Evening star., 1938-04-10
American System at Stake
Observer Notes Trend Toward New Destination

vantage Of by c. I. O., including the prac-
tice of the sit-down strike-which is essen
TALLY denial Of the right of the owner of
property to be protected in possession of
it. Another cause is the general attitude
Of President Roosevelt which creates the
feeling that he Is unsympathetic to the
American system, or at least to those who
operate it.
There are many other causes Not all
causes are within the administration; some
exist in other areas There is in many
sectors Of American life ferment or drift
away from the American system.
System Still Capable.
As the result Of many causes we have the
present growing paralysis OF business. II
this continues We will see presently great
numbers Of unemployed In short, there
will arise condition in which the Ameri-
can system fails to provide food, clothing
and shelter to the whole Of the population.
The reason for this failure will not be
within the systematic system would do
1t If the system were permitted to do it.
With this spectacle before the country.
il it comes, it will be said that something
must be done. 1t will be said that If the
American system does not do the work,
then We must have another system
But the new system will not be Com
munism or Socialism. To that, America
will not be receptive. Fundamentals,
America believes in the right to own prop
erty and to be protected in the ownership
This right is completely denied by Com
munism and largely denied by Socialism
America will not embrace these
The American tradition and point of
view Is too hostile to Communism and So
cialism to permit their taking root here
Besides, the whole recent history Of Com
munism and Socialism In the countries in
which attempt has been made to estab-
lish them, is = history of failure or din1in-
shing success. Even IN Russia the success
Of Communism Is now doubted by many
who once believed In 1t.
Helps Create Fascism.
Practically everywhere that Communism
or Socialism undertakes to establish itself,
Fascism arises as an antidote to It, In the
struggle between the two systems, psacti-
cally everywhere Fascism wins It won In
Italy. 1t won In Germany, it won In some
smaller European countries, and apparently
1t Is about to win in Spain Here In Amer
lea. If We depart from our own system, it is
toward Fascism we will 70.
Indeed We already have the beginnings
OF the mechanism Of Fascism. The farm
regulations Of Triple-A are closely similar
to those of Naz Germany. True, Triple-A
pays the farmer to farm as the Govern.
ment requires, while in Germany the farmer
Is not paid. But presently the time will
come when the American farmer will be
required to comply without pay. Also our
system OF financing deficits Is closely similar
to the Nasi way. We, like Germany, take
much Of the peoples savings IN various
ways and give in return mere I. o.u..
Single Alternative.
Can we avert Fascism? It can BE- aver+.d
IN one way only. 1t can be averted by the
American system proceeding to function.
80 as to provide the material needs Of a,1
the people. BY what means can the Am.r,-
lean system begin to function fully? II n
could get under way fully 1t would function
with enormous abundance America Ia "a,,
SET for = period Of great prosperity, If only
our system Is permitted to function.
Is there any event or condition that
would give the signal to the American sy.-
tenn to 60 ahead? Conceivably, clear
change Of front by President Roosevelt
would do 1t, = clear determination to keen
the American system and make 1t workable
To make the American system workable
Mr.. Roosevelt would have to reverse him.
self on some lines, would have to undo
some OF the innovations he has introduced
only concrete action by Mr. Roosevelt
would have the effect Promise by him
would not be enough; for, unfortunately.
as Gen. johnson says: What IS Mr..
Roosevelt's record on keeping solemn prom
ises? The less said about that the better"
If President Roosevelt does not reverse
We might still get the signal to the Ameri-
can system to 60 ahead from another
source. The signal might come through
the plain refusal of Congress to 60 Mr..
Roosevelt's way, or through emergence Of
different Democratic leadership. The
signal might come in the Democratic pri-
maries about to take place, through sue
cess Of Democrats who have opposed Mr..
Roosevelt,s course, failure Of nomination
by Democrats who have supported Mr..
Roosevelt in all matters.
(Copyright, 1e3s0
Work Finally Is Begun