The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-27
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

NEARLY every informed economist who has
L viewed the current situation with unbiased
insight is convinced that bolstering the con-
sumner offers the only key to any reasonable
hope OF preserving the captaliStc system We
talk great deal about over-production but so
far the main trouble has been that people have
not possessed the money to buy the goods they
desire or can legitimately use.
II capitalism is to survive, even for a rela-
lively brief PERIOD there are two things which
obviously are necessary. First the mass of
Americans must have money enough to buy
more goods. Secondly they must have the
means of being informed regarding what they
are buying-in other words they must be pro-
tected against fraud and misrepresentation by
the makers and sellers of the goods they pur-
chase
These fundamental facts are driven home
both with real force and charming informality
by Clark Foreman and Michael Ross in their
work. The Consumer Seeks a Way" Morton,
So. The book is as readable and absorbing as
Robinson CruSoe" The facts of our economic
life are analysed with extreme realism by means
Of a hypothetical biography of John Little
man." an unemployed bank clerk, trying to live
in our United States in 1885.
The book should be pushed with great vigor
by the publishers since it is the sort which
might be read avdly by millions of the COM
mon American people whose experiences are so
much like those Of the character traced in this
book
Not since Coins Financial School" Of a
generation ago has there been a better piece
Of popularization of economic questions. And
! the economic principals of Foreman and Ross
are far more sound than those of Mr.. Harvey's
classic of the days of the free silver controversy
| If the average American wants to know what
it is all about this is the book for him. The
authors conclusions are thoroughly sound and
cogent
THERE are two main avenues of attack by
consumers" they write. First and i'm
mediately, they can study and attempt to rene
dy the various frauds and impostions which
they suffer through deceptive advertising and
improper methods of manufacture. Every citi-
zen should be interested in finding out whether
or not he is getting the most for his money and
whether or not he and his family are being
poisoned by impure products.
The second objective which we must work
for is the extension of governmental respon-
sibihty over larger areas of our industrial life.
The principle Of having public commissions to
regulate production and distribution. which
through long usage in connection with public
utilities has become part of the American scene,
| should be accepted as necessary in many Of
the bigger industries"
ITO those who raise the issues Of government
interference and bureaucracy answer that it is
high time that the government interfere. When
our economy breaks down to the extent that it
has, we-the people, the consumers the voters
Of the country-must step in and push the spe-
cial interest groups aside. We must not be
afraid of the names they will call us or the
boges they will produce. Now is no time to
hesitate before the bugaboos of the wealthy
privileged groups. We must definitely get on
with the Job of making this country one in
which all Of us can live decently.
1T has only been through our insstent CO.
! operative efforts that We have accomplished
what we have in the past and it is only in this
way that We can hope to shape the future as
We desire it. If our steady democratic advance
meets with forceful resistance Oil the part of
any minority, we must be prepared to meet force
with force and. fight for the greater good of the
nation regardless of the banner which camou-
] fageS the real motives of the over-priyileged