Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01
AMERICA STILL PRESSES.
TOWARD HIGHER GOALS
Great Projects Under Way Prove Nation
Will Adjust Itself in Spite
of Depression.

administration foster the idea that the
country Is on the brink Of ruin.
In Massachusetts,. an industrial State
| that has been affected by worldwide
conditions, savings deposits nevertheless
rose more than SIC, 000, 900 in 1880, and
the number OF depositors increased by
| 5000.
1 shall not weary the reader with an
itemization OF our national assets; yet
1t is necessary to cite some figures to
demonstrate in contrast how insignifi-
cant are our liabilities. Here in q
nation of more than 1000. 900 people,
occupying q vast and fertile territory
extending from ocean to ocean. there
are countless prophets of disaster
tolling the kTell Of all our hopes and
aspirations, predicting dire calamity
doles Of money from the United States
Treasury to support what has always
been q free, independent and proud
people. All this Is in the face Of the
fatal consequences Of Great Britain's
experience with the dole.
That nation-the United States of
America-with but per cent of the
worlds population, produces one-third
Of the worlds goods. Ninety per cent
OF that production We consume at
home-which means, Of course, that we
have the highest standard Of living in
the world. In the last 10 years our
people have invested $50 1000, 900 900 in
homes. Our per cent of the worlds
population produces 43 per cent of the
worlds coal, 81 per cent of the iron, "a
per cent of the steel, 40 per cent of the
copper, 81 per cent of the petroleum,
81 per cent Of the lumber, so per cent
Of the cotton and "a per cent Of the
motor vehicles of the world. Yet there
a Adj -
people who have been so rnisled by par
tisan criticism that they are ready to
believe the country is ruined" unless
the nostrums of those who preach dis
aster are swallowed.
For years and decades, while America
was developing and growing, we were
heavily indebted to the Old World, Dor
rowerS in her money markets. Now the
chancellor Of the British exchequer
tells Parliament that the monetary
stock of gold of the United States is
greater than the combined gold hold
ingS of the United Kingdom, France,
Germany and Spain. We have more
than twice as much gold as France; six
times as much as Great Britain, with
her worldwide empire and trade.
Yet those who criticize the tariff
policy Of the Republican party shout
that the last tariff revision is respon-
sible for such woes as we have. They
disregard utterly the warning found in
the condition of Great Britain, which
for generations has adhered to a free
trade policy. That situation was de-
scrtbed in an economic bulletin pub
lished in February, 1881, In these
words:
Serious British Situation.
1.-THE industrial situation Of Great
Britain Is now more serious than at
any time since the war. The number
Of persons on the dole is larger than
In 1921. Instead Of recovering trade
there Is reason for those whose for
tunes and living are dependent upon
British industry to fear that they are
losing more"
During a period of 10 years, except
for intervals Of Is years, the economic
policy of the United States has been
guided by the Republican party. And
nowhere else in the world has there
been such q growth of wealth shared
by the mass Of people. The liability"
therefore of decrease Of business and
employment during the last year Is the
kind Of temporary draft upon our re-
sources and strength that is encoun-
tered and overcome in every sound pri-
Yate business enterprise.
So much for our national balance
sheet. Let US examine now the Repub-
lican partys record two years after it
was again given the responsibility Of
directing the Nations affairs. The
partys liabilities, after the 1928 cleo
ton, consisted Of certain definite
pledges contained In its platform Of
that year.
The promises were to reduce taxes
when conditions warranted such ac-
ton; to adjust the tariff to maintain
the American standard Of living; to
arrange for payment Of the debts owed
to America by foreign nations; to aid
our farmers in the marketing of their
products and to provide adequate relief
for disabled war veterans.
without exception those promises
have been fulfilled.
Taxes were reduced to the extent of
$16O ,OO0, 900 q year. Despite protracted
opposition, resulting in a years delay
largely responsible for the unsettlement
of business, the tariff was revised to
furnish agriculture with proper meas
ure of protection and to safeguard the
domestic market for the products Of
American farms and factories.
The Federal Farm Board was ee alb
lished and supplied with $500, 000, 900 to
assist in creating . new and better
were effected with France, Germany
and Austria. Better hospital and med
ical facilities and increased disability
compensation were provided for war
veterans and their survivors.
Thus were the pledges redeemed.
Duties Ever Changing.
But the duties ana responsibilities Of
political leadership are ever changing,
ever growing. Conditions change from
month to month and year to year;
emergencies arise: new opportunities for
service are presented.
In India, China, Russia, throughout
Europe, South America and even in far
away Australia, great economic and po-
litical changes took place that we're
bound to have a repercuSsion In our own
country. 1t was necessary to add to the
party program: to expand Government
agencies to deal with unemployment; TO
provide a public building and public
works program to take up the slack IN
industry. The upbuilding of an Amer
lean merchant marine was made more
effective. The construction of an in
ternal waterway system was broadened
and improved; increased amounts were
appropriated for public roads. Costly
competition with other nations in naval
armament was limited by treaty with
other great powers. When the act Of
God brought suffering and distress
through q wide area through lack Of
rainfall many millions Of dollars were
appropriated from the Federal Treasury
for relief purposes.
To catalog the necessary and helpful
legislation enacted during the last two
years would require page after page.
Enough has been said 10 demonstrate
that the party which was given new
vote Of confidence in 1928 has justified
that confidence.
We come now TO President Hoover's
standing with the country. Probably no