The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-08-08
wEDNEeDAY AUG. 2. 1854
YES. But WHOSE FREEDOM?

DR ROBERT A. AIILLIKAN as a political
II scientist is a very good physicist. Doubt
less this is the reaction Of many TO his speech
prsising private initiative and damning gov
eminent interference. It is easy enough to
laugh down this expert stumbling around out
side his own field. But that is not enough.
For DR.. MIllikans mental confusion is typical
Of great many other sincere but n-informed
Americans
The American dream is that this coun-
try always may remain a land Of freedom and
OF opportunity" SAYS the doctor. Quite so.
And that is exactly what all Of this New Deal
business is about.
All Of AS want private initiative. but when
the other fellows initiative runs to speeding on
the wrong side Of the road We call loudly for
government interference in the form Of traf-
nc control. That interference often becomes
irksome 10 us, but We accept It as the price
Of survival
So the farmer wants freedom Of initiative
to plant as he pleases. the business man to
run his company as he desires. the investor to
take a flyer in his favorite stock But when
the free farmer can not meet the mortgage,
when the business mans market vanishes.
when the investor finds the entire securities
structure upset, these rugged individuals cry
for government help.
The government today is helping-not be-
cause its duty is TO save individuals from an
overdose Of private initiative. but because the
innocent are suffering along with the foolish
and the nation has been imperiled by the mis-
directed initiative of the few. If DR.. Milli-
kan can devise a system by which the insults
and Harrimans can continue their freedom to
exploit and their opportunity to plumber with
out depriving the rest Of the country Of the
freedom to work and the opportunity to live,
there will be no need for government inter
ference to save America.
Government interference did not produce
this depression Private initiative and indi-
viduaHsm which reached the point of piratical
anarchy did that.
And private initiative could not rebuild on
its own ruins. The Hoovers and the Melons
and the Morgans doubtless sincerely believed
it could. They waited long-too long-for this
to happen.
Then President Hoover and his party began
no choice The government began shoveling
out funds to banks and railroads and farmers
because it was afraid to let them fail, began
feeding the unemployed because it was afraid
to let them starve.
The New Deal did not begin government
interference; it merely has tried to direct that
aid to more intelligent and constructive ends.
What part Of this government interference
with private freedom would the critics stop
now? They do not tell us.
Would they cut of the RFC loans to banks.
so the depositor would be free to lose what
little he has left? Would they withdraw PWA
money. so factories revived by construction or
ders and merchants selling to PWA workers
would be free to 90 bankrupt? Would they
close the CCC camps. so the boys would be
free to Join wandering Hoolgan gangs? Would
they call back if they could. the half billion
dollars worth OF government interference in
drought relief. so victims would be freer TO
watch crops Shrivel into dust. soil blow away,
live stock thirst and die? Would they revoke
the government interference that closed sweat
shops. increased minimum wages and banned
child labor. so that the INSCRIPTIONS COM
petitor would be free TO drag down the honest
business man and so that children would en-
JOY the freedom Of shaving in the mills and
throwing more men out of work?
OF course they wouldn't do this. But.
whether they know it or not, the freedom and
opportunity which the Millikans preach in
their ignorance is the freedom TO hunt for
JOB that doesn't exist the opportunity to
starve.