Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-10-19
Meeting the Situation

SlIlh0 uOiIlS. he SIdIlu pdldu0 10
over and jazzing is on the ebb. We
have lived in a riotous fashion for
five years. Never in our time has
money been SO abundant credit so
easy TO secure and joy so uncon-
fined.
There is an old saying that HE
who dances must pay the piper" Is
it possible that our senses have been
so dulled by what has happened
that we forgot that the day of
reckoning would surely come? Is it
possible that a nation of normal
minded people who have been con-
sentative, law-abiding and construc-
tive in all their thought and effort
believe that conditions such as have
prevailed could continue forever.
I hope not. 1 believe not. In that
event, We will be ready to meet
the issues Of the. present and fu-
of complacency than would other
wise be the case. This is not to be
a pessimistic statement but rather
a consideration of some facts as
they exist and suggestions as to
how to meet and overcome the diff
we are now confronted.
Surely we should have anticipated
and expected such a condition as
appears to be rapidly developing at
this time. We could not always ex-
pect that wages would increase and
bringing about certain baleful reac-
tons. There was bound to be a
boosting of the peak of living costs
to the breaking point. You cannot
cut down production and lessen in
dividual effort and at the same
ing power of the people Of any
given community.
One cannot spend all the money
they secure from high wages or
high prices for either raw or man
ufactured articles and have re.
emergency. We have had tumul-
tuous time dancing, spending and
enjoying ourselves generally. Let
us now pay the piper" with
equanimity and good heart. To this
end, we must first realize that hard
mediately ahead.
or course everyone is bound to
be hurt by a recession in prices
or change from existing conditions.
Especially will this prove true in
the the case se Of those who care are con ho
social, economic and national-wel-
fare issues. But if, we cannot es-
cape the inevitable, let us meet it
fairly and squarely.
Al that can be asked is a just
class of society should be asked to
bear the burdens of the other. 1t is
not right that all the losses and
imposts should be put on the pro-
Queer. But 1 do not think the pro-
Queer, keen as his disappointment
may SEEM. will object to carrying
his part Of the burden.
Of course the producer Of foods
and raw materials, the farmer, is
the last as a rule, to benefit by
an increase in prices and the first
that he should be confused and
disturbed over the present situa-
ton. He has raised his present crop
for the feeding and clothing of the
nation under the most difficult and
trying of conditions. Costs have
are available and this is helping
to cause a severe sagging of the
market.
For moneyed interests or others
to combine in any effort to reduce or
lower the returns of the producer be-
casion is suicidal and unjust in the
highest extent, and 1 would certain
ly side with the producer under such
conditions. For after all he is the
man who made possible the winning
of the war, who has given us oul
dominance in industry and WORLD
trade. who has made it possible for
the laborer to receive such high
wages, who has given US this
de!irious holiday in which we have
all participated.
To forget or overlook the source
ways come will be the most serious
economic error we could commit al
a time when the safety, sanitay
progress and future success of the
nation needs our first thought and
consideration. Under the circum.
far as the producer is concerned
credit. consideration and encourage,
ment should be extended to him from
every soAfce. 1t is the duty of this
nation to protect him in so far as il
can legitimately The writer is hope
full that far more consideration will
be extended along this line than some
people are disposed to think likely
at this time.
The next step is for the producer
to squarely face the issues before
him. To this end. he should sci
enable him to pay or liquidate a suf-
fcient amount of his Indebtedness tt
prevent the wheels of trade and com
merce from stagnating.
There are those who will say this
involves an undue sacrifice. Thu
is not true. I have never been able
to see how an indebted individual
gained anything by deferring pay
ment on a market which is disposed
to shrink in value. Already we have
had a number of business collapse:
Of considerable magnitude. Tht
losses involved might have beer
minimized greatly but for a failure
to recognize the approach of az
economic reaction.
Holding on in the face Of shrink
ing values is not desirable policy
On the other hand, panic selling and
the Cutting of the market would be
equally foolish and absurd. There is
no reason why either policy should
prevail. If we sell enough of oul
raw materials to satisfy our indebt
edness, then we can hold the bal
ance of our crops. if that policy
seems advisable. At least we cal
market our surplus crops slowly an(
with material advantage to all the
interests concerned.
I think. therefore. the first propo
sition is to adjust our Indebtedness:
in so far as this is practicable. L
loss must be taken, the sooner the
better. The smaller under such cir
cumstances will be the aggregate o.
the loss. Having done this. We
should then plan to economic a1onE
all lines. We have accustomed our
selves to many Injuries that are no
essential. It will not hurt us to 81
back in this respect to prewar condi
lions.
There should he no slackenino of
in the effort of the producer. Their
should be a reimbursement of course
| of farm operations. Diversificatio1
is more desirable now than it ha:
ever been. If THERE ever was time
when every animal and every acre
| should be used in production a:
economically and as skilfully as pos
| Sih1e it is now.
Because cotton is off in price
should we abandon the cultivation Of
cereals in Georgia? I say no, a thou
sand times no. We will still neet
bread and grain for our live stool
next spring. This is time to ex