FOUR ~,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, . 777F-‘•:,37,;;%:,, This message was included in a speech which Mr. H. E. Humphreys, Jr, gave before the Fifth Avenue Association in New York City, Sept. 30. With the full realization that the future of this country belongs to its youth, we reprint this article as a public service. The seven road blocks to future prosperity are very real problems. understanding them is, the first step toward their solution. I have a Son and Daughter Seventeen days ago I gave my only daughter in marriage. The event wasn't quite as hilarious as the motion pictures would have us believe. Sure, there was gaiety and laughter. But when I walked down the aisle with Barbara on my arm, my steps were less certain than I had expected. There was a tug at my heart I had never felt before. Sixteen days ago, my only son returned to college. I am beginning to underitand what someone said— Being a parent is just one good-bye after another. A Son's Uncertain Future A short while before George left, we were talking—discussing his future—what he might do after college. I wouldn't say my son was exactly bitter about' the state of affairs passed on to him by the older generation. But he was uncertain , . . unsettled . . . uninspired. After he left the room, I went on thinking. There was no denying that things are in a sorry state. Who was to blame? I could name most anyone and everyone. I finally faced up to the one fact which, I suppose, is the hardest for a father to admit. I had let my own son down. I had not spoken up, I had not stood up for him as I should. I had sat idly by while someone had almost stolen his birthright. Now, Pm not alone in this sin of omission. I can find plenty of company among my own business associates and neighbors. How about you? Have you spoken up lately? As One Father To Another What I would really like to do is to talk as one father to another with the next President of the United States, whichever of the candidates he may be. I would say: Mr. President, you and I both are fathers. Just what have we done to our boys? Where do they go from here? I don't know about yours. But, frankly, my boy doesn't know which way to turn. Take Korea. Should he jump in now and fight, perhaps die for his country? He's not afraid to. But, if he did, would he really accomplish something? Or would his sacrifice be for nothing? • Should he continue college? If he does, what then? If my son wants to become a businessman, like his father, what chance will he have to rise or fall by his own effort? What incentive will he have? Will taxes be so high or government controls so rigid that success will not seem worth the struggle? Or, if my son wants to run for political office, like you, Mr. President, will he find a challenge? Or will he be dismayed by further decline of integrity and moral courage among govern ment leaders? Take my son's future married life. Will he have an oppor tunity to make a better life for his loved ones, as you and I did? Or will the government insist on giving him birth-to-death se curity? with no room left for individual initiative? Yes, my son doesn't know which way to turn. Why has he been put in this spot? The way I see it, our country is suffering because our gov ernment has a don't know policy abroad and a do-it-all policy at home. I'm not trying to put the blame in any one place, Mr. Presi dent. Thus far I have seen little sign of great improvement from either of our major political parties. First of all, Mr. President, we need a foreign relations policy that we all understand and approve. You know how this must be done—through public debate by our duly elected represen tatives. You know the kind of policy it must be—a firm policy that calls for us to take the initiative for peace. Titan Metal Manufacturing Company •! , ;.:5'.-r . -!; . :f.z?::::! , ..<i . :r.: ........... ... :=4s,e;----';, THE DAILY COLLEGIAN. STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA A FATHER'S: TO - ' THE NEXT =MEI With such a policy, our sons will be able to live for a stronger America—not die for a weaker one. Next to a elositve, forward-looking foreign policy, the best way to solve our problems abroad is to live right at home. We must show the world, a domestic, economy that makes sense. We must continue our system of free opportunity which has - drawn people to us from every land where servitude has become too great for self-respecting people to bear. Can't Buy Security At home, we are at that crucial point where we must decide for all time, whether we shall speak up and stand up for freedom and opportunity, or whether we shall settle for socialism. Security is desirable, Mr. President, up to the point where we begin to lose more than we gain. But, don't you think it is time we realized that complete security is something that money can't buy? Moreover, in our frantic scramble to do everything for everybody, we are being forced to give up more than money. We are giving up, piece by piece, the hard-won freedom to get ahead as individuals. This is the freedom which our fathers handed down to us. If • we fritter it away, what shall we say when our sons ask what we did with it? How far we have gone toward total socialism is difficult to measure. But, when we look at the amount of our national income that has been going into taxes, it becomes clear we: are moving rapidly in that direction. These figures show that, 20 years ago, we worked only one day in every 23 to pay for federal government _spending. By 10 years ago, the figure was one day out of each 11. This year we shall work nearly one day out of four to pay federal taxes. How much farther shall we travel toward total socialism by the time our sons are our age? And what will they think of us for leading them 'down this road—a road which could end in communism? _ Mr. President, surely by this time you must know that, first of all, I am a father. I am also a businessman. I believe I can assure you that American businessmen stand ready to help you face the challenge of true leadership in this time of decision affecting all our/sons—affecting our nations destiny for decades to come. Today, as a start, let me remind you of the threats to con tinued prosperity which must be faced by government and buii ness if we hope to maintain our economic strength for lie next generation. In case you are tempted to discount what I have to say as an appeal for special favors for bukness, let me ask you to examine . each proposal in the light of what you honestly believe is best for the American people. That is all I ask. There have already been far too many appeals to special interests in this country. We have come to a low point in our history if any leader feels he must appeal to man's selfishness or to any .other human weakness to' get ahead. I'd hate to have my boy thing I had to: It is long past time that we .all appealed to . man's nobility, his integrity, his dignity and his moral courage. With that thought in mind, let me tell you what I believe is the most important question concerned with our economic health and our power to support rightness throughout the world. It is simply this: shall we .have more government in business or more business in government? Seven Road-Blocks To Prosperity I say this because I can see many major road-blocks in the path of continued, prosperity of our country. I'll mention seven. These are the road-blocks that contribute to the feeling of un certainly about their, future which young men share today. Gov ernment and business must work together to remove them. The first road-block to prosperity is government intervention of an unnecessary extent in the free operation of our private opportunity system. There are two kinds of government relations with business, Mr. President. There is the kind that is necessary, including proper anti-trust regulations. The other is the unnecessary kind, that . prevents business from serving people to the best of its ability. The only time government should try to control business is during all-out war, when scarcities keep competition from exercising its effect on supply and demand. Under our competitive system, the customer must be the boss. He should decide what products shall be made, and how many, and how much he shall pay fOr them. Under government WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1952 WEDN] contrc at an relatic The s tax pi needs It it trie deduc And i and t] H to be worry hang anyw and e T collet neces: paid 1 taxes They provic The tl the ix T up w whicl divid( to bu of the of spe back equip inade The. f of the Ever 3 create to ou. exam At tv sloo] will i $74 t 4 been Thin] suran ness ily fc for t: no m non -E accer ment on of work Inver work this mad: Ever cause have by p: for the e
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