Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-28
Buy and Hire!

The consumers have a duty to per-
form in the present depression, Walter
s. Clifford. head Of the Presidents Ma
tional Relief Committee, declared in
radio address last night. That duty
is to buy goods and services. Without
a market for goods and services BUSH
ness Is helpless to pull itself out OF the
slump into which it has fallen. The
director of relief has hit the nail on
the head. There is great timidity
however, on the part of all classes, con-
sumers and producers. The consumers
have taken to cover after an era Of
overbuying, and the producers followed
suit after an era Of overproduction.
There is q middle ground In which
the consumer and the producer can
work to mutual advantage. 1t is high
time that that middle ground shall
be found in this country.
Notwithstanding the depression there
Is a great deal of buying today in this
country, reflected in the reports of re-
tail sales in department and other
stores. Prices have fallen considerably.
But there is room for more buying.
And still more buying should follow as
confidence is restored. The reduction
of wages announced recently by big
steel and other corporations has not
tended to increase confidence on the
part Of the wage Garner. On the other
hand, it has made him more careful in
his buying, because of the fear that
his earnings may be curtailed. 1t Is
all part Of q vicious circle which has
retarded a return of business in this
country. With prices of commodities
at a lower level, however, the pur-
chasing power of the dollar has been
enhanced greatly. It would be pity
If that increased power were not utilized
by the people, especially when the very
use of buying power will in the long
run tend to bring greater employment
and greater gains to the ultimate con-
sumers Of the goods offered for sale.
Mr.. Clifford has called attention to
the large number Of gainfully employed
persons in this country today. despite
the unemployment that is known to
exist. Those who are employed, he In
sists. have it in their power to aid very
greatly In the employment Of those now
out Of work by the simple process Of
buying. II they buy goods, the fac
tories that make the goods, the farmers
who grow the food, win all benefit and
ind the need Of employing more help
ers. If they win undertake to have their
homes repaired, reprinted or enlarged,
they viii give work directly to those who
wish to work.
The ultimate solution OF the unem-
ployment problem is not to be found in
charitable contributions or q govern
mental dole. 1t is to be found only in
the provision of work, ample work, for
those who wish to work. In country
as large and as populcus as the United
States there will always be a certain
percentage of the people who win not
or cannot work. For them charitable
institutions must continue to be MAIN
tanned. But the American people as a
whole are workers. The more the work
ers are paid, the more they can buy,
and consumption of goods and services
make for employment. as Mr.. Clifford
has said. 1t would be great mis-
fortune II the standard Of living in
America were lowered. It would mean
that the people purchased less and be-
cause they purchased less there would
be less business and Aess employment.
That is che reason why President
Hoover is interested in . maintenance
of the standard Of living in this country,
q standard which has cutstripped the
standards Of all other nations and
peoples.