Evening star., 1941-10-05

MISUNDERSTANDING DOCUMI
PLY PARLEY-Scene at the Un
ply Conference here as memoral
signed. Lord Beaverbrook, CHIEF
in center, leaning on table.
cannot be mastered by any log-roll-
ing or manipulation OF partisan or
other interests. Price control, to be
effective, simply means the control
of all the tributaries to any price
raw materials, wages. rent, farm
prices and all the rest.
Political Factor Considered.
"Of course, I know that it is easy
for economists to say this urgent
task must be set free from politics.
But politicians have to be reelected,
and they have to explain their stand
on this and many other issues to q
watchful constituency.
Similarly, when I urge the in
clusion OF wages in the proceeding
I subscribe to no theory Of labor as
a commodity We are all human
and participating groups in this
Joint endeavor and rational price
control will safeguard labor with all
the rest"
Mr.. Baruch, a stanch States
rights" Democrat. has insisted that
national energies be modified with
out taking on the crushing burden
of rapacious and all-powertul
bureaucracy. He was asked whether
his all-inclusive governmental price
mandate might not cripple enter
prise. and what would be his sub
stitute for private and personal in
Itiative thus killed or frustrated
Woodrow Wilson answered that
same question: said Mr.. Baruch,
land it was in somewhat similar
circumstances. He said. The high
est and best form of efficiency is the
spontaneous cooperation of free
people
1T is easy to be explicit in urging
a precise method Of doing simple
thing. There is more difficulty III
invoking the spontaneous co-opera-
ton Of free people, but it may be
vastly more important.
'as4 Choice Of Courses Submitted. sew
"The pressure groups lay their own
floor under their prices Mr.. Baruch
continued. but do not deal with
the pressure groups or with their
allied or possibly subservient politi-
cal interests when it comes to plac-
ing a price-ceiling which will safe
guard the many millions of our cit
izens with rigidly fixed incomes In
f1ation will rob them and impoverish
them Just as ruthlessly as unem-
ployment or the loss of their savings
accounts. Our choice is between an
intelligent and cooperative use OF
our human and physical resources
which will bring us all to safe, high
ground. or a disordered race which
will lead us into an abyss.
Il am profoundly concerned over
the peace and the years. or decades
of reconstruction. Whether civiliza-
ton will be rebuilt on a broader and
deeper base of humane intelligence,
or whether We will sink deeper into
savagery and hate depends upon the
effectiveness with which we safe
guard the well-being and the hopes
of all the people-not the entrepre-
neurs of politics, business or labor.
not the pressure groups, but all the
people.
"A just peace cannot be formulat-
ed in legal or political terms alone.
1t can be achieved only on the basis
of mass security and well-being
which will bring a higher world
standard of living, safety, hope and
aspiration for the common man-for
all of us. not a few of us. This
means that America, with its in
finite resources. physical, cultural
and technical, faces not only the
issues of defense. but it assumes the
gravest responsibility ever laid or
any nation in history, the fashioninl
of a just peace. I believe we can
and will discharge this responsible
ity."
Praises Capitals Brains"
Are there sufficient resources OF
experienced and disinterested per.
sonnel in Washington to meet this
issue?" Mr.. Baruch was asked.
"Emphatically yes he replied
There are plenty of good brains and
plenty of seasoned experience ir
Washington. All they have to do is
to put them to work with a workable
plan"
Mr.. Baruch had achieved ample
financial security bv the time he
was 80 years old. Thereafter
through his detached and disinter-
ested participation in public affairs
he became known as friendly dag.
nostician Of politics. government and
finance. Such has been his mood
for more than 40 years. His father
DR.. Simon Baruch, a surgeon in
Lees army. was a distinguished
physician and health authority
There has been a suggestion OF
sympathetic Identification" with
his much loved and venerated father
in Mr.. Baruch's various prescrip-
tions for the health of the body
polite.
AS we continued, our discussion
kept rounding back to the CO.
operation of a free people" Mr.
Baruch's deep preoccupation is with
these imponderables.
One thought OF hopeful para
phrase of Plato-financiers become
philosophers and philosophers be-
come f1nanciers. Mr.. Baruch's life
and deeds suggest this happy out
look.