The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1959-01-06
Individual Effort Is The Price OF Freedom

Editors note: This is one Of :,
series Of talks given on rad;o sta
ton WFLO during Know Your
America" week. Mrs. Annie v. put
ney made the following address on
behalf Of the Business ard PROBES
SiOnal WOman's Club Of Far,nyille J,
Today. | am representing Tie
F'a11nville B Ii 5 he S S and PrOfes
SiOnal WOmen's Club in cooperation
with the American Legion Auxiliary
and il is my privilege 10 bring you
one OF series OF MESSAGES on
AmericanisIn.
The theme for this week las been
Know Your America Ny subject
is The Job at Which We Work .
1t is fitting that on this important
occasion l should briefly sketch to
you some Of your blessings and
privileges. 1t is even more impor-
tant that l should remind you Of the
obligations which you must now as
sumo along with these blessings and
privileges.
Let us examine first of all ON.
national heritage. We are heaven
blessed to live in America II IS the
richest and most beautiful continent
IN the world. Here nature has
lavished its most bounteous gifts.
We have great oceans. sun batheti
beaches. m a este mountains.
mighty rivers. placid lakes. bound
less forests. fertile plains. rolling
praries and an ideal climate
Upon this land of plenty we have
erected more prosperous cities than
can be found anywhere else. Our
towering skyscrapers, our industrial,
centers and our efficient methods OF
mass production amaze all other
peoples.
We have more miles Of railroads.
more paved highways. more auto
mobiles. more radios and tele-
vision sets, more movies. more fine
schools. more hospitals. more com
mercial and private airplanes. more
newspapers and magazines and Il
brarieS and more eold' than any
other country in the world Om
homes are the most modern Of all
The United States contains only
six per cent Of the world area and
seven per cent Of its population. vet
1t consumes normally 10 per cent Of
the world coffee. 50 per cent of its
tin. S. per cent OF its rubber. II per
cent OF its sugar y per cent Of its
silk. 36 per cent Of ats coal. AZ per
cent Of its pig iron. AZ per cent Of
its copper and SO per cent Of its
crude petroleum. TO mention just a
few OF our advantages.
Let us now examine our heritage
Of liberty and freedom Our econ
nomic rights include:
First. the right of TIE individual
to seek the kind Of gainful employ
ment he chooses. No authority can
dictate any Americans choice Of
vocation. though. OF course. circum-
stances may determine it.
Second. the right of the individual
10 sell the products of his Work-in
GOODS or services or any Of his law
ful possessions to anyone at any
time. This means free exchange
Of goods and services.
Third. the right of the individual
to use the proceeds of such sales
as he sees fit-to save, to invest.
to spend. or to give away accord
ing to his own preferences and ac-
cording to laws governing such
transactions. This carries out the
principle Of free exchange.
Fourth the right Of the individual
to own private property and to en-
JOY the use Of il SO long as such
use does not interfere with the right
OF another TO a like Use of his own
property.
These rights are not recognized
in all countries. They are recoe-
nlzed in countries we think Of as
constitutional democraciess the free
dom Of the individual to work In all
occupation where he can dos some
t h i n g worthwhile to accumulate
something from the proceeds Of his
work and to enjoy the fruits Of his
accomplishments is essential to his
common welfare and progress.
Americans do not wish to see such
rights restricted for any individual
by any government beyond the re-
quirement to preserve that right fol
other individuals. Nor do Americans
approve restrictions by any private