Chicago world. (Chicago, Ill.) 1918-????, 1948-07-17
BACKWARD AMERICA"


All the proponents of social
ism, communism and the other
what have you isms argue that
their systems offer the" common
man" greater security and mat
erial benefits. AS AL Smith used
to say, let's look at the record.
England has gone in for soci-
alism in a big way. And what has
happened? Once a great coal ex-
porting nation, she can now
hardly produce enough for her
own needs. Her electric power
industry has gone downhill and
rates are higher than under pri-
vate ownership. Her whole Soc
ialized economy is as shaky as a
tree in storm.
Russia, OF course, has gone
whole hog in it's version of a
peoples government" to own
or control all productive activity,
and only a miserable minimum
of consumer goods is produced.
Her retail stores-all of which
belong to the state-are stocked
with only a few necessities and
even these are strictly rationed.
Prices, measured by average
earning power, are far higher
than in this country.
Backward America" on the
other hand, still clings to repre-
sentative govrnment and a cap
italist economy. The tragic" re-
suits Of this are seen on every
hand-the most efficient indus
tries on earth, the highest stan
dards Of living in the world in
spite Of initiation, more leisure
and opportunity for all, retail
stores grooming with every kind
Of commodity, and competitive
system which has to please the
people or go out OF business-no
take it or leave it" system.
The socialists have a sad story.
1t Just doesn't make sense. And
yet they are working here to
have government monopolies
supplant private enterprise. Will
we fall for it?
VOTE REPUBLICAN
PAYING OR A STRIKE
The house organ of a Tennes-
see Coal Company recently ran
this little piece under the head
ing, Stray Thoughts: 'The coal
industry has just had a long,
costly strike. The employees OF
our mines have lost several
hundred thousand dollars. Our
country will suffer in many dir
ections from shortages and high
er prices. We have, due to to the
strike, given our customers ter
rfble service. We have earned
distrust of us and our product
as fuel.
Strange as it may sound. =.
we do not know and never have
known the reason for the strike.
The operators paid the money
and had no further authority.
Nothing was gained except to
show the enormous power OF
John L. Lewis"
There, in words that anyone
can understand, is the plain, I'M
vanished truth. The fact that the
strike is over for the time being
must not be allowed to obscure
the real issue that it raised. Tha.
issue is this: One man has a
dictator's power over the econ
o1nic life of the nation-over it's
defense program, it's vital for
eign aid policy, the welfare and
prosperity Of its people, the jobs
Of it's workers, and the prestige
of it's government. That is not
an exaggeration. Coal is the cor
nerstone of our economic sys-
tenn. Let it's production be long
enough prevented, and the whole
machine must come to a stop.
The welfrae Of organized labor
itself depends on ending this
power. And if labor will not do
,deoog o. senuluoo II I1-1gul
and applaud the eXcesses of its
Ieaders-the people must act
through their government. Sen
ator Ball has suggested that in
drstry- wide BARGAINING wharohv