Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-17
Bureaucracy a Menace

bureaucracy a NlendCC
THE situation of the bituminous coal industry in the
i United States under the dctatoria Gufey Act, was
analysed in comprehensive manner the other day by
B. c. Forbes in his column, Business and Finance,
which appears in this newspaper.
This situation according to Mr. Forbes is the nearest
approach to pure socialism that have had in the
United States.
1t involves the arbitrary fixing of minimum prices
1t has increased the of soft coal to American
by not less than 40 million dollars annually
It has virtually eliminated competition from one of
the most important industries in the nation
THE American people may not wish to change this
situation and indeed might not be able to change it
if they wished.
But they should at least be informed about it and
understand it.
AS Mr. Forbes says, What Washington has done to
the soft coal industry it aspres to do in many other
directions, namely, usurp dictatorial powers"
And if the situation prevailing in the soft coal indus
try should be broadened to include ALL many
of the vital industries of the country the United States
would automatically become Socialist country and
democracy.
'The term defense is everybodys lips" says Mr..
Forbes.
'But there is another form of defense which should
be occupying the mind of every responsible citizen namely
the defense of the system of government which contrib
uted intellectually to rise to world leadership"
IT WOULD simplify this problem UNNECESSARILY if the
American people could be made to understand what it
means to have sociaized industry.
1t means complete control of industry by bureau
cratic agencies of the governmental other words,
POLITICAL control.
And of course it will ultimately mean political con-
troll of labor, too.
1t certainly means, as experience in the soft coal
industry proves not only fixed prices but HIGHER prices
Nothing is economically done under political
bureaucracy.
Favoritism and patronage are the inevitable mple-
ments of the political bureaucrat.
Extravaganza and neficency the tools of his
trade.
His aim is not to provide goods and services that
essential to the people at minimum cost but to build
up position of power for himself and to perpetuate
himself in that place.
BUREAUCRACY must rule high-handedy and iron
- handedly, because it's methods eventually become
oppressive and obnoxious and it must anticipate this
action by being in position to compel submission.
A free people cannot afford to rely upon its ability
to unseat bureaucracy when becomes oppressive and
obnoxious for by that time its powers have become so
deeply rooted to be nearly absolute
For Illustration of this, let witness with
what difficulty the btumnous coal industry of the United
States endeavor to deliver itself from its present bureau
cratic strangehold.
The Gufey Coal Act expires next month, and before
extending it the Congress is supposed to determine if
has been beneficial or otherwise.
EFT the American people observe carefully how tena-
- ciously the agencies of political bureaucracy will seek
to retain their grip this industry and how zealousy
they seek to hold their great power.
Let the American people note how difficult it IS to
unseat bureaucracy in this instance and restore the
traditional American system of conducting the vital affairs
of national life.
Then let the American people ponder deeply upon
the prospect of having other vital American industries
and activities, and perhaps ultimately all of them, fall
into the same plight
Surely these observations and reflections will suggest
to the American people, if they still and have the
will and courage to keep the historic American system
of free enterprise and democratic government that the
and methods of hating socialism must be included
in our provisions for national defense
pACDtktC NO\L/AI an TIE