the old-time
spirit of Benjamin Franklin to lead it
from the morass of the economic de-
preston, Representative James M. Beck
Of Pennsylvania declared yesterday in
radio tribute to the inventor and
philosopher on the 227th anniversary
Of his birth The speech was broadcast
by WRC and an extensive network Of
other National Broadcasting Co. sta
tions.
Citing the industrial depression of
1757, Mr.. Beck recalled that Franklin
sought to rally the people of the country
from profound encouragement by re-
minding them of some of the frInda-
mental truths of life in his pamphlet,
The Way to Wealth" The ftrnda-
mental philosophy cf this common
sense sermon, Mr. Beck said, 'is that
to cure hard times the individual must
rely mainly on himself and not on the
Government or any agency. The Gov
ernn1ent can help and has helped in
the present crisis by creating new op-
portunities for employment. but, as great
as are these appropriations, they are
but drop in the bucket.
Work for Each to Do.
"All that the Government, or the
Red Cross or any philanthropic agency
can do will never restore prosperit.
unless each citizen remembers that life
is not a constant feast of pleasure, but
that each man and woman to the ex-
tent OF his or her capacity must do
his or her work and do it we'll. and,
having done 1t, and obtained an honest
wage, to save a little against the evil
day Of depression.
This seems hard philosophy at a
time with every disposition to work,
there is so much unemployment. Soon
er or later this great, virile and wealthy
country will rise, like Bunyans Pilgrim,
from its slough to despond' and again
face the 'delectable mountains of our
time prosperity. But let us hope
when that time comes the American
people will be reger1erated by the very
evil times through which they have
passed and will regain the old-time
spirit of Franklin, whose distinguished
qualities were self-reliance, tireless
energy and thrift"
"Father of Americans"
Mr.. Beck described Franklin as "the
father of all the Americans" and de-
clared that he laid the foundations of
American independence when Wash
ington was an unknown boy Of is. 1T
was Franklin" he said, who first sub
mitted a concrete plan for an organic
union of the Colonies in 1854. and it is
his lasting glory that his name alone,
among all his great contemporaries, is
to be found upon four great documents
which made us a free nation, namely,
the Declaration Of Independence, the
treaty of alliance with France fdue al
most entirely to him). the treaty of
peace with England and last, but not
least, the Constitution of the United
States"
Mr.. Beck also pointed out that Frank
inns period Of public service COW
cred nearly 10 years, and that no
burden seemed too great, or sac
rifice too severe. He loved to do
things" Mr. Beck said, mot merely
for profit, but for the joy of achieve
merlt, and he set commendable ex-
ample to all Americans when, after
anlassing a financial competence at AZ
years of age. he gave the. rest of his
long life to the public service. What
country this would be If some of our
captains OF industry would initiate
Franklin's example"