The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-09-30
Hun PKICES

Editor Star: Does the wild ass
bray when he has long grass, loweth
the OK over his fodder ?" They do not
But people frequently complain with
oct cause; and still more frequently,
when distress is upon them, they mis-
take the real underlying cause Of it.
If that distress grows out of social
conditions and spreads sufficiently the
sufferers not unnaturally turn against
tie class that appears to be prosper
oEs and easily fancies that such pros
Perity is built upon its ruin, rather
than due TO superior intelligence or
greater industry.
Then it is that class legislation,
against this class, or in favor of that
class, becomes the order of the day;
most of which can only be embarked
upon at an economic loss to every
body, for that is~the sure effect of all
class legislation, properly so-called,
whether it be designed to repress one
class or to aid another class, the loss
will occur and be borne by all classes.
This is not to condemn all class
legislation, the cost Of which may be
compensated for in social uplift, but
the cost is there, and not always is
social uplift thus attained. Indeed, it
may be fairly said that laws for the
social uplift are not class legislation.
High prices may be an evil, but
when induced by imitation and highly
speculative conditions they surely
presage worse evils yet to come, if
not speedily checked. The days of
8 Ill
OF three years, are what we should
prepare for and against. There is no
class now that is in real distress or
need. Complaints there are, but no
new laws are needed to correct these.
Amend, if needs be. and enforce those
we have.
Do not be too confident of the abil-
ity of the American people to strug-
gle through the great social. crisis
which is certainly not very far ahead
when reaction will set In.
The less we prepare for it the
quicker it will come and the more
violent and destructive it will be. We
may profit for long time yet by the
wrack and welter of Europe. The
time to prepare for reaction is before
! IL sets in, as once hard times and ex-
cessively low prices set in and become
general all the powers of government
and the intellect of statesmen are of
little avail.
1t is just as reasonable to predict
that Europe may hasten, as that she
may delay, the day when prices begin
TO tumble, the laboring class begins
to suffer. credit becomes unobtainable
and hard times set IN.
When it is recalled that in 1890 the
failure of the Argentine Republic to
pay at maturity its bonds broke the
great English banking house of Bar
ing Brothers and caused a great panic
that spread all over the world, we are
made aware of some things Europe
may have in store for US. The Argen.
tine debt in question was then a very
trifling fraction of the smallest sun
owed US now by any European nation
Argentine, too. was then known TO bs
immensely rich in resources and re
Pudlatlon Of the debt was never hint
eG. Yet so small a circumstance a.
that shook public confidence which il
the basis Of credit and every state il
our far away nation saw only har,
times for nearly seven years thereaf
ter.
The situation before US is not nov
alarming, most of the rumblings com
from a nation drunk with plenty. /,
this condition, we may safely rely o.
the good sense of the masses of on
Eeople 70 rally IN opposition TO tn
extreme demands of any class.
, But because of the day when mill
ions Of our citizens may be throw
cut Of employment and when thei
stomachs may be empty, we look +
: cur national, state, county and cit
governments TO help prevent the CON
ing of that day by the strictest econs
my IN all public affairs. Not one do
lar should they pay out except undt
absolute and pressing necessity. Ev,
. r dollar spent helps boost price,
! furthermore, there are no idle banl
, now that that dollar can put to xorl
Labor IS all employed now; husbar
, the public resources, save the pubI
: dollarAtin time they will buy mo
for the public and do labor a re
service Sincerely,
William Hooker