Milford chronicle., 1939-09-15

and downright lying that is usually
characteristic of foreign government
controlled sources of information"
Beyond that, the best advice foI
Americans at the present juncture is
not to believe too much. not to emo
tionalize too much. and not to lose
sight of domestic problems in the
excitement of what is happening
abroad.
That this last suggestion will set
the tempo of our national thinking
for long time to come is hopeful
sign seen by observers here in the
event that sane counsels prevail. And
one does not have to search far to
find reasons why the United States
should give very close attention at
this time to domestic matters.
The most convincing reasons. with
out much doubt, are those advanced
by industry. Businessmen. who have
seen the atmosphere gradually clear
ing towards a point where plans for
industrial expansion and the large
scale production of new jobs and
more payrolls can be projected. don't
want to see the nations plans for a
constructive future go up in smoke
and flame. AS a result. industry will
be found in the forefront of the bat
tie to tend to our domestic knitting
and keep foreign wars foreign.
OF course wars or even rumors of
wars are cues for those who react
automatically to shout that business
men would be glad to have war and
the wartime prosperity" that is sup
posed to accompany the appearance
of Mars on the scene. This reaction,
though, now draws a hearty horse
laugh from those who have thought
matters through to their logical con-
clusion.
The reasons businessmen don't
want another war are hard-headed.
realistic ones. The most convincing
reason they are opposed to il lies in
the simple fact that this country. and
with it. is still paying
for the last war. We are paying for it
in heavier taxes and in higher de-
gree of regulation; we paid for it in
the economic dislocation that follow
ed the Armistice. the effects of which
are still being felt today. Industry
found that whatever profits seemed
to accrue from the last war were
almost entirely fictitious in charac
ter. and that all that really happened
to this country was the piling up of
an immense deficit in terms of wasted |
lives and lost materials. With that !
in mind, this is a good time to put |
into print again the words of the |
board of directors of the National |
of Manufacturers. which !
only last April voiced industry's atti-
tude towards war. This body. which |
represents the largest organization of
Industrial leaders in this country.
said:
"The National Association of Man
lfacturers is unalterably opposed to
war.
This is the position of the manu-
acturers. both large and small, as
'epresents by this association. In
he words of George Washington.
hey are opposed to any 'entangling
llliances.'
ut utNdbldllOn VI II wal 10
1t takes a whitening
oil of human and economic forces
70 sensible person believes that pro-
it can come out of the wreckage of
luman lives and economic disloca-
ions.
History has answered that ques-
ion. Progress comes through peace.
lot war. Free nations have every
hing to lose in war. Free institu
ions are reared through peace and
Conflict destroys them.
American industry wants peace.
his purpose has been frequently and
orcefully declared in the previous
latforms adopted by the Congress of
american Industry. American manu-
acturers pledge every effort to main
ain peace.
Happy homes and steady jobs. the
deal of every American, can be
chieved only through the pursuits
f peace.
THE republic is now at peace.
lay the God of Nations preserve US
rom the calamity of war"
Certainly no one can deny that in
ustry's attitude is written plainly in
be record!