Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-22
GOOD Wolff"

In the old, old fable, the shepherd,
who, just to fool his fellows, cried Wolf,
wolf" when there was no wolf, was
finally, when the wolf did come, eaten
by the ferocious animal because when
he cried for help none came. That
story has stood for centuries as warn
ing against false alarms. 1t is now
having reverse application in the re-
vival of business conditions from the
depression that the country mas suf-
fered for more than year. Frequent
~ during this period of dullness in
trade the cry of returning prosperity
has been raised, without warrant.
Those who translated hopes into fact
proclaimed that the turn of the tide
had come, that the worst was over, that
better times were starting. And as often
As the cry was raised it was disproved,
by continued sluggishness in business,
by continued, even increasing, unem-
ployment; by distress among the people.
Now the word is passing swiftly
through the country that business Is
better, trade is improving, employment
Is increasing, and that indeed the
slump has ended. There are certain
signs that this Is true. But there were
signs before, to some extent, and so the
often disappointed public remains skep-
tical. 1t does not quite credit the cry
Of good wolf" Happily, no disaster
awaits those who refuse to believe, who
remain incredulous, who turn a deaf
ear to the joyous voices Of the optimists
If business Is on the turn for the bet
ter everybody. of course, will be happy.
And happiest of all will be those who
have remained doubtful and respondent
during these many months Of depres-
sion.
1t will require only little change in
the current to bring prosperity, not, OF
course, In the great volume Of the good
times" preceding the break in October,
1929, but SUFFICIENT to restore millions
to employment and to revive faltering
industries and business enterprises. 1t
has been estimated that If every family
in the United States were to spend
one dollar q day more for other than
the bare necessities Of life prosperity
would be restored. ct That is simply an
economic figure of speech, as it were,
rather than Q practical prescription.
The difference between hard times and
good times is measured by so slender
margin as that dollar day for a fam
fly. OF course, the vital problem has
been to get the dollar.
1t is the dollars Of the families not
blessed with afiuence that make the
economic wheels turn. The buying pub
lie, upon which trade depends for its
volume. Is the public Of small means.
When employment fails for the artisan,
the laborer, the clerk, the technical
worker, the dollar for extra spending
vanishes. Life from day to day becomes
o problem of finding food and insuring
shelter and of fighting sickness. Bust
ness hattens out when those dollars are
not spent, and the vicious circle Of idle
ness creating more idleness, Of business
depression inducing greater business de-
preston is set up throughout the land.
These present signs Of business revival
are encouraging. Spring is near at
hand. The drought that has been
afiicting a large area Of the country is
in some measure broken. Farming con-
ditions are improved. Construction
works, stimulated by the severe depres-
sion Of last Autumn, are about to begin,
with a heavy increase in employment
Of skilled and unskilled workers. Mills
that have been in large measure idle for
months are resuming operation, to sup
ply the materials for such works. The
co-ordinated activities Of the States and
communities as well as the Nation are
making for the almost immediate be-
ginning Of enterprises entailing the
eventual expenditure of billions Of dol
lars. Those are the factors that cause
the present cry OF good golf" or good
times, to be heard with faith.