The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-14

most mornentous and cogent considerations OF
our era.
We can go on for a time trying to control
a turbine age by tie pclitico-economic meth
DDS Of the fail and ox-goad vintage. But We
can not continue TO do so forever. Walter
Lippmann may get the plaudits and Scott the
raspberries today. But Mr.. Scott rather than
Mr.. Lippmann possesses the correct slant and
is in search Of the relevant facts. The long
er we neglect to take account Of them in any
new deal. the more certain and the more
complete viii be our collapse.
It is fortunate. therefore, that in the last
two numbers of Common Sense we have
two excellent articles on democracy, one by
Howard Scott and the other by Charles E.
Calkins. SCOTS article on the state of tech
nocracy at the beginning Of 1884 is an admir-
able and restrained summary of the techpo-
cratic movement. If he had read this, instead
Of rambling arogantly at the Pierre dinner,
his speech might already rank with Lincoln's
Gettysburg address.
Mr.. Calkins deals more directly and spe-
cihcally with the relationship Of the facts pre-
sented by the technocrats to President Roose-
velts new deal. Mr.. Calkins makes it perfect
ly clear that Mr.. Roosevelt and his advisers
either must attempt to resist any further in
ventions and mechanical advances-thus COM
ing out for a static society-or they must
reckon with the basic facts brought forth by
the technocrats.
Even if the new deal proves highly suc-
cessful, We shall have to figure upon a perma-
nent army of unemployed adults to the num-
Der from six to ten millions, assuming moth
ing more advanced than our present stage
Of mechanical development. Yet it is obvious
to any person even passably informed that
we are only in the infancy Of the new age
of power and automatic machinery.
Even if we did no more than to put into
immediate operation the chronological i'm
provements which already have been provided
by the best engineers Of the day, the results
would be revolutionary. In his recent book
on The Power of Age" DR.. Walter M.
Polakov has estimated that the work now
done by 25,OOO.OOO workers in our factories
could be done by 625, 900 men.
This means that approximately a million
men, equipped with the latest machinery and
power devices, could carry on all of our manu-
featuring and mining industry in periods of
economic prosperity. If so, this would mean
approximately 100000 0 unemployed in our
industrial life. One hesitates to contemplate
what the facts would be if stated in the light
of probable chronological advances no more
than a decade hence.
Mr.. Calkins makes clear the futility of any
effort to resist mechanical advances and to
preserve a static civilization:
ut hardly is conceivable that capitalism
can block progress any more than the barons
Of feudalism could halt the invention of ma
chimes which fastened their downfall, no
matter what course the present government
follows. President Roosevelt has no more di-
vim power to forbid this tide of progress than
King Canute had to stop the onrush Of the
oceans tide.
Our nation is nearing the point where the
rule Of thumb by which politicians have told
us What to do must be replaced by scientific
management according to engineering prin-
ciples. Power age methods of production must
be used throughout all industry to insure
every one a decent living, enough to eat, ade-
quate housing, sufficient clothing. Trade and
commerce, which interfere with this program,
have for their justification only the giving of
profit to those fortunate enough to participate
in it. The welfare of 12O,OOO,O0O persons is at
stake"
Just how far the administrator will come
to terms with the facts presented by the
technocrats is as yet uncertain. On the one
hand, General Johnson seems inclined to re-
sist further mechanical improvements.