The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-06-16
The Pity of 1t


If YOU are a carpenter or bricklayer,
you will have chance to help build four
million new houses within the next twenty
years.
If you are a utility baron, you may sleep
of nights with no thought of public owner
ship or public operation, but be content with
that rigid regulation" which you now enjoy.
If you are jobless, you may be sure that
you will never degredate to a "dole" even
if you starve to escape it.
This is the promise Of President Hoover
in what was announced to be his appeal to
the people for another term of Office.
Shocking and appalling as may have been
the lack of enthusiasm on the part of the
populace as he rode through the city streets,
more shocking and appalling was the lack Of
enthusiasm and applause at his message to
the Republican editors.
He showed courage when he spoke openly
of hard times and depression. He was quite
correct in declaring that this country is more
basically sound than any other. He was
really evangelistic when he announced that
P@S~NAAS
depression and reach new level of prosper
ity. That much is certain.
But when the people listened for plan,
they heard dream. Not one suggestion as
to when or how we are to return to pros
perity came from the leader of the people.
Very true, he painted real drama-that
of human brotherhood and happy people and
men at work. He said truly that this country
will take care of twenty millions Of new clti-
zens within the next twenty years, put them
into four millions Of new homes and feed
them from the products of farms.
But just how the six millions of jobless
men are to get work before next winter still
remains q mystery. There was no plan, only
an assurance to the utility interests that the
government will not take ownership and OPP
GRAFTON, an assurance that there will be no
unemployment insurance until kind-hearted
employers and intelligent labor leaders get
together and agree upon it.
That is the pity of it all. We listened to
a dream, really great dream. But the Presi-
dent talked of panics and depressions as If
they are to recur until the end of time with
no planning for sterilization of employment
that will give men the right to work as they
now have the right to breathe, and not only
the right to work but the right to work at
saving wage.
The President talked on building new
houses, new public buildings, new factories,
new electric projects, and of growing 20 per
cent more farm products. He talked of
greater diffusion of wealth, a decrease in
poverty and greater reduction in crime.
But instead of disclosing how these
things may be accomplished he concluded by
predicting optimistically that they will come
about if we just keep on giving the Amer
lean people chance"
AS to how the new factories are to sell
their goods when those that exist now are
closing, as to how the 20 per cent more farm
products can be kept from dragging the
farmers standard of living still lower, he
offers no suggestions. He gave no hint as to
the necromancy he expects will bring about
greater diffusion of wealth and decrease in
poverty, in spite of the fact that Americas
way of letting things run themselves, which
he trusts so implicitly, has resulted in rapid
concentration of wealth in the hands of few
multi-milIionaires in the past few years,
while the share of working men has steadily
shrunk.
With President Hoover's dream of pros
perity we have complete sympathy. 1t is
dream common to all of us. But dream
is not a plan. Plan means a method of
action. And a method of action that will
bring us prosperity is what we desperately
need today. The Presidents theory has been
tried and has failed in this depression. It is
time to try something Misrepresentation
plan, or what you will, but something besides
futile hoping for the best.
Another Prodigal Son
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