Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-12

Walter S. Clifford, chairman Of
President Hoover's Unemployment Com
mission, in urging the public to buy
now" has considerable support from
editors for his thesis, but many seem
to have some questions TO ask
Commenting on Mr.. Gifford's state
ment that IF the public buys neither
work nor goods, 1t is the public that is
indirectly discharging men" the Buffalo
Evening News says: The most es-
sential point to be impressed upon the
American people Is that the Surest and
quickest way to overcome hard times
is to do it themselves. The kind of
political pol thinking which attempts to
tell everybody that 1t is the duty OF
somebody else to do something is the
most ruinous influence that can be
exerted toward preventing improve
ment"
I'm the long run, the public has a
remedy in its own hanCs," advises the
Davenport Democrat, declaring further:
If it buys and hires, men will be 60
ing to work all over the country and
prosperity will be on Its way back"
The Altoona Mirror states its convic-
ton that wise expenditure Of money
now for goods and work will not only
relieve the situation during the coming
Winter. but will put us on the highway
to prosperity in the Spring"
y
AS the Atlanta Journal sees 1t. "the
ultimate consumer is the sovereign
power in any economic empire. BY his
conduct of his own personal and pri-
vate affairs he guides the wheels Of
industry and fixes the employment OF
millions" In its analysis Of the buying
and selling situation in this country,
the San Jose Mercury Herald says:
More than 80 per cent have steady
work or incomes that have not been
impaired. They can buy more goods
with the same money than they did
before the crash in 1929, because prices
have sharply declined. They can build
and repair at less cost because material
is cheaper. The more than 80 per
cent who are in this fortunate position
owe duty to the unfortunate to give
them jobs and this can be done by
buying and spending normally" asserts
this paper.
Each person who spends a dollar
wisely and intelligently, Of course-is
| ter" contends the Roanoke Times. But
indiscriminate buying is not the goal.
AS the Pasadena Star-News advises:
DO not waste your money. Do not
| squander it. Do not buy beyond your
| means. But buy as literally as your
means will allow, of things that you
need-things that you naturally would
| buy II there were no depression" The
Yakima Daily Republic also sounds q
| note Of warning: walter S. Clifford
/ is urging the consumer to buy as q
means of curing depression, which Is
good advice under two conditions; that
the consumer has the price and that
he needs what he contemplates buying. ="
The Worcester Telegram indicates that
1t might be well for people to buy be-
yond their actual needs at this time,
arguing in support of this idea: Such
buying Is highly practical. 1t is not
charity. It means an exchange Of
| goods or services for other goods or
services. Such buying, however, must
be on a wide scale to be effective"
The Newark Evening News condemns
| the mistaken idea that "hoarding Is the
| only form of thrift. That is not true,
1t protests, since "the thriftiest person
| is the one who uses his money most
advantageously, and just now that can
be done by using instead Of boarding
it,