Evening star., 1932-10-16

imports. I may also remind you that
our import trade is only one-eighth Of
the import trade of the world. So they
would have us believe this world catas-
trophe and this destruction of foreign
trade happened because the United
States increased tariffs on one-fOurth
of one-third of one-eighth of the worlds
imports Thus We pulled down the
world. so they tell us, by increases on
less than l per cent of the goods being
imported by the world.
Hits Accusation Of U. S.
And I may explore the responsibility
of the tariffs still further. My op-
ponent has said that it
Started such drain on the gold re-
7 serves of the principal countries as to
force practically all Of them off the
gold standard"
At Des Moines I defended the Ameri-
can people from this guilt. I pointed
out that it happens there had been no
drain of gold from Europe, which is
the center of this disturbance, but on
the contrary, that Europe's gold hold
ings have increased every year since
Smoot Hawley tariff was passed.
My fellow citizens, could continue
for hours in an analysis OF mistaken
1llNA I1Oill
/ opposition. But I assure you that this
country is not to blame for the catas-
trophies that have come on the world.
| The American people did not originate
the age-old controversies of Europe. We
| did not lnaugurate the great war or the
panicS in Europe.
No, my friends, the increase Of duties
collected by the United States by 90
per cent calculated on all the goods
We import did not bring about the
| debacle in the world If every coun-
try in the world were to increase the
| duty upon their imports by % per cent
tomorrow, but if at the same time they
would also adopt domestic policies
which would bring about release on the
energies and progress of their people
if they would maintain peace and good
will toward their neighbors-if they
would support confidence in the world,
| then the worlds, as we'll as our own,
international commerce would thrive
and boom beyond any dimensions that
we ever dreamed Of
| I dwell on this point, not only be-
cause I believe it. is important to cor
rect misstatements of our opponents
but because the policies of our op-
ponents are founded upon misconcep-
| tionS Of the utmost gravity for the
| future of the United States. If it were
not matter Of such utter gravity for
the future Of the United States. should
| treat them not in sense of serious
| ness but in sense of humor
There is vital determination before
! the American people as to whether
there shall be placed in power over the
destinies OF l20000,000 Of people
| party which SO lacks penetration into
the forces active in the world and the
| dangers and responsibilities that arise
| from them.
Twelve Major Projects.
! I now wish to examine the record
and policies Of the present admins
tration in their relation to our wage
and salary earnerS, for that record Is
made. There are II major measures
and policies which we have put into ac-
ton. They speak louder than any
promises.
| l. My first concern in dealing with
| the problems of these times, while fight
ing to save our people from chaos and
to restore order in our economic life.
has been to avert hunger or cold
amongst those upon whom these blows
have fallen with heartbreaking Sc
verity-that is the unemployed workers.
| In the Fall, 1881. we mobilized again,
! through cooperation with Governors
and local communities. all the associa-
tionS and agencies in the United States
an, carried victorious battle over the
Winter, 1922.
Still again during the past few weeks
I have co-operated with the great ma
tional agencies in the rehabilitation of
| the voluntary forces of the country for
Cites Relief Funds.
! But fearing that the resources of in
dividuas of the local communities and
States were being exhausted I settled
with the Congress an authority to be
given to the Reconstruction Finance
Corporation to loan a total Of $3,000,-
100000 to those States whose needs
might be found greater than the volun-
| tary associations and local authorities
could provide I had great difficulties
with Democratic leaders to prevent this
being made a pork barrel operation
rather than based upon need. Under
that authority many millions have al
ready been provided. We have provided.
in addition large quantities of wheat
and cotton for their aid. There should
be no fear or apprehension at any de-
serving American fireslde that starva-
| ton or cold will creep within their
doors to menace families and loved ones
over the forthcoming Winter.
| With these three years of unceasing
! effort in relief and by the patriotic serv-
| ice of our citizens and local commune
ties and public officials, the stimulus
and mobilization that we have been able
to give through the use of the presiden-
! tial Office, We present to the world q
record unparalleled in any other ma
! ton. That is record expressed IN
| technical terms yet interpretable in
| sheer human sympathy. That record is
| the information furnished to me~con-
| stantly by the surgeon general OF the
| Public Health Service, which shows,
down to this latest moment, that the
adult mortality, infant mortality are at
| the lowest rate on record. and the gen
eral health of the American people is
at a higher level today than ever before
| in the history of our country. 1 know
| that there are exceptions and that there
! is suffering which always arises in COM
munitieS where their organization Is less
| efficient than it should be. Even SO no
such record could be established II the
| Nations unemployed were starving and
without shelter. Yet some say that
| things could not be worse. Had these
| actions not been taken they would be
! thousand times worse.
Employers Farley Recalled.
2. In November, 1929, assembled in
Washington representatives of the lead
! ing employers. together with represen-
! tatives Of organized labor, and here we
developed certain plans for dealing with
this emergency I believe this can be
truly said to have been the first time in
history that the Government has taken
the leadership in securing an under
standing between industry and labor of
the complete mutually of their interest
in the face of national danger.
We worked out on that occasion many
| purposes
The first was to uphold the stand
ards of real wages, the second was to
| uphold the buying power of our work.
| ing people until the cost Of living has
diminished. The third was to prevent