American Notes of the Week
(By Cable)
DEMOCRACY AND BUSINESS.
Has representative government become an anachronism in the United States or, at any rate, does it need modification? The question is being widely debated. " Less Government in business and more business in Government " has been a popular slogan with American business men for some time. At present point is given to it by the failure of Congress during the now concluded Special Session to finish its work on the Tariff Bill, ant the action of President Hoover in turning not to politicians but to financial and industrial leaders for help in an emergency arising from the Stock Market collapse and business depression. In addition, we are reminded, not politicians but business men like Dawes, Young, Morgan, Morrow, Lamont, and Parker Gilbert have been called upon to deal with post-War international emergencies, just as business men were drafted to " get things done " during the War. A contrast is drawn between the alleged futile talk of politicians and the prompt and decisive action of business men, and the suggestion is advanced that the White House Conferences might develop into a Permanent Economic Council, or some such organization, through which business might control Government openly and directly in the future. At the moment Congress finds few sympathizers, at least in the industrial East, but here and there a voice is heard to defend representative institutions as such and to doubt the lasting efficacy of any alternative which business men might devise. *
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