AN AMERICAN PARALLEL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 May 1940, Page 6

AN AMERICAN PARALLEL

INDUSTRY AND UNEMPLOYED. For ten years economic progress in the United States has been halted, writes Mr Wendell L. Wilkie, president of the Commonwealth and Southern Power Company. There has been very little expansion in industry, and most American business enterprises have been operating without a profit. In 1930 we had about 10.000,000 unemployed. and today, in 1940. we have nearly the same, number. For a nation which for 150 years set a standard for industrial progress never equalled in the world's history this is an extraordinary and startling situation. It is not offset by the social progress which | we have achieved in this decade —such as the elimination of industrial abuses, the efforts to improve national health and individual, security, and the awakening of the social conscience of the people. These reforms are obviously worth less than nothing if we. - as a people, arc unable to earn a living. The greatest need facing the United States is to re-create a condition in which the spirit of free, economic enterprise can flourish. In the United States the system of free economic enterprise managed by the people is gradually being supplanted by a Go-vernment-dominated economy managed by Federal bureaux in Washington. Tn the past 10 years there is only one major American activity which has

shown any real expansion: that is the United States Government. Since 1930 employment in the Uniled Slates Government has increased nearly 100 per cent, and today nearly 1.000.000 people are on (he Federal pay-roll. The expenditures of the Government have increased nearly 200 per cent, aifd now amount, to over 9.000.000,000 dollars. The borrowing of the Government —the Government debt —has increased 150 pei 1 cent. But- what, has happened to the people themselves? The Federal payroll has increased, but not the payrolls of (he people's industries. The Federal Government has collected billions of dollars for its enterprises. but the people's industries have not been able to raise the capital for their own expansion.