Arkansas State press., 1944-09-22

TWO ways When tney step into public
lie, There are the ones who, when
u" buzzer isn't answered immedi.
ately. or when the order is criticized
or Its wisdom or even its integrity
questioned. explode In naughty an
ger. And there are the ones who
learn to take it and go right ahead
and find way to get things done.
with the chips and quips falling
where they may, including into their
own breakfast coffee. q
Nelson is in the latter class.
He not only can take II but he has
grown to like it. In fact, he has de.
cided. unless his friends read him
wrong indeed, that he wants to be a
public servant. That he believes he
can get more satisfaction out OF pub.
lie life than out of private life, That
doesn't mean that he will simply
let himself be kicked upstairs into a
sinecure. He will demand a Job that
he believes is real one in which
he can truly serve.
And now we come to the second
thing which has influenced Nelson's
attitude. and it. like the first.
brought about something like a con.
version in the man. Just as he
became convinced that q public ca.
reer offered the best opportunity 81
service. so Nelson became convert.
ed to expansionism In general and
to the importance Of small business
In particular and this Is one Of the
causes Of friction in the WPB today
"A notable result Of which was the
resignation Of Charles E. Wilson.
In the course Of his experience In
Washington, Nelson became con.
WINGED that maximum productivity
Of industry Is essential to prosperity.
and more recently. that the protec.
ton Of small business In the com.
ing readjustment period is essential
to maximum production. He felt
that II big business were TO succeed
and the capitalistic system Of free
enterprise were to be preserved. lit.
tie business must be expanded.
Specifically, Mr.. Nelson believes,
according to his often-expressed
opinion, that the more little bust.
nesses there are, selling the things
that a firm like Sears Roebuck sells.
the more things Sears Roebuck
will sell.
PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY ~
GREATLY INCREASES
And now we come to some Of the
strange statistics about business, big
and little. The most striking Of all
to me Is this: retail trade, in spite
| Of all the difficulties in Its path, had
an increase Of dollar values in sales,
Of moe than so per cent In l94S
over l939-department Of commerce
statistics show $42,o42, 900, 900 for
l93o-$63, 1858. 900 900 for l943. That il
expansion under difficulties.
And here Is another: the depart.
ment Of labor figures reveal that
from 1899 to l943 the average yearly
employment showed Z decrease 81
only one-tenth Of per cent
In the field Of agriculture. al.
though the farm production has
nearly doubled. the farm population
has decreased nearly 40 per cent
more expansion.
What do these figures mean7 That
the productive capacity has been in.
creased tremendously, not only in
the war industries but in consumer
goods, and the expansionist believes
that what has been done can be con.
tinued provided that obstacles are
| removed
In addition to this revelation Of
the nations highest productive ca.
pacity, remember that there are II
or IL million men in the armed
forces, II million more in civilian
industry than before the war and
million in government. .
The II million In private industry
must keep their jobs. and jobs in
business, big and small, must be
found for those discharged from the
armed services, plus some released
from government work.
To achieve this. according to Mel.
son. the country must 60 expansion.
list, must further every means Of
expanding production.
The contractionist, he says. al.
though he naturally plans. hopes and
works for expansion in his own bust.
ness, does not always see the impor.
lance Of expansion In all businesses,
especially in those which compete
with him.
If Donald Nelson has the opportu.
nifty. he 10 willing to 20 ahead do.
Ing his part 70 help expand industry.
big and little. II remains to Be
seen whittier leads the road from
China,