Evening star., 1932-04-23
FEDERAL REDUCTION SCORED
BROWNLOW BEFORE EDITORS
Ruinous to Cut Where Demands Are In
creasing, Says Former D. C.. Commis-
sioner-White Speaks at Session.

The theory that the Government
must reduce expenses and activities
because such action has been taken by
private industry was criticized as taIla-
cious by Louis Brownlow, former Dis
trict Commissioner. in an address today
at the concluding business session OF
the tenth annual convention of the
American Society of Newspaper Editors
at the National Press Club.
At this session also the society
adopted a resolution declaring that as
a result of the economic disturbance
there will be an urge for change and
for experiment in the American pro-
gram. in political, in commercial, and
Industrial and social procedure, ana
that it is the function of newspapers TO
furnish the opportunity and means lot
this discussion and Ito do then luli
part in the clarification OF Ideas ana
consequent act;on." ,,., :
nothing to be feared from such dis
cussicn'' and that in this situation tine
people look to the press as never pc
fore for leadership and the press SOL
emnlv and confidently accepts the cha4-
lenge"
Warning by White.
Tn this connection the editors heard
a brief talk BY William Allen White,
editor of the Emporia, Kans., Gazette,
who voiced fears that some rabble
rousing, iron -jawed, loose -mouthed dem
agoglle will get charge of the situation.
The society also reelected four mem
bers of the board of directors, whose
terms are expiring this year. The
board is meeting later today to elect
other officers.
Those directors elected were E. S.
Beck of the Chicago Tribune, Paul Bel
lamy of the Cleveland Plain Dealer,
Walter M. Harrison Of the Oklahoma
City Oklahoman and Casper S. Yost OF
the st. Louis Globe Democrat.
In re-electing Mr.. Yost, who was the
founder of the society, tribute was
paid his services The society had
previously decided to present him with
an engraved plaque in recognition OF
his wora.
In his speech Mr.. Brownlow, who
now resides in Chicago where he Is
director of the Public Administration
Clearing House, said: Among the
in support of the well-nigh universal
demand for reduction of governmental
costs and reduction Of governmental
activities is this: Private business has
been forced to make cuts and Govern
ment must follow suit
Question of Demands.
within certain limits" he contln-
ued, "I have no particular quarrel with
that, but at the very outset 1 would
beg to suggest that private business
has cut down when, as, and If the de-
mand for its products. wares and serv-
ices has fallen of, and to point out
that in many very important respects
the demand on Government has been
tremendously increased by the very
force of private business retrench-
ments.
"One. but not the only one, of these
demands on Government that has in
creased, is now increasing and in
evitably will continue to increase for
at least another II months, is for the
provision of food and fuel, shelter and
clothing, health and morale for some
millions Of Americans who have no
jobs because private business has been
forced to cut down"
To illustrate his point he said that
in Chicago the present wage loss, due
to joblessness was So, 600, 900 day, and
that aid for the idle was costing $780,
900 a day. In other words cut in