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schtothe:the to 3que ual is IPiIOperation CoonskinA startling demonstration of the fact that free enterprise is carrying on with the utmost freedom in this country was demonstrated by the cur Operation Coonskin when citizens of all sta- nial tions of life joined with the utmost enthusiasm in building an immense park in two days.No department of government sponsored this event and no tax money was asked. The j of 1 whole operation was a spontaneous movement; pur by private and personal interests and^the park stands today and will stand for years as a gift of the people to the people.We think this highly successful effort has importance beyond our community. -It was an example of spontaneous action of a free people. It was something that any city or county in the country could do provided realistic leadership appeared and good citizenship took over.It was something the whole of communistic Russia could not possibly have accomplished.The project demonstrated the fact that the American people will, act in unison and with full effort to bring to successful conclusion any movement that is unselfishly advanced in the interests of the people. It was the same spirit one sees in all-out war and the wonder of it was that it operated just as efficiently as a peace-time movement.This two-day job represented the expenditure of more than a million dollars of value in labor, machines, materials and superintendence, It was not handicapped in any way by bureaucratic control. It could not possibly have been done so expeditiously through the agency of any department of government. The people did this themselves, under their own direction, and they did it with a display of utmost enthusiasm.Here we had the highest type executives, the ablest engineers; a great body of technicians, the military and police, mechanics and common laborers working together under high-Bik:theneww.ailt;riibedeccberless “I ■'( etiie V m*r to oWliltethesIw.11gettthariirfc.ii:whewasHposili'ltlthethewoirrddIly efficient direction and it didn't cost the tax- • of tIpayers one red cent. Visitors came in a spirit pre.I stof curiosity, absorbed the enthusiasm and many plunged in unasked to help in any capacity possible. Among these was seen a prominent businessman who deals in thousands of dollars of contracts, out in the mud directing traffic.A carpenter past 80, sawed boards and drove nails. The governor of the state came and was embued with the same quality of entbus- ^■ Jasm. The mayor of the city stayed ail day, JJ® plunged from one center of operation to another and remained until the ceremonies were j over. Young women took hold unasked and! of helped serve meals to the workers. Musicians! and entertainers gave their services freely and j lanIalarnarconits 5 rou wh;TviseTgenwilHngiy. Leading businessmen donned aprons jwJtJusNscrwnta;and caps and prepared the food. Yet there was no confusion, so well had Operation Coonskin. been planned over a period of two months.For years to come many citizens in every walk of life will visit, the park and say pride-fully, “I helped do this.” The park will stand for many years as a monument to public spirit operating under the most efficient direction, yet with the fullest freedom—free enterprise i cp without restriction of government in any form, sacOf course the work is far from finished. From month to month and from year to year there will be extensions and improvements. The possibilities are unlimited. Organized groups will sponsor more and more related projects and hundreds of other citizens will come forward from time to time to give their services.We should like to see some sort of monument in the park with a plaque inscribed something like this; “A gift of the people to the people; an example of what a free people can accomplish on their own unrestrained initia-,tive.” j hcLet us never fear that freedom will ever L1: languish in this country or that the spirit that I dr made America great and continues to make it j ^ greater will ever diminish. Operation Coonskin gives us a new confidence in our form of government and in our people.kri no a .is::.irt sea on ha ge ru i srcl’er'eryogcpefit
Newspaper Details
Charleston Gazette
Charleston, West Virginia, US
Tue, Jul 04, 1950
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Kanawha C.
West Virginia, USA 19 May 2023
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