The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-02-16
NEWSPAPERS OPINIONS
BUSINESS COURAGE DENATURED BY
DEMAGOGY

! Business is the basic concern of the American
! people. If anyone doubts this he has only to take
note of the current fulminations of the politeal
doctors who sit in council upon its Ills The clti-
zenS greatest stake in the well-beng of his coun-
try is his interest in the welbeing of business 10
agree to the contrary requires either the zeal OF
political loyalty or blind spot in observing the
life of the common man.
Business is as broad as the country 1t Is as local
as Four Corners As individual as Smiths General
| Store. As neighbory as the delivery OF medicine
by the suburban druggists boy. 1t reflects commun-
ity opinion because it is integral part OF the
community-whether it operates in Metropolis,
! U.S.A., or in Homeburg Any State. Business is as
native to America as the soil itself.
Business is just the sum total of all the actlvl-
ties of the people in their quest of living 1t Is as
near as their jobs as real as a pay envelope, as
serviceabe as food, clothing fuel and shelter, as
comprehensive as life itself What politics so free
ly gves-or talks of sharing-must first be earned
pledged by the people the fruit of their reso-
luton to develop their country, to increase the ma
tional income and the national wealth.
The idea that business is something apart from
the lives of the people, something remote from the
usual experience and practice of citizenship is as
false it is pernicious.
Participation in business is a role so ordinary
that it has become a distinguishing commonplace
IN America. In a very real sense the nation lives
by business and by its business men. From their
work comes the satisfaction of human wants, the
wherewithal to provide the refreshment of the
spirit, and the means to sustain government and
the national defense.
Since the world began this is true: When people
fear political bondage, whether the threat be real
imaginary, their inherent enterprise falters and
fails AS result, individual net incomes dry up,
everybodys scale of living except those in public
service, goes down; manufacturing declines; eX-
change of goods and services shrinks; weath-pro-
dueing jobs decrease. Confidence fades, and again
fear takes the saddle.
The state of the national economy is only the
aggregate of the state of the millions of business
men. John Smith is still law unto himself, what
ever the statistics may say about him in the mass
or guineaIpig. laboratories may show. A great
national asset can be found in the fact that the
determining causes of his destiny lie partly IN his
own personality A mans belief in his power to
Use the circumstances of his life to good account
is great national asset in its own right 1t is the
last thing the nation can afford to ignore or to
belittle
1t is only too obvious what a difference it makes
whether men. who are free to act as they WILL
who can see ahead, choose to pledge themselves to
higher and farther commitments of their resources
or whether they denature normal courage with alb
normal caution.
The only circumstances that can defeat millions
of John Smiths is the belief that circumstances
can do So And when these millions come to apply
the truism, what hurts business hurts me-" to
everyday public questions, guess is that their
indignation and anger will drive demagogues and
unscrupulous politicians to cover-Naton's Bust
ness.