The Indianapolis times., 1932-01-09
mo- COMPLEX
DELAYS ERA OF
BETTER TIMES
Mental Attitude Greatly
Affects Recovery of
Business.
BY LEN t. TAGGART

The American people have de-
veloped a mo- complex where the
expenditure of money is involved.
This extends TO both buyer and
seller. For several years, up to and
including 1929, spending became a
habit, with no one giving thought
to the future. These years were
a buying market.
After the crash of late 1929 and
throughout the following year, we
were carried along by the momen-
tum of the previous years busi-
ness, and the hopes of overnight
recovery of business.
There was little change in the
buying habits of the people until
the fall of 1890, but as the months
rolled by and business continued
to slow down at an alarming rate,
We began to say no
We awakened from our fools
paradise" to face the fact that it
was time to begin the huge task
Of putting our house in order.
Statesmen Discouraged
With the exception of certain lines
of business this adjustment has
been accomplished. We have been
given strong medicine. Some have
died; the strong have come through,
though still a bit shaky. This has
been a most complete, though neces-
sary, national house cleaning.
During 1881 the mental attitude
of the American people has been
NO" We have neither bought nor
sold. We have acquired the habit
of saying mo" Statesmen have
heard mo" so much this last year
that they have decided there is no
use trying, so much has the complex
affected them.
How can we expect recovery OF
business when the man selling goods
has no confidence in himself or his
merchandise, and the merchants
over the country. regardless of their
needs, still say NO" and refuse to
replenish their stocks, thereby
keeping the great body of the Amer
ican public afraid to spend its earn
ings2
Money Is Plentiful
There is but one way.
It is now time for merchants and
business men again to take stock
of themselves. The new year of
1882 can see a revival Of business,
but this recovery must start with
our business men. Regardless OF
what has happened in the last two
years, there is still plenty of money
in the hands of the American peo-
pie. and these same people will
spend provided they are convinced
they are receiving 100 per cent
value for every dollar that they
spend.
Holding price levels above their
1882 value will not get business, but
many businesses are doing just this
very thing. These business men are
fooling themselves, not the public,
and this method will only retard
the recovery of business, because the
American people have become, IN
the last two years, nation of dis
eliminating buyers, and today they
do know values.
Good Judgment Needed
Let's not initiate the ostrich
during 1882, but rather let us face
the conditions as they exist. The
keen business man will start anew
to rebuild confidence in himself, his
goods, his services. He will meet
the buyer even more than half way
by repleniShing his stocks, advertise
sound values at fair 1882 price,
and the public will buy. This in
turn will start the manufacturer
and put to work the great majority
of the unemployed, who again will
have money to spend.
Only business men can restore
confidence. 1t can not be done by
the man with negative mind-the
mo" complex. He is beaten before
he starts.
Then let all of us use sound buSi-
ness judgment during 1882, but let's
right now cast off this mo" COM
pleX.
Accident Victim, R,r;nd