Evening star., 1934-01-21


else the proper guidance and control
over these great industrial forces for
the national good. The actors in the
drama are the Government and cor
porations. instead of the Government
and feudal lords; but the drama is the
same: History is repeating itself.
Individualism should not exist when
one man controls the investments of
thousands Of stockholders and the well
fare of thousands of employees When
thousands Of loyal workers are thrown
helpless on the streets because of forces
entirely beyond their control, the law
of the survival of the f1ttest ceases to
operate Cooperation has been grow
ing in one form or another since ths
reform laws Of England in 1880. 1t ts
force the future must control but not
eAtlngulSh. We cannot and must not
turn back the forces Of progress which
individual initiative and energy have
developed.
1taly's Experience.
In this connection the experience Of
Italy is interesting We read a great
deal about the domination Of II Duce.
Most of us Americans with our tradi-
tlons OF personal freedom. shrink from
the idea Of living in country where
the details of all life's activities seem
to be regulated from on high With
our universal education the wide dis
trlbution of property and our inherent
love OF leading our own lives we never
could reconcile ourselves to anything
approaching the degree of Fascist con-
troll Nor is such a degree of central
lied control necessary over here.
The fact is. however. that business
men in Italy are happy rather than
unhappy under the MuSsolini regime.
Each Industry there has its organi.
zation, such as is taking place in each
OF our own major industries under the
codes. If an individual in Italy we're
10 propose to start a new factory, he
would not be permitted to sell stock to
the public for such an operation until
after thorough canvass of the situ-
alton had been made under the direc-
tlon OF the minister Of corporations.
Inc Minister, first OF all would
consult the present manufacturers He
would ask them if they want another
competitor in their field. if there be
a place for one; and most Of them.
presumably. would answer no" Then
he would ask the buyers Of the prod
ucts of the. proposed factory if their
needs are being taken care of ade-
quately, Here the answer might re-
fleet dissatisfaction and a need for
new blood in the industry. The min
ster would canvass the sentiment in
the city where 1t is proposed to es.
tablish the new plant. He might dis
cover, for instance. that in Genoa
there is vacant factory and a
couple Of hundred unemployed work.
ers. and that the city is eager for a
new industry
/ National Interest.
Balancing all these various factors
and interests. the minister would de-
I eide either that the national interest
Is served best by allowing the entre-
preneur to go ahead in Genoa: or
tnat national welfare dictates that
the industry should be let alone; or as
thlrd alternative, that the manu-
1acturers already in the field are oper-
atlng with out-dated machinery and
methods and must modenrize their
operations or submit to the acpres-
sive competition of a newcomer But
the fact that all parties are organized
makes it possible to deal with the
situation as a whole. and the deci-
sion is made on the basis of the ma
tonal interest, not on the basis OF the
self1sh interest Of group or an in
dividual
This organization in Italy has taken
place without either the destruction
OF individual initiative or the ham
perng of management or an undue
extension of the prerogatives of labor.
In the United States. under the
codes we are working toward some-
thmg approaching this industrial con-
troll in our own way. We are get
ting industries so organized that they
can deal with their problems as q
whole and can cooperate with Cow
eminent IN the national interest.
While some codes may be having diff.
ncUltlpS IN their oon1fno+;N,,
are many industries whose executives
willingly ADMIT that under codes con-
dltlons are better now than in the days
OF Unrestricted individualism.
This organization of industries
makes it possible, it seems to me. for
Government to deal effectively not only
With domestic business, but with the
problems OF foreign trade as well.
nquor quotas seems 20 me to be an
intelligent and sound step in this
direction. In effect. he says to wine
! producing countries: You want to
sell us wines-what can We sell YOU
IN return?" These matters can bs
handled intelligently in totalities, and
l believe our hope for the future lieg
IN organized domestic industries act
ing In the national interest, coupled
with the Government handling inter-
national business relations on economic
lines. protecting by reciprocal agree
mentS the national interest of our
domestic industries
Solution Is Possible.
1t is not an easy problem. I admit,
Italy. with its smaller territory and
industries, with a population more &C
customed to obedience. presents a far
simpler picture. But Italy is a living