The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1940-05-02

resent the spirit that made Amer
lea the worlds foremost nation.
The first Commissioner of Pat
ents, Henry L. Ellsworth, stated
in his annual report that "the adj
vancement Of the arts, from year
to year, taxes our credulity and
seems to presage the arrival of
that period when human improve
ments must end" Those remarks
were made DIN 1916 years ago
and, strange as 1t may seem, more
than two million patents have been
granted since that time, and many
of them have opened new outlets
for labor. What so many lose sight
of Is that we are living in state
of constant change that requires
readjustment. Sometimes, as Is the
situation now, we are unable to
readjust ourselves to these changes
as quickly as they occur because
we are hampered by the heavy
hand of government restraint.
Many of us can recall reading OF
the dire prophesies as to the ef-
fleets that would come from certain
improvements-the cotton gin, the
sewing machine, the reaper, the
steam engine and the automobile.
It was testified to before our COM
mittee some months back that the
automobile industry, alone now
gives employment, directly and in
directly to fourteen million people.
For all we know we may be on the
threshold of a new unheard Of in
dustry that will give employment
to an equally large number.
Several years ago met a gentle
man on the train who was general
manager of one Of the largest in
dustrial concerns in the country.
I shall always remember what he
told me. Among other things he
said that if his company were to
run an ad in the papers for man to
dig a ditch. or cut weeds, they
would be swamped with applica-
tions, but were they to advertise
for an experienced production man.
ager or mechanic they would pro-
badly not receive a single applica-
ton because such types are never
without a good job. In other words,
it is the lowest rungs Of the ladder
that are the most crowded. It is
there that competition for exist
ence is the keenest. AS one climbs
the ladder he finds more and more
elbow room as he ascends.
The thought that I would like to
leave with my young readers, who
are shortly to face the world, is
that there is always demand for
those who have learned to do
something useful, that requires
character. intelligence and train
ing. In the final analysis it is
largely up to the individual as to
whether or not he makes success
in life.
Politics and WPA
In language that permits of no
misunderstanding. Colonel F. c.
Harrington, who was drafted from
the Army to head the Works Pro-
iects Administration, issues a time
ly warning to WPA employees
against engaging in political act
ivity. He said:
GAS Commissioner of Works Pro-
jects, will not tolerate any violat-
ion of the above regulations. The
Works Projects Administration Is
not in politics and does not take
part in politics, either directely OF
indirectly"
The regulations are based on the
Hatch Act. 1t Is the same restrict
ion imposed on Civil Service EN-
ployees, and is applicable to the
WPA by an express provision OF
the Emergency Relief Appropria,
ton Act of 1889.
For the rest of it the WPA work.
ers are told that they can vote OF
not, just as they desire, and car
belong to a political party or not
without fear of reprisal by super,
iors. Attention also Is called to the
fact that they may not be solicited
for political campaigns.
"Voting is your own business
Keep it that way" says the Com
missioner. Colonel Harrington ne
doubt was moved to promulgatt
his orders of the day"-whicf
are being distributed with pay
checks so they cannot be over
looked-by recalling the history o.
the last congressional campaign
| when the use of the WPA as 6
political force reached such scand
alous proportions in many states
that Congress felt impelled to pas.
the Hatch Act to curb politica
activity by Federal employees gen
orally so as to forestall a repetition
of such outrageous conditions.
The country will applaud this
action. which gives assurance thai
the strict letter Of the law will be
enforced to the full extent of the
powers of the head of WPA.
hope Colonel Harripgton's admon.
ition svill be more rigidly followed
than was a somewhat similar
declaration by Harry Hopkins. for.
mer administrator, who could see
no wrong in such activities pro.
viding thew were in behalf of the
present order of things.