The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1944-08-03

Americanism are the atmosphere.
But capital is the seed in the soil.
Unless we produce that seed. and
unless we plant it, there will be no
new crops Of private jobs for the
American people when this war is
over.
Right there is the basic point.
think, in all planning for American
postwar prosperity. And right there
is the reason why do not hesitate
to say that the word upon which to
fix the national mind at this time is
simply, outrightly and frankly,
capitalism.
Do | sound old fashioned? In this
age, which is prone to think about
welfare without thinking about the
wealth which is necessary 70 vel
fare, do ] sound reactionary? ! sum-
mon to my aid one of the Wlsest
friends of labor and of business that
this country has ever had: the late
Mr.. Justice Brandies. Addressing a
trade union audience in Boston, JUS
tice Brandies once said.
1T is absolutely essential that a
business be profitable. | do not
mean merely that the business
should not be run at loss. | mem
that the business should be run un-
der such conditions that the owner
is willing to risk his capital IN the
business"
Note: risk his capital Mr.. Bran
dies, the sociological and Judicial
innovator and pioneer, was for cap
italism; and. under his great sl.a-
dow, / am, too, without apology
Experienced labor leaders sentr-
ally quite agree with Mr. Brand;es.
William Green, President Of the
American Federation Of Labor. re-
Gently said.
If this country ever gets a system,
of governmental RECOMMENDATION, la
Dor will suffer most. Labor, there
fore, is deeply interested in the pres
ervation of private business; ard
labor should everlastingly maintain
that the owners and managers of
business are entitled to fair and
just return upon their investments. :
Mr.. Green, / hope, will everlast-
llkly tIy w tCdlll kIldL ~ Atl w oAA
his followers. Business can get no
where by starving labor. When it
starves labor, it is starving the pur-
chasers of its own products. But la
Dor, similarly, cannot get anywhere
by starving capital. When it makes
demands which starve capital Of all
profits and savings, it is preventing
the creation of new capital and 'hus
preventing the creation Of new and
better jobs. It is starving its own fu
ture.
Everybody now is willing to be
taxed right down to his last crust OF
bread rather than let the Axis WIN.
But what about the day after vic
tory? How do we resume and con-
tinue and expand and improve our
economic freedom as we have
known it?
Business leaders are putting much
thought upon this problem. They
sometimes do not realize that lab sr
leaders are, too. | think it extremely
significant and hopeful that the
American Federation of Labor has
made commentator to the Con-
gress as follows.
Provision should be made for tho
return, in cash, after the war, of a
part of the present high taxes. We
can well be guided by the English
policy which proposes to return a
high percentage Of the taxes now as
sessed against low-income workers.
Corporations also need a postwar
reserve in order to convert their
facilities from war use to pence use
and in order to maintain emrioy-
ment. We think that any corporation
called on to pay more than 70 per
cent of its total net income under
the war taxation laws should be
eligible to receive a refund of such
excess when the war is over.
Here IS frank recognition Of the
proposition that for postwar pros
perity we need not only freedom
but freedom plus capital. Our taxes
after the war must permit both
employers and employees to stand on
their own feet and not become wards
of the government This objective
was admirably stated the other day
by Robert Watt, a labor leader Of
great prominence in government
wartime agencies. He said.
After this war | want no gigantic
governmental Reconstruction FL
nance Corporation to finance bus
mess and dominate it; and / want
no gigantic governmental Works
Progress Administration 10 employ
labor and dominate it,"
Capitalism has been the greatest
force that the world has ever known
for INCREASED production. Labor in
the future could greatly help to
make that force even more success
full.
But business also must open its
eyes to newer and better perform
ance.
The President recently abolished
the WPA. Why did he ever establish
it? Because business was not giving
full employment. II business again
fails to give full employment, there
will be another WPA. This will be
so under any president. The first