Evening star., 1941-08-18
Wants All Peoples
Freedom
Author Says Demoeroeies
Seek Liberty From
Economic 'AbnormoIity'
BIZ Margaret Culkin Banning.


By Margaret Culkin Banning.
(This Is the first of q series by lead
ing American writers on 1.-THE World
We Want to Live In," theme OF the
WilliamstoWn Institute of Human
Relations at Williams College, August
"a to 20. Here Mrs. Banning, author
of Half Loaves," "The Third Son."
Letters to Susan" gives her personal
views as to the principles on which
Americans should unite in building
the next peace)
During the severe disciplines and tight
controls Of period of war or OF prepara-
tion for total defense, we constantly
should remember and reassert our own
purposes. Only by keeping In mind the
finished product for which We need and
use this war machinery can we escape
the totalitarian mood.
No one who Is informed or intelligent
questions the certainty that there viii be
definite social changes after the war.
But 1t is wrong to regard these with
apprehension. They are our greatest
hope It Is not inevitable that these
changes will bring fearful upheaval or
confusion if the democracies win, for
we already are preparing for great
changes. The shock involved in the
destruction Of many ambitions and hab-
its already is over. If there is confusion
to come, it will be our own fault for
being unready and undecided when the
time comes to rebuild the world.
II the democracies lose this war, the
blueprint for a postwar society will be
there to the rest of the world with
sheets of specifications. Certainly it is
all ready for mailing now. Some would
refuse to build according to its require
ments. But If they did refuse they
would not be allowed to build at all.
Money and materials would be denied
them, even II there were no more severe
penalty, and undoubtedly there would be
many.
But, II the democracies win. the blue
print for the postwar world will also be
ready. If we have good sense. 1t will be
far simpler plan. For the specifications
will not be given in such detail as would
be true II they came from Germany.
Each country will be allowed to use its
own taste, its preferences and to con-
suit its personal habits as 1t rebuilds.
The blueprint which democracy would
make for the new social order would
concern itself with matters affecting
general health and safety and with
proper assurances for privacy and free
dom from nuisances.
The things which believe that we
should insist upon in postwar world
If we have its reconstruction in our
power-are simple and few. I think we
should keep them simple 50 that every
one will understand what they are, and
few in order to avoid having too many
bosses.
We desire first Of all society free
from bitterness and from desire for re-
venge. Realizing that aggressive mill
tarism in a nation works against this
kind Of society, we must no longer per-
nit such militarism to exist In any ma
ton in the world
sound education for every member of
society. Healthy, soundly educated peo-
pie are not trouble makers. They get
along with one another Under normal
economic conditions, they can earn their
hvtngs, enjoy recreation and reproduce
themselves.
So, third, In order to make economic
conditions normal r;~s -f
one abnormality which has been causing
most Of our social maladjustments. In
dividual acquisition must be limited, and
the person who has gift for such ac-
QUESTION must relinquish his excess gains,
probably through the classic method of
taxation. This will work no great hard
ship, for all comforts and luxuries grad
ually will become more public than pri-
vate. They will not disappear and re-
wards more and more often will be in
the form Of honors rather than material
goods.
Finally, we must leave people alone to
work out their own destinies. Local,
national and international busybodies
must be kept from interfering. We must
respect variation of temperament and
ability. Those by the sea will have a
different mood from those who live in
cities. and different aptitudes. Some will
always search destiny and God with the
intellect, others with the emotions. But
each man and woman will search for
God. If permitted to do so.
There is some safety within a fence,
II the fence Is high and strong enough.
But peace is not necessarily within it,
and 1t Is not safety but peace that we
seek. So we must not delude ourselves
when We build fences. We shall need
them for a time, but at long last they
Will not be necessary for modern, demo-
cratic, peaceful life.
Discusses Mr.. Lindbergh's Opinions;
Also Those of Mr.. Churchill.
To the Editor Of The Star:
Shame lies not In defeat but In abiect.
surrender.
Charles A. Lindbergh may be right In
his view concerning the most prominent
OF his present critics and wrong in the
doctrine which he now is preaching.
There, OF course, is no proper place on
the roll OF officers of the Army of the
United States for one already welded to
the doctrine Of defeatism-which is .
vastly different thing from saying that
an honest American citizen should be
traduced for holding such opinions or
denied opportunity for the full expression
OF them. If the country should accept