Evening star., 1933-01-03
SMIfH'P'|Ns DOUBT
). ON TECHNOCRACY.
Language Too Abstruse and
Leaders Too Intolerant,
He Says.
Special Dispatch to The star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, January 3.-Alfred z.
Smith comments on technocracy in the
January issue of the magazine, New
Outlook, appearing today.
He criticizes the technologists for
using abstruse language and for intol-
erance of existing systems and leaders,
and expresses doubt OF the value of
their findings However, he calls the
study Of the problems with which they
are concerned "a fine thing" and says
that undoubtedly much good will come
from a discussion of their plans"
Every now and then some one dis
covers a new system which is bound to
revolutionize ell government and the
entire economic system" Smith writes.
when the initial excitement dies down,
1t is always found that changes in these
fields are gradual, and that we have
mistaken new words for new prin-
ciples."
He summarizes technocracy as fol-
lows:
Summarizes Technocracy.
''Tnat we have developed labor-sav-
ing machines so fast that there is less
and less work for men; that our output
of all kinds Of things is increasing be-
yond rublic consumption, and that we
must have some kind of new govern
ment by scientists and engineers who
will plan nice balance of machine
production and human consumption SO
that everybody will have both necessities
and luxuries for his family by working
only three or four days a week"
In order TO arrive at the above sum-
mary" Smith continues, 1T has been
necessary TO wade through great mass
4rr1i &c oil
telligible to anybody but a doctor of
philosophy or an engineer"
On the score of intolerance Smith
expresses the view that nothing much
is gained for this new philosophy by
denouncing all politicians and states
men as demogogues and all business
men as fools. Nor viii they hold the
attention Of thinking people by making
extravagant claims without adequate
evidence"
when am told that at the present
rate we VIII have 25,oog000 unem-
ployed in 1894 on account5 of the in
crease in machine efficiency without
taking into account the depression" the
article says, Il look for considerable
proof of such figures, but find none.
Engineers at Washington"
Gas for substituting engineers for
political leaders in running the coun-
try, I cannot refrain from mentioning
the fact that we have finished an era
of government by engineers at Wash
ington and that the people Of the coun-
try did not seem to like it."
Il have suggested that we offer our
European debtors a reasonable plan for
the reduction of debts owed us by
them" Smith also writes, based upon
n credit on the gross value of their
American imports.
"I wonder what would happen II be-
tween Christmas and New Year day
the President, the President-elect and
the leaders of Congress were to inform
our allies that we would approach the
debt question in the same spirit Of gen.
eroSity and helpfulnesss With which We
went into the great war, and that we
would agree to a moratorium for two
years, in the course Of which we would
work out solution ON our international
problems, including debts, the tariff and
disarmament, in the friendly and neigh
borly spirit which. these holidays in
woke? 1t would be worth trying"