(A news article written in November 1945)

It was 1895. Franklin Baker^®, dignified 50-year-old Philadelphia miller, and his prim woman bookkeeper had just finished opening a coconut!

Why? Because Baker had shipped a cargo of flour to Cuba, waited months to be paid, and finally received, not cash but a shipload of coconuts instead.

Coconuts weren’t currency! They were souvenirs, novelties. He tried to sell them on the open market but found no takers. What on earth could he do with the dratted things?

Opening that coconut brought inspiration. He’d save housewives that messy job. He and his son would go into the business of opening coconuts and making a ready-to-use, sweet, shredded, packaged coconut for use in pies, cakes, and puddings.

Risking every cent he had, Baker started. “Baker’s Shredded Coconut” caught on. The business grew from small beginning to a very sizable coconut products business.

And—like every new or expanding business—it created jobs. And each of these jobs contributed to the making of other jobs…jobs for shippers and packers…work in warehouses…jobs for distributors, salesmen, clerks, and accountants.

This has always been the American way of creating employment. Private businesses—large and small—have made jobs! Given people purchasing power! Raised our American standard of living!

Today, everyone agrees that with the war over, making jobs…employment for all who want to work…is our most urgent problem.

Men of enterprise—today’s Franklin Bakers—can make jobs by the millions! By striking out into new fields. By starting up new businesses of every size. By increasing the volume of present products and expanding present businesses.

This is the way most Americans want their jobs to be made. But how many jobs can be created this way, and how quickly, is partly in your hands. For, through your opinions and your representatives, you help make the rules and regulations under which business operates.

Rules and regulations are necessary. But if they reach the point where they discourage enterprise, America’s return to peacetime prosperity may be slowed down to a walk.

And if it is slowed down, the alternative probably is Government relief projects to make up the jobs.

Remember this…and as any legislative measure arises which might affect jobs, make the answer to this question the basis of your stand upon it: “Will this measure result in making more jobs the way Americans want their jobs made?”

On your decision may depend your future opportunity—your future job.