The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-06-04
Babson Looks to Responsible
Leaders For Post War Work

Babson Park. Mass. June Mill
tary armchair strategists are now
being superseded by college pro-
fessors, pseudo economists, organi-
sations. officials and even certain
"crack-pots". All OF these have
their pet ideas for solving our
postwar problems. Many OF them
have some axe to grind. Much
that they OFFER is over my head.
After all am just a country boy.
living in the woods OF Babson Park.
Commonsense, however, tell me
that our most responsible employ
ers and labor leaders should be
given the power TO provide full
postwar employment.
Postwar Control
Ny readers should make no mis-
take about one thing. What the
politicians, New Dealers and
"crack.pots" have now TO say about
postwar planning will not bear
much fruit. The boys who will con-
ceive and put into effect our post
war economy will be our returning
service men. Alright. you say,
these may account for only TO-
100000 votes" But I predict that
this group will be the most intel
ligent and constructive minority
group that our country has ever
seen.
Outside OF the military. there is
still little real leadership in our
country. have in mind not only
the theorists, dreamers. sore
heads. labor leaders and politicians,
but other people OF our national
hfe who depend upon pull, graft,
waste or bureaucracy for a liveli-
hood. The title OF recent picture
In Time Magazine to the effect that
"our wounded do not cry, was very
significant Our boys are develop
ing character. courage and initia-
tive. They will be our salvation
in future years. Upon their return,
they will follow the Ten Command
msuts and the Multiplication Table
and stand for no nonsense.
Politics w. Business
Recent ythere was held at Bah
son Park the graduation exercises
OF the first group Of naval officers
who had completed their course OF
training for the Navy Supply Corps.
The majority Of these new officers
came from active business. After
the war. they want to get back
into business. In my humble judg-
ment, they will not like planned
economy. They are already look
ing ahead to the time when they
and other men can, without govern
ment interference, create condi-
tions favorable to reasonably full
employment and to a high standard
Of living.
In a democracy such as ours, It
ia important that we be a well,
and not a sick, nation. France,
Italy and Germany-once vigorous,
up-to-date and modern states-gra-
dually became infected with totali-
tartan bacteria. They literally
sickened and now are facing self
destruction. Russia, temporarily,
has found specific for her disease.
Certainly she is recognizing and
rewarding individual leadership.
Politicians, not intelligent indus
trialsts, make sick nations. The
politicians of Europe were, in fact,
responsible for World War II.
Free Enterprise Essential
Whatever policies are adopted in
our postwar era-and II would be
web TO SOW and cultivate the seeds
now-it Is essential that they
make possible a continuance Of pri-
vate enterprise. The competitive
spirit must he upheld. Personal in
centive and initiative must be recog-
nized. Private capital must be al
lowed to accumulate in order to A.
nance the re-conversion of plants
from war to peacetime operations.
This Ia also necessary for new
enterprises and research work as
well as for rehabilitation OF worn
ort properties. The investor must
be given an opportunity to partaci.
pate In postwar business.
Taxation now and In future will
be heavy. but II should not ap-
proech the oonsfscation point,
Furthermore, provided that bust.
nessmen and investors are allowed
10 make responsible profits. there
will be little objection to paying
necessary taxes. Government bor-
rowing OF huge sums to be spent
for spending's sake" must stop
Our past ten years Of colossal
spending without regard for ser.
vices received proved to he a dis
astrous experiment. Further bor-
rowing or spending after the war
for purely public benefit can only
hasten the worst effects Of infla-
t+on: bat these mistakes may not
be repeated.