The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-08-16
Liberal Viewpoint
BY DR.. HARRY ELMER BARNES

WE are in the midst of one Of the most
! w notable examples of industrial welfare in
the history Of the country. In its latest annual
bulletin, the American Civil Liberties Union thus
refers to the record Of the last year, and We
should remember that the next year, in ali
probability, will be much worse:
The record Of conflict during the year is
one Of the longest and most widespread in years.
Troops have been called out in five states
against strikers. More than forty iniunctions
have been issued by state courts restricting or
suspending the rights to organize, strike and
to picket Police and deputy sherifs, aided by
private gunner Of the employers, have attacked
picket lines and strikers meetings wholesale.
More than fifteen strikers have been killed on
picket lines or in demonstrations; 200 have been
wounded, and several hundred prosecuted-au
attempting to exercise their rights"
The public has been pretty we'll informed
about these strikes and has been especially
warned against the dangers Of general strikes
conducted by radical labor.
But we have heard little or nothing from the
press about another general strike which very
really has threatened to deliver the country
over to chaos and revolt. I refer to tie general
strike of capital which has been going on since
/ 1929 This important point is dealt with very
fairly and cogently by former Governor Philip
La Toilette of Wisconsin in an article in Com
mon Sense entitled Capital on Strike"
TIE points out that there is nothing the mat
L 4 ter with our productive processes, and in
sists that our so-called farm and factory sur
pluses are largely fictitious. The trouble lies
with the breakdown of our consumers pur-
chasing power After a year of the New Deal
some IA 900 adults were receiving pubic re-
lief of some sort, and it appears that approx
matey three times as many more are alarm
ingly close to restitution.
Our system of exchange and distribution is
now tied up by lack of credit. Capital has gone
on strike on a national scale. 1t will not re-
invest in capital goods and thus provide en-
ployment. The result has been lengthenlng ana
deepening of the depression: THE failure OF
capital to reinvest its surplus income has
diminished the circulation Of money and
credit decreased purchasing power, ShrunK
markets. created fictitious SURPRISES and in
creased unemployment.
What is worse not only has capital itself gone
on strike Like the dog in the manger 1t is
doing its best to prevent the government from
stepping in and supplying the credit ana otner
stimuli to business which capital itself ought 10
be furnishing The concluding observations by
Mr. La Toilette go to the heart of the questlon;
Distribution of wealth is not catch-phrase
of Ieft-wingers' It is basic in any vital eco
nornic system no matter under what name 1t
NAV 60 In purely private capitalism the dlstrl-
button takes place through reinvestment by
private individuals in new capital enterprises.
"CINCE 1929, private capital has been unWlli-
| - ing to discharge this essential economic
function. At the same time it has insisted that
the government shall not take its place 1t Goes
not want the job now, but it wants no one else
| to take it over. This is but another way OF de-
handing that the economic world stand sUlL
until some uncertain time in the future Wnen
private capital is ready to go back to work
Amy program of freezing the economic Or
der by reducing the standard ofo living and
lessening the creation of wealth is an order for
a general economic retreat. Such an order in
a country like ours starts devastating down
ward cycle. There is danger that the retreat
NAV become a rout, and that the progress OF
centuries can be lost in the confusion and dis
organization that may follow.
IF civilization is to endure there must be a
continual distributing of purchasing power. For
five years vast hordes of capital have been on
strike This strike has paralyzed the normal
| exchange of goods and services and brought
suffering and ruin to millions.
IF the government step in to move the
mails with such alacrty in a railroad tieup,
how vastly more important that a fve-year
strike at the very source of our economic life be
| broken