Crane’s response to Hayek indicated his deepening interest in the Society and his willingness to be involved—he even showed a distinct enthusiasm for taking a backseat role to the scholars. He agreed with Hayek that businessmen and dilettantes should not be publicly associated with the Society: “The conclusions reached, the philosophy developed, the suggestions made, and the points raised for further inquiry will have, coming from men of the highest scholarship, profound influence in the realm of ideas.” Perhaps most surprisingly, the specifically nonpragmatic program of the MPS appealed to Crane. The new organization should not, he thought, attempt to get involved in politics, or even to participate in the types of broad ideological campaigns being organized by the National Association of Manufacturers. “To attempt wide propaganda would in my opinion be quite unwise and would indeed weaken the potential usefulness of the society. That, as the need for it becomes manifest, can be carried on by other instruments created for that very purpose."

Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, loc. 1450