The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-09-13
"Free Enterprise in American
 Democracy"

In contest for the best editorial on Free Enterprise" in the newspapers of the United States, Editor George w. Hop kins of the Lake Region, EuStis, Florida, won first place in the Herrick award made at the recent meeting of the National Editorial Association in Milwaukee. His editorial not only merlted the award, but Is worthy of the widest distribution Edi- tor Hopkins said;
 Free enterprise is not political term. Some people seem to think that as soon as one begins to advance the idea that Amer ican business, industry, commerce or agri- culture was built up on free enterprise in this country, one must be Republi- can.
 "As a mater of fact, free enterprise is a basic American principle, as free from politics as the Constitution of the United States itself. It came into being with the Constitution. It emerged from such epi- sodes in American history as the Boston Tea Party and drew its first baptism of blood at Bunker Hill
 "The implication of free enterprise is simple, straightforward and honorable It derives It's rights from a natural human impulse; the right of the individual to the initiative, and to enjoy the liberties guaranteed in the Constitution; liberties bought with the blood of patriots who pledged their lives and their sacred honor to establish those liberties,
 "The American people have never sur rendered their liberties to their repre- scntatives or the government, which IS of, by and for the people, Whatever lib- critics we have lost through these agen- cies has been usurped by them by assum- ing powers not found in the Constitu- ton.
 "Our form of government is definitely set up for the Congress to follow. The President of the United States and the Congressmen have taken solemn oath that they will defend the Constitution against all enemies. If Congress had du- tilully considered this sworn obligation, free enterprise would today be fact instead of tradition
 Congress can, and should, reverse US trend and return to the basic principles of the American enterprise system. If such action is not voluntary on the part of the Congressmen, the American people have the right to replace every mothers son who has by voice and vote indicated that he has little or no regard for Con- stitutional government.
 Free enterprise has financed two world wars. It has created more wealth among 130000,000 people than exists in the rest of the world; it has enabled us to spend approximately 400 billions of dollars to train, equip and mechanize an army to fight for the principles of free enterprise for ourselves, and that other peoples may be enriched. Therefore, free enterprise is not a selfish system as claimed by some; it is not founded upon greed. It is based on human initiative and the right to create share, enjoy ana spend the wealth amassed bys our indi- vidual and collective efforts as a people
 "As Democrats and Republicans, ana especially as Americans, we will not sur render free enterprise to national social ism; to any system of paternallsm; to bureaucracy or dictatorship. Such agen- cies have been the downfall of govern ments since the beginning of history, be- cause they fail to recognize a funda- mental human right-the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and the right to the wealth the individual has honestly earned by creative genius ana the sweat of the brow. Free enterprise se AV10arinan dam0crapV in actiOnl"