The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-11-20
This Muddled World

The world chaos that gains impetus with every
rising sun has reached critical point in these
United States. A country and government that
have been held up as examples of progress and
glorious democracy are foundering in sea of
unrest, rebellion crime and misery. In this hour,
when problems of supreme Importance confront
u.s. is interesting to observe the censorious spirit
that dominates the mind of man. Every fellow
is disposed to blame else for all the ills
to which he has become heir. The government, the
trusts the war, prohibition, automobiles, the
papers and chain stores, the republicans, the demo-
Gratis and the tariff-these and other forces are
called into account for affecting with low priced
cotton and wheat, shrinkage in property values,
loss Of credit, treatened bankruptcy and all the
other evils that beset Seldom if ever, is there
heard in the chorus of denunciations, one word Of
self directed blame but whether we willing to
admit not, our troubles are, in part, at least,
self-made.
A people, for the most part accustomed to
living moderately and even frugally prior to the
war, we launched into an orgy of spending such
has never been known in the history of man.
Although endowed with modicum of reasoning
power we have deliberately thrown discretion to
the winds changing our standards of living from
quiet simplicity, to frenzied luxury. Equipped
with sufficient mathematical knowledge to know
that four from two leaves minus two, men and
women with incomes of $4,000 a month have spent
at the rate of $4,000. This has applied quite
generally whether the income has been $500 or
$25OOOO.
Farming and other business are more or less
demoralized but it is not due altogether to cent
cotton and the tariff It is due in part to our
waste, abuse of credit, poor business management
and lazness
Before we see the end of this many of us who
are now riding may be walking, but that probably
would be as it should be. The men and women
who honestly work their ways out of the present
economic labyrinth will be those possessed of the
proper intestinal stamina. For some time now
we have needed something to divide the sheep from
the goats. Crooks and deadbeats have been sail
ing along in the vanguard of society and the
church, enjoying all the privileges and often more
than those who make up the ranks of honest citi-
zenry. If the present crisis serves as leveler
in the business and social realms, much will be
gained. The seeming success of the dishonest
during the reign Of extravaganza through which
we have just passed, has had baneful effect,
serving to give sanction to the theory that the
way to win is through shady paths
If it serves to make us little more concerned
about the quality of the men who are entrusted
with our governmental affairs, it will be we'll
worth living through. AS it is and has been, our
most responsible trusts are often given to men who
could not make living for themselves in any
other than political fields
There is really great deal about our present
status to give us urge to go forward and cheer in
the hope that in going forward much that has been
unwholesome will be left in the discard-Miss
Emily Woodward, News, Vienna Georgia.