ABSTRACT
The effect of the peculiar folklore of 1937 was to encourage the type of organization known as industry or business and discourage the type known as government. In examining that curious folklore, still a powerful influence in 1937, the future historian will observe that during the first half of the twentieth century the principles of government were divided into two great branches, law and economics. The difference between the attitudes of medical science and physical science was very subtle, particularly since the political scientist of 1937 always claimed to be doing the same thing as the physical scientist. All the folklore persisted in a time when the theory of free will, sin, and repentance was disappearing from the thinking about individuals' troubles. The faith, held so implicitly, was sorely tried during the years of the great depression. The fundamental assumption of the folklore about government during the great depression was that principles could be more trusted than organizations.
