The Ely miner., 1943-06-10
AMERICAN SYSTEM
OF FREE COMPETITION
Released by Western Newspaper Union.

AMERICAN SYSTEM
OF FREE COMPETITION
WAY BACK WHEN was a boy,
practically no farm or smalltown
home was equipped with running
water, bathrooms, telephones and
other conveniences which today we
consider necessities. In little city
of $4,000 people, where lived for
time as boy, only three homes had
bathrooms. Those three families
were the bon-ton of that community.
Their tin bathtubs-evidence of ex-
treme wealth-were coveted by all
other families. In that same little
city today, it would be hard to find
a home in which there was not
bathtub.
In the rural towns, and on the
farms, when I was boy, the wash
tub in the kitchen provided the only
means for bath. Today close to
20 per cent-one-fifth-of the rural
town and farm homes have bath
rooms and running water.
Such facts indicate our ever-in-
creasing standards of living. They
indicate progress-such progress as
no other nation in the world can
show. America has been, and is,
going forward far more rapidly than
any other nation of the world. Those
things which but a few short years
ago were luxuries, enjoyed only by
the rich, are today the common ne
cessities of all.
The thing that made it possible,
that caused America to advance so
much more rapidly than any other
nation was, and is, the American
system of free competition. The
only ism" that makes such ad-
vancement possible is American
ism. We must not let the theorists
destroy what has given us our
ever-increasing standard of living.
THAT BROKE A STRIKE
DURING WORLD WAR /, Eng
land suffered from a coal mine
strike on the part of the Welsh min
ers. Lloyd George, then prime min
lister of England, was credited with
settling that strike and putting the
miners back to work. He told me,
just before the end of the war, that
he did not settle the strike. He said
he tried, and failed. After he had
failed, King George v went to
Wales, attended the meetings of the
visited many of them in
their homes, and induced them to
go back to work.
King George V told a small group,
of which I was a member, that he
had no authority; that to the people
of England he was but symbol,
and that is true. But the kings in
fuence worked where authority
failed. In some cases influence will
get more results than does the big
stick Of authority.
WEDDING DAY
HE WAS NOT MUCH TO LOOK
AT. He was handsome neither of
face nor figure. His shoulders
stopped. His wisp of remaining hair
was gray. There were wrinkles on
his cheeks and forehead. His steps
were slow and tottering. His cloth
ing was clean but threadbare, with
a patch here and there. He dis
played no evidence of wealth.
But on his weathered face there
was smile and in his hand he car
ried small bunch of flowers. As
he opened the door of humble
home, he was greeted by another
smile, and the welcoming word 'Fa-
ther."
The woman, too, was old and frail.
She had shared years of poverty and
toll with Father" her man. They
had gone through life together, shar-
ing each others sorrows, and the
few joys that came to them. ''Moth-
er" was his woman and this was
their Golden Wedding day The flow
ers were for the occasion.
LOAN OR STOCK?
WHEN IS A LOAN NOT A LOAN,
but purchase? That is a question
to which the Chicago and North
Western railroad would like an an
swer. According to Raymond No
ley, the railroad borrowed money
from the Reconstruction Finance
corporation but when it attempted
to repay the loan, the government
would not take the money and in
sisted on turning it into a stock
ownership. It makes the govern
ment a part owner of that transpor-
tation system and it would indicate |
the policy of the government in be-
coming partner in the business of |
America. That is not what the
American people want or expect of |
government.
WINNING THIS WAR WILL be of |
greater benefit to the children than
to their elders. School boys can
help to win the war by doing their |
bit on the farms and so keep I'D
that first essential-the supply of |
food.
GOVERNMENT IN BUSINESS