The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-23
Rugged Individualism
 Discarded As Slogan
 In C. o. P. Addresses
Nearly 800 Attend Mckinley Dinner Here-Dr. Glenn Frank Gives Principal Address-NO Inkling Given
 of Future Policy of Republican Party

tion of Europe are blowing across our judgments as well. The waves of popular desire that have been lashed up there beat against our shores also.
 Self Governing
 We must preserve ourselves as 8 self-governing democracy at what ever cost. We must not fall victim to the fatigue and despair that have led so many of the peoples of the old world to dream of a shortcut to social salvation through the strong-arm of excess sively centralized authority. Time is beginning to audit the actual results of these new strong-arm governments.
 And the audit does not live up to the advertisement with which these ventures in centralized pow CT began. This should not sur- prise anyone with a sense of his- tory. Down the ages unduly cen- tralized power has run true to form. It has invariably ended in tyranny.
 Even when effected with demo- cratic consent and designed to serve emergency ends only, cen- tralized power has always moved relentlessly in the direction of self-perpetuation. And it has scorned no weapon that would advance it on its road to perman- ent power. It has always, sooner or later, sought to bully into si- lence the voice of corrective criti- cism, intimidate mlnoriyt opinion, liquidate all opposition, if not by castor oil and firing squad, at least by character assassination, and thus gain unquestioned right of-way for its every whim. And, once entrenched, with a presump- tion of permanence, centralized power has always grown don1- ineering. It has become less rather than more concerned with the common good. It has become the victim of whirn and caprice. Until at last, a revolt of the gov erned has proved the only road to progress.
 Clear Our Minds
 And finally we must utilize instead of sabotage those instru- ments of science, technology, and power production which our own genius has invented for providing prosperity, leisure, and security for the millions. Surely we can bring these fruits Of plenty to the millions only by producing more wealth, not Jess. We must clear our minds of all confusion and make an utterly clear decision between an economics of scarcity and an economics of plenty.
 As I have said before to many of you who are listening tonight, if the toiling millions can be con- vinced that greater happiness can be found by declaring holiday on scientific progress, throwing the brakes on technological advance, and deliberately reducing the en- terprise of the nation to smaller and more easily manageable di- mensions, well and good. If that is what they want! But that is not what they want. They hunger to have full human advantage of the utmost this age of science, tech- nology, and power production is SO clearly equipped to bring them in comfort, conveniences, and lib- eration of spirit.
 Actual Scarcity
 In an age of actual scarcity. the poor will endure their lot without undue whimpering, but the poor will not forever stay docile in the presence of potential plenty kept always just beyond their reach by blind absurdities of policy. This is why our choice between an economics of scarcity and an economics of plenty will deter mine the social stability or in- stability of the nation in the days ahead.
 Scientific and technical leader ship has abolished the physical ne- cessity of poverty on this conti- nent. It remains for political and economic leadership to abolish the social fact of poverty and its milder manifestation, under-con- sumption. Science and the ma chine have brought us to the threshold of an age of prosperity, leisure, and security, but we have lacked the wit to unlock the door. Now, instead of planning to ad- just ourselves to the half-hearted and insecure existence of delib- erately reinduced age of scarcity, we should not rest until we have found the key that will unlock the door into this new age of pros perity, leisure, and security which science and the machine have at last made possible.
 All the necessary tools are now in our hands for emancipating this people from poverty, drudgery, and insecurity. If now we fail to effect this emancipation, we shall go down in history as trait ors to the tools of our own crea- tion.
 Tragic Fact
 The tragic fact is that we are not now using these tools of Sci- ence, technology, and power pro duction to this high end. We are deliberately letting many of them rust out under a misguided theory that restriction is a road in a renewed national life. If our frantic effort to stabilize we may actually sterilize the nations economic enterprise. To play down our productive powers while so many Americans are in dire need may well result in the stabil- ization of want rather than the stabilization of welfare. This re- pressing, restricting, and reduce ing of our maximum productive capacities, unless minimized, ra- %ioy,o 1i1od ord iptn1li0nnt1v raIat.