Milford chronicle., 1950-01-27
The Forward March

II ATTENDED the Mid-Century
= ''Motorama" at the Waldorf-As-H
toria in New York. The name Of the
show appealed to my Imagination,
as a newspaper correspondent who
stands at the top Of what the peo-
pie call Country Newspapers" j
have travelled most of the rounds
in local newspaper affairs for the
past half century. And when the
General Motors made it clear that
the greatest automobile show IN
the world promised to chart the
progress for the next so years, /
packed my bags" and got aboard
a New York train and on to the
Waldorf.
There were thousands Of us there,
a regiment Of GIN officials were
headed by Alfred P. Sloan and c. =,
Wilson, top chiefs in the motor
world. Jim Farley and the Duke
and Duchess Of Windsor were
among the prominent guests.
OF course all the newspaper cor
respondents and magazine writer's
in the East were there. Thousands
of tOp-citiZens-and all classes Of
people from the sidewalks of New
iYOrk'-Were among those present.
Ny efforts in journalism have
long specialized on local family
newspapers. My native soil was in
the great midwest where learned
the trade from printers devil to
"editOr-in-chief" Of successful coun-
try newspapers.
National magazines failed to hold
me and keep me. in captivity when
I migrated long ago to the Eastern
SeabOard.
In short, it is my firm belief that
the Grass Roots are the backbone
soul and strength of American
journalism.
Thousands and thousands of ev-
cry class Of people here at the
MotOrama agree that the progress
of the past half-century is a step
ping stone for the next forward
From Fifty"
From here I will devote our at
tention to the progress from 1900
to 1950-and the FORWARD
MARCH.
c. E. Wilson, President Of the
General Motors says that Ameri-
cans have achieved the highest
standard of living in the world.
This wonderful accomplishment
has within 1t an element Of hazard.
Our country today has less than
One-half Of the national income re-
auired by individuals and families
to purchase her necessities-leav-
ing less than 50Ss of the income
available for the purchase Of
OTHER ITEMS. These OTHER
ITEMS are a distinct measure of
our standard Of living and are re-
quired if we are to continue that
increase in living actually their
purchase can be more or less in
definitely postponed. "But THERE
IN LIES THE DANGER and If any
thing shakes the confidence in the
american people so that they slow
down the purchases of these items,
a depression quickly results" And
mo better analysis has ever been
translated into plain language.
Confidence in the future of Am
erica and American industry was
reafirmed IN a dramatic way in
'Mid-Century MOtOrania' toned to
the theme Of Forward From Fifty. -
The presentation was the most pop
ular show in New York for a long
time past. 1t contained review of
our last half-century Of progress in
Americas major industry, showing
the results Of constant and careful
application Of the skills gained OV-
er that period in research techni-
qlies, engineering, production and
design-all combined in the great
show of the great building known
as the WaldOrf-AstOria.
Above all else, it emphasizes the
results that can be obtained from
good management of business
founded and nurtured under the
American free enterprise system
The record Of these efforts proved
that Yankee technology can pro
duce an economy Of abundance Il
meet a growing population. Thii
mid-half-century show takes tn
form Of a concrete conviction Whicl
General Motors insists upon tina
no ceiling should be set on the SLOW
rise in American living standards
Less than half the national incom
is required to support families ant
leave the other half OF the incOm
for other obvious purchases, or a
CONFIDENCE to buV essential 4