The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-01-04

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 wards of the government, but to get back to jobs in private business and industry.
 Questions Asked
 The citizens of this state may we'll make this inquiry: If one third of the population is at pres ent insufficiently clothed, housed and fed, is it the duty of the gov ernment or is it the duty of pri- vate business and enterprise to ful- fill that need? If this be true, there is still room in America for an expanding and increasing pro- duction, not only to meet the needs of this third but to improve still further the lot of all.
 There have been many, vocifer- ous prophets of calamity since Jeremiah. Whenever mankind has been unable to adapt himself readily to new forces produced by his own mind and hand, some have said that human progress had reached it's zenith and that the ex- isting economy must be stabilized and fixed for all time. Many are preaching that same doctrine to- day.
 America and Connecticut ex- perienced depression in 1873 and for several years thereafter they struggled with the problem then pressing. There were people then who made the same claim that is being made now and urged a stab- ilizing of the existing economy. If they had succeeded in perma- nently impressing their principles and plan upon the American pub lie and industry, the telephone would have been mere plaything, radio and motion pictures would have been unknown, mechanical refrigeration, modern sanitation in our homes and cities would not have come. The automobile, the aeroplane and the modern stream lined train would have passed us by. We would be meeting this afternoon ill light shed by gas jets and coal oil lamps. When a na- tional economy is stabilized, prog resS is stifled.
 Increase Production
 We must direct our thought and energy toward improving oppor- tunity to go ahead, to increase and expand our production. In a total- itarian state expanding and in creasing production is attempted by governmental edict directed at the workmen, the farmers, the scientists, the organizers. the in- ventors. They are ordered to carry out a government plan. In a democracy progress is accom- plished by holding out to the working man, to the farmer, to the scientist, to the inventor, to the organizer, to all, an opportunity to improve his lot in life, to acquire better things for his family and himself with the promise that when he justly attains them, he will be protected in the enjoy ment of them. It is the function of government to keep that oppor- tunity within the reach of every one and to guard it against sell fishness and greed. This is the American way of life. The people of Connecticut want to go forward along this way. It is our job to do all that We can to stay on this road, by protecting the fair against the unfair, the honest against the dishonest, the unselfish weak against the selfish strong.
 No Easy Road
 There is no easy road to re- covery. There is no scheme that will bring it next week. Recovery depends upon the revival of bus mess confidence and there can be no revival when businessmen, large and small, are badgered and harassed by government. We who hold public office devote our time, energy and thought to the government of the state, while our fellow men in the private walks of life devote their time and energy and thought to the de- velopment of private enterprise. We must work with them to make government and private enterprise go hand in hand. Government must in all things be a friendly, helpful, cooperating force and not an offlcious, meddleSome police man. We will need the help of men and women who know the problems of business and agricul- ture in Connecticut. Government must invite them in and work with them for recovery. By in- spring confidence we can increase and expand our production and create the jobs which bring re- covery.
 No government can provide per- manent employment for all or even large part of its citizens unless 1t steps out of the role of democracy and, entering the field of private enterprise in direct conflict with its own citizens, be- comes autocratic. In competi- tion with its own citizens gov- ernment becomes monopoy which business cannot hope to cope with, because government is bound by laws of its own mak- ing and. pursuing the course of monopoly, would eventually stifle private business altogether. In a conflict between government and business class hatred and intol- erance are rampant. We must awaken in all of our citizens a new sense of their responsibility toward the country. We need jobs for the unemployed. The citizens of the country must be encouraged to furnish those jobs. They will be encouraged when the government pursues program of adherence to constitutional prin- ciples, of economy, of friendly CO., operation and thus demonstrates beyond doubt that there will con- tinue to be in Connecticut and