The midland journal., 1945-04-06
LOOKING
AHEAD
y GEORGE S. BENSON
l presideNf--HardiHg College
Sfarey. ArkaAsas
Russia

Since the beginning of 1945 I saw
mid-Victorian rig, horse and bug
gy, pass an automobile on a graded
road. 1t was not a race. The car
was not running. The motorist was
out changing tire. The driver of
the rig sat up straight and pressed
his horse for bit of extra speed
going by, which was funny. The car
owner made the change and drove
into town far ahead of the buggy.
Between 1928 and 1888 the United
States, the worlds outstanding in
dustrial nation of all time, had an
industrial depression. Meanwhile the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
was moving forward; not rapidly
but at an increasing rate. In those
years it was being transformed from
an agricultural to an industrial ma
ton, stage through which America
had passed, half century before.
A Wind-Br0ken Nag
Russia was driving horse named
Central Planning" The rig made
an interesting dash for improve
ment; not very fast however, nor
very spectacular. Claims made for
the animals speed were funny; GER
tainly not all true. Living condi-
tions in Russia were not as high as
those in America in the pit of our
depression; never have been before
nor since. 1t was splurge, better
than Russia had before, but far be-
low American achievement.
There is nothing new about Cen
trail Planning. It's as old as horse
drawn equipment. Kings, tyrants
and dictators have always used the
idea. Some have done better with
it than others, depending on the
ruler. Russia's recent rulers have
been anything but stupid. Their
military leadership has the world
agog. Russia has made a marvel
Gus fight, using American equipment
extensively.
For National Safety
You would think that Russia, liv-
ing next door to an armed desper-
ado for 25 years could have ade-
quately prepared for war. No; Gen.
trail Planning couldn't do it. 1t took
raid on Pearl Harbor to wake
America from a sweet dream of
peace, but America went into action
with Private Enterprise and, in four
years, armed the United Nations
for victory. This demonstrates which
system is better for national safety.
But war is never Americas main
objective. We are a peace-loving
people and want to work and pros
per and live well. Some say that
America, in view of Russia's
achievements, ought to junk Free
Enterprise and adopt Central Plan
ming. Knowing that Russia's achieve
ments have never compared to our
own, the suggestion is preposterous.
Let's examine the figures of an eX-
pert for moment:
Development Compared
Leopold Schwarzchild, in his re-
cent book called "Primer of the
Coming World" shows some index
figures to make fair comparison
of industrial gains in similar peri
ods-Russia, while at her best in
1928-38, and America in a similar
period. Here are three for sample:
U.S.S.R. U.S.A.
Coal Mining 500 1882
Railroad Building 38 918
Automobiles 129 2,066
The Russian government is an
autocracy. One political party con-
trolls everything, including newspa-
pers and radio, but not more than
30 of the people belong to it .
the upper class. Kick up a rumpus
about it if you want to 60 to the
salt mines and serve your country
for insufficient board and clothes.
The system overcomes unemploy-
ment, but wages are only one-sixth
of wages in America and the stand
ard of living only one-sixth as high.
I am in favor of keeping Private