The Nome nugget., 1950-02-27
"WE DON'T NEED ITr'

"WE DON'T NEED TIT"
 (By George S. Benson, President, Harding College)
 At the conclusion of a recent talk on the simple chancs of free enterprise and the great benefits the tenn has given people, an inteligent-ooking man from my Mid Western service club audience came up to shake hands He said Splendid talk But why waste it us? We don't need it. It ought to be taken to those who do need it.
 It so happened that i'd just from lecture tour of eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania high schools presenting the free enterprise story to 1OO5O students and their 20 teachers and to $50 teachers in separate meeting The week before I'd been with large group of industrial foremen. I'd found these audiences prisngly well infOrmed had been thrilled by their warm response
 I thanked my friend. Then, grinning I asked: Do your secretary and your wife know these free enterprise facts? Could they adequately uphold our American sys tenn in conversation at the corner grocery, bridge table? Would you yourself to debate with glib Socialist" He stammered moment. Then he smiled T what you No; neither my wife nor my secretary is familiar enought with the facts you've given us You've got me there!'
 He took my elbow and looked straight in the eye. And that give it a second thought, he said, "l shouldn't want free enterprise to be represented in de- bate by my meager familiarity with the subject. But the fact s it is being represented every day. by this mans familiarity with the subject and his wifes and his secretarys and yours and mine. Millions of peo- pie are involved in conversation every day this sub- ject Free enterprise and sociaisc government are be- ing constantly compared-wherever people meet.
 tnS ndLlOQal QScuSSOn 1nVOIVlng the IrGGQOm all of is going in government buildings college campuSeS (itS the official 1850 college debate Ques- tion) in railroad roundhouses, in factories and the farms-everywhere; not just the radio forums and in legislative halls. And we haven't enough we'll equipped SpOkesmen for the American way. Particular ly is this true among our business and professional peo pie and our white collar workers
 A big industry in Illinois recently made down-to- earth presentation the American way of life to its entire personnel Questions asked by employees during and following the programs analysed. Later each employee filled in questonnaire. studous eXamin- aoin of the results indicated the white collar personnel knew less about American system than did the and women in the shops along the assembly lines
 Our businessman friend at the service club luncheon whoe first thought was that my message free enter prise and encroaching Socialism not needed by his group is joined in that first thought by number of his fellows And yet left his city next morning report that his clubs executive committee had adopted three resolutions endorsing federal legislation. White not identified such the endorsed social istic to the core.
 It is my opinion that particular group in our Amer can society has adequate knowledge of freedom system and the sorry record of Socialism, In fact the need for this understanding is urgent in all groups We all need the energy to get the facts, the wisdom to cept them and the courage to them. We need Americans speaking up, with authority for America.