MEN OF ACTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 112, 13 May 1937, Page 16

MEN OF ACTION

YOUTH PREDOMINANT

The* President: and his advisers are no longer stressing so much the age of the Slipreme Court as the need of driving through; a programme of social reform, says a writer, in the- "New York Times.".' This 'correspondent flies to their assistance by referring .them to E. B.'GoWin, whose book—"The Executive and ..His Control of Men' V—makes it clear enough that social' reform is not likely to be the work of septuagenarians or even sexagenarians. \- , 7

The Protestant' Reformation was brought about by churchmen whose average/age was 38. In the-Puritan Revolution the leaders were 42. A dozen-great French revolutionaries averaged 38.' \Our own 7American Revolution was fomented .byyoungishcut-ups under 40. Our anti-slavery agitators were 40 or so. Japan was modernised by reformers who were still in their thirties.- . ; - .

Gowin makes the point that when the ship of State is sailing in smooth waters the men at the helm are likely to be men in the sixties. This applies to the Church, too. Perhaps Lord Bacon put the matter, most neatly of all: . "Men of age object too much, consult too long, adventure; too little, repent too soon, and seldom drive business home to: the full period, but content themselves with a mediocrity of success. '■'."'

y'Youpg met) are; fitter to invent than, to judge, fitter' for execution than" for counsel,, and ..fitter,. for new projects than for; settled: business.", ,