Evening star., 1940-09-01
Forgotten Men
of Utopio
By Frederic J. Haskin.


the many remedies offered between 1929
and 1882 by self-appointed messiahs to
heal the country's economic ills. More
over, there is cause for thanks that some
of the far-fetched schemes proposed
were not adopted. Only a casual back
ward look will serve as reminder of how
emotional millions of people are and
how they may be led to accept theories
and untried plans.
Library shelves reveal the large num-
Der Of books and pamphlets produced In
the worst of the depression years by
thousands of theorists and dreamers who
failed to reach the public through the
daily press or over the air, as did many
others whose names are now half for
gotten. Apparently, for every one who
received hearing on his Utopian theory,
thousands have remained unknown, save
to a small circle of their immediate
acquaintances. 1t follows. then, that this
country's economic theorists have fallen
into two ClaSSeS-the virtually unknown
and the near forgotten.
Since this country has always been
land of great individualism, it is not
easy to distinguish between the true
economist and the unyarnished political
opportunist. For this reason 1t Is to
the credit of a iberal-minded people
that every theory advanced and espoused
for the Nations welfare had, through
free speech and free press, fair ap-
praisal Moreover, no ill-will Is held
against the rejected theorists. They are
still worthy citizens.
In all periods of distress there have
been those who came forward with we'll
meaning plans-some good, some bad.
The only difference between the theor-
lists of the depression years and those
of other troubled eras lies in the number.
The gradual rise of intelligence always
brings a proportionate number of advo-
Gates on any subject of importance, local
or national. The increased circulation
of the printed page and development
and wide use of the radio, of course, give
greater acceleration to the spread of new
theories. 1t was these media that made
it more difficult for experienced leaders
to stem the tide of what was about to
become national hysteria.
Many now recall that technocracy had
scarcely been scuttled from the columns
of the press when the late Huey Long
gave the Nation a topic for daily discus
sion which Jared none too badly in gain
ing fair proportion of public attention.
Then came DR.. Francis E. Townsend and
others with similar plans. On a State
basis, Upton Sinclair in California had
no small following. Thousands we're
cropping for personal security and willing
to listen to any theory as to how they
might be benefited.
The share-the-wealth slogan had a
ring that appealed to millions who were
sorely in need, or who had been waiting
for an easy plan on which to live. But
the sound of the slogan was more pleas
ing to the ear than was its translation
into practice. In most European coun-
tries the same movement would have
resulted in a revolution. But the Amer
ican people are not accustomed to mass
formation on social and economic ques-
tions. Their tradition and poise on
more than one occasion have become
master over a skyrocket thrown by some
individual.
In the midst of the depression, and
when the would-be mesSiahs were en-
deavoring to lead the American people
out of the wilderness of near economic
ruin, a widely circulated weekly journal
said that in times of uncertainty the
loudest mouth speaking from the empti-
est head always appears to have the
largest following. This statement was
widely quoted and universally approved,
and had an apparent sobering effect.
At least there was evidence of reflection
by the public that more careful scru-
tiny should be given the remedies offered
for the economic and social disorders OF
the time. With this thought planted in
the public mind, and strongly buttressed
by the experience of mature leaders,
what could have led to ultimate chaos
was avoided.
These theorists of yesterday were not
operating in a new field, for many have
had occasion In recent years to read
Edward Bellamy's Looking Backward
and Equality" written in 1887, which
led to the formation of the Bellamy
Clubs, the first being established in Bos-
ton in 1888. The plan provided for an
equivalent of $4,000 for all, five-day
week of four productive hours per day,
30-day vacation with pay and retire.
ment at As still receiving normal in
come. Within three years nearly 400
such clubs had sprung up in every part
of the country, and while the Bellamy
doctrine is still believed by many to be
feasible, the movement as national
force has long since spent itself. l.
was out of the Bellamy idea that How
ard Scott conceived his theory of tech
nocracy.
Now in more deliberative period
there is time for serious reflection upon
the potential strength of men who ap-
pealed to millions over the radio, from
the platform and through the printed
page. In no other country could such
men have been lost so quickly to public
opinion, not because they became self
projected leaders, but because they
sought to drive their theories ahead of
crystallized public opinion and contrary
to experience-a dangerous reef in the
path of any social or political pilot. The
obvious lesson to be learned from these
self-styled messiahs is that the Ameri-
can mind Is not quickly attracted to a