Evening star., 1936-02-09
By Mary.Carter Robert

now, however, it seems likely 10 en-
gage the attention OF less specialized
readers. For it throws some light on
present public difficulties, not, as Is
the approved manner of most works
on the subject, by theorizing and
pointing out what ought to be done,
but by stating in understandable terms
what has been done already. Tne
field of the action so described Is not
our own distracted country; it IS
Sweden. But, without troubling 10
draw too close a comparison actually,
Mr. Childs has placed an object les
son before the eyes of such OF ms
readers as may be perceptive enough
to see it.
There is at present. Of course, great
anxiety among young writing men
with names to make as to whether the
country is going fascist or communist.
This delightful question ansoros all
their waking hours, as far as re-
viewer may Judge. Indeed, the CEN
trail co-ordinating committee OF the
central fact-flnding board OF the GEN.
tral bureau for compiling solemn
nonsense estimated in its daily report
of Yesterday morning that if all the
books recently written by these young
men on the question of whether
fascism or communism will be our
ultimate fate were to be placed III
large heap in the bottom Of the Grand
CANYON it would be perfectly splen-
, did notion.
This report, however, does not agree
with the bulletin of the central CO.
ordinating committee of the central
fact-fnding board of the central bu-
reau of book reviewers. The finding
of the latter group was published yes
terday afternoon. 1t states that there
is no use in spelling the caryon.
It recommends, instead, that the
books in question simply be ploughed
e under, and that in the future the
young writing men who are raptly
wondering whether America will have
q Stain or a Hitler be paid modest
subsidies not to produce. Two points
of view, as the reader will no doubt
observe for himself.
IL Is Will S1dSIIOI1, I44hb
one halls the appearance of book
on public affairs which sets forth plain
facts on significant political develop
ments from a point of view Of more
general interest than an authors de-
sire to compose q piece of popular
non-fiction and enroll himself among
the prophets.
That point of view, as exemplifled
in Mr.. Childs' book, is the classic one
of recorded history. 1t acquires its
special significance at this time from
the fact that it deals with a country
which, almost uniquely today, has
worked out compromise system be-
tween the extremes of individualism
and collectivism and, without political
upheaval. in the midst of worldwide
depression is enjoying a mild and
customary prosperity.
For in Sweden. according to Mr..
Childs' figures, there is less than one
per cent of the population unemployed
"a total of only about 43, 900 persons.
The wage level is higher than that of
any other country in Europe, illiteracy
is less than one-tenth of one per cent
of the population, housing conditions
among the workers are excellent, rural
electrif1cation is commonplace and
private business has been able to
emerge from the depression with a
minimum of government aid. Re-
covery in Sweden, indeed, seems to be
established. as the above employment
figures must demonstrate. Yet the
Swedes have not needed to bring about
any drastic changes in their govern
mental or economic structure to ac-
complish these results. Without min
1mizing the effects of certain lucky
fortuitous circumstances, Mr.. Childs
points out that Sweden has been
able to weather the storm because,
for many years previous, she has
kept her economic house in order"
His book is a description of the
methods used in this highly effective
ordering. Actively, they would seem
to lie in honest financial conservatism
on the part of the capitalists and en-
lightened liberalism toward the needs
of the workers and the farmers. Less
actively, but even more Importantly,
however, the secret of Swedish pros
perity would seem to the reader of
this book to lie in the keen, intelligent
interest which the people themselves
take in democratically asserting their
rights and defending their liberties
from encroachment from any quar-
ter-capitalistic or governmental. Mr..
Childs mentioned that they watched
their leaders in one issue with "rapt
attention" and makes it clear that he
is not using the words carelessly,
They are, as the book brings out, able
to give their vigilance expression
through the circumstances that the
consumers of the Nation are highly
organized.
The book gives history of this Or
ganization, from its beginning in one
industry up to the present time, when
1t is a powerful factor in the entire
social structure, substantially aided
and fostered by the Government it
self. It Is a complicated story, but it
must be highly interesting to the
American public because it deals with
problems which are now agitating our
own governing minds, and deals with
them not on the basis of hopeful
theory, but on that of actual accom-
plishment. Low-cost housing through
co-operatives, slum clearance, public
works as a means of relieving unem-
ployment, stabiliZation Of farm prices
and distribution Of farm products
through Government regulations, Gov
ernment competition with private
power companies to bring about lower
rates, Government monopolies-these
are described as being establishd work.
ing phenomena in the Swedish politi-
cal economy, and not as new nostrums
carrying with them need Of political
revolution. Planned economy" as Mr..
Childs observes, in Sweden has really
been Just that. Hence the importance
Of this exposition to America today.
It is, undeniably, book which
O, a hoe TIC look eoy,awhot foolish For