The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-01-14
LOOKING FORWARD

Nineteen thirty-two may be, Al cru
cial year in the history of the United
States. ,,-. .rifi' IA \
For more than two years we have
endured one of the most severe and
prolonged general depressions of all
time-in company with the other
great nations of the world. There is
no magic remedy for curing economic
ills-how soon our problems will be
solved, largely, is up to US, as indi-
viduals, and as members of compH-
Gated society.
-thirty-two is "Presiden-
tial year." Ordinarily, such an cleo
ton and the political questions it
raises, would loom large on the hori-
ION. But local political issues-so
far as they attach themselves to men
and parties-have become, in the pub
lie mind, small thing when contrast
ed with economic and social issues.
People who are wondering how to find
jobs are not interested in partisan
platforms nor in political chickering's.
The greatest danger of depres-
sion is that we may lose our heads
that sort of mob hysteria may take
the place of reason. We may try to
overcome economic law with pana-
ceas. Already many such efforts are
being proposed-the new Congress,
before it has completed its session,
will be swamped with suggestions for
relieving the unemployed with gigan-
tic bond issues; for helping the far
mer with governmental subsidies and
attempts at price-fxation; for helping
the small business at the expense Of
the large one; for helping the poor
and those of moderate means by over
taxing the wealthy. .,..
While such proposals may be made
in good faith, most of them are based
on misconceptions.
Prosperity will return as result OF
stimulated employment, stimulated
buying, stimulated trade, commerce
and building. We cannot produce that
by frightening the capital we need.
We cannot do it through govern
mental meddling, which. inevitably
forces retrenchment and inaction on
the businesses it touches-and, by ex-
ample, on the entire business struc-
ture.
We cannot create prosperity by
heaping tax burdens on businesses
and individuals already struggling I'M
der a tremendous tax bill. Robbing
Peter to pay Paul is not sound eco
Monies. All taxes must eventually
be paid by the public-business must
pass all costs onto those who buy its
products or services. For the nation
to go further into debt, to appropri-
ate additional millions and billions for
temporary and unsound relief schemes
is the height of folly.
Our basic industries have shown a
commemorate spirit in seeking to
solve their problems, which. in reality,
are the workers problems and the
consumers problems. Electricity, in
surance, oil, gas, railroads, farm or
ganizations-all have shown progress
sive tendencies. They realize the duty
that is upon them to prevent SO far as
possible, the up-and-down swing of
the business chart in the ffuture-the
booms that are followed by drops, the
imitation that precedes deflation. They
are working to stabilize employment,
to find means of assuring the good
worker his livelihood at all times,
to protect the future of workers when
they get beyond their point Of usefulA
ness. Business can do this better than
government. What the dole has done
to England, it would do to greater
degreee to the United States, for we
spend money on a more lavish scale
for all things. 1t could plunge US into
debt to the point of bankruptcy and
crowd business to the edge of ruin
with taxes. The dole skaters self
respect-and, in England; it has APP
parently helped to aggravate unem-
ployment by discouraging industrial
expansion. p, ~ a.. IT,
There are problems, of course, that
no nation by itself can hope to solve,
problems of international significance.
These, too, the public must take an
interest in, if we are to have officials
capable of representing us in the work
of world rehabilitation. Disarmament,
the sterilization of our money sys-
tenn, the encouragement of interna-
tional trade, sound tariff policy for
all nations-these may seem abstract
things, but they have direct and i'm