White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1932-03-10

unemployment lack Of confidence, business fail
ures, and hard times. These were the last things
that anybody wanted. The most can say is
that there has been a general lack of judgment
SO widespread as to involve practically the whole
country.
We have found out that were not so big
as we thought we were We were riding too high
We shall have to keep nearer the ground. We
may not feel so elated but shall be much safer.
Economic Well-being is very important, but
perhaps 1t is not so important as we thought 1t
was If it is used as it ought to be, to minister
to spiritual well-being, we cannot have too much
of 1t. But If 1t Is made vehicle for stimulating
greed and sefshness idleness and ignorance,
extravaganza and waste, destructive alike to
body and soul, it defeats itself and vanishes,
until, through adversely, we learn to make
a better use of prosperity
The development of the real character of men
and women can go on in bad times as we'll as in
good times. After ALL that is the important thing.
Neither the world at large nor our own most
favored nation is going to discover some miracu
lous formula which, all at once, will remove the
possibility Of hardship, want and deprivation
from the human race. With all the power of
mass production, we are long way from uni
versal luxury. But in the United States we
have approached the line of universal convent
ence. Our system has produced distribution
Of wealth 80 that those having incomes Of five
thousand dollars or less, according to the latest
available records, are said to receive 81 per
cent of the total national income. If they were
who receive more, the increase would be only
about seven hundred dollars. Great as our re-
sources are, they have distinct limitation.
There is not wealth enough in our country to
take care of our people without the ablest pos
sible management and the hardest kind of work
on the part Of all of us.
There is no government in the world that can
remove this burden from its inhabitants
Under the pressure of events there are some
who have hpCOme Sullen and reS9ltful. They
are inclined to refuse to make an effort to pay
their taxes and their interest II they earn
anything, they propose to spend It, They have
lost faith In the standards by which they have
lived.
Such people have made q great mistake. They
have been born into the wrong universe for
them They belong in some place where there
are risks to be faced, where backbone
would be considered excess baggage, where
courage and perseverance, effort and self-denal,
industry and thrift are not virtues In them
selves, to be cultivated for their own sakes.
The absurdty Of this position Is revealed by
considering what would result If everybody else
adopted the same attitude
There is no power than can guarantee us eco
nomic security. We think want relief from
toll and worry, forgetful that all real salts
factions are in achievements.
If we will but make the effort to develop
Them If we will apply ourselves faithfully to
our tasks, shall all find we have powers we
did not know we possessed.
We shall come nearest to achieving our own
economic security by the practice of the old
fashioned, homely virtues Of industry and thrift
of buying few things we can pay for rather
than many which leave us loaded with danger
GUS debts we can never pay; of small savings
securely invested at moderate returns, rather
than spectacular financial performances.
The best recipe for financial security is to live
within our means. This is our ancient faith. We
have found nothing better.
If we should undertake to put into operation
"a dnd N hn n oorvYo ffn1
world owes all Of us a living, we would soor
find the world was bankrupt. If we try to adopt
some plan that will eliminate the changes and
risks Of life we are likely to find that reverses
will come just the same. We shall be better off
II we work on the old standard that we owe a
duty to the world to earn our own living. and
instead OF supposing we abolish reverses, pre-
pairing to meet them. Under this homely safe
and seasoned system we shall probably find we
have the best chance OF taking care Of ourselves
and securing the greatest distribution of wealth
(Word Copyright, 1882. by Calvin Coolidge,
All Rights Rcserved)