The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-01-07
NEWSPAPERS OPINIONS
FROM BOTTOM. UP OR TOP DOWN?

Samuel Blythe at the turn of the century, dryly
observed: Every mainland woman, too, for that
matterv7feels that he can run a hotel or news
paper better than its owner" And, 35 years later,
last month, member of the Federal Coal Com
mission stated that the commissioners could DO a
better job of operating the coal mines than the
present operators. Advocates of public ownership
of business presumptuously take the same position.
AS a result Of this belief on the part of those
who have the ear of the public, we hear today
one of the strangest doctrines of all: that through
political action, the nation must restore democ-
racy to the people, that prosperity is conditioned
on the country's purging itself of tyrannous eco
nomic royalty. ..
1t is hereby submitted that, of all the poppy
cock that has insulted free and vigorous people
in a generation this is it.
Where do the royalists from? How does
economic royalty produce itself? Who are its
crown princes? 1t is well to investigate.
Whence came this new captain of a great steel
company last month? Born in a coal miners hut.
Where did economic autocracy go the other day
to get the new president of great packing COM
pany? An office boy, 80 years ago. Where did a
world renowned Chicago store find its leader, who
died in November? In college class room.
From what economic loins sprang the presidents
of our biggest railroads? More than 100 came up
from the ranks of telegraphers, track-walkers,
transt-carriers clerks from the humblest of posi-
tons Some time ago a casual inquiry showed that
half the New York bankers were born in the Mid
die West and most of them on farms. The presl-
dents of Bell Telephone companies all began at
the bottom, not one earning $40 week at the
start. .. ..
Where did this grasping, self-perpetuating dyn-
asty get the head of the worldc greatest automo-
bile corporation? An immigrant boy, who stepped
off the gangplank in New York at the age of 18.
And his competitors? One, whose first name is
Henry, was an itnerant watch and clock repairer,
and the other, Walter, mechanic IN a railroad
shop at Ellis Kansas.
Well if this be floutng democracy, give US
more of it. To our simple mind, Americas indus
trial system is democracy's finest fruit and flower.
Where, since the world began, has youth I'M
known to fame and fortune had greater oppor-
tunity? &C.,
Much talk there is of youth and its movement.
Very we'll, then, put the question, unvarnshed, to
youth Let the poor boys answer, those who are
coming up, without heritage of riches or Influence,
let them have their say.
Ask them this question:
"Do you want place in Americas industrial sun
by your own efforts, as has been the case IN the
past? Or do you prefer to take chances upon poll
tics-minded Washington to discover you, appralse
your ability. appoint you and, upon confirmation
of the senate of the United States, raise you over
night to position of business responsibility and
respect? The self-reiant way, or the political
way?"
The answer of Young America--and. its parents
to this is the answer to another and more dis
turbing and important question::
Is the stock of pioneer America deterloratlng!
Faith in ourselves, hard beset at times leads to
the belief that America will make the right choice
because it's way has been freedoms way.-Natlon's
Business.