Evening star., 1933-08-14

whole program. All this Blue Eagle
effort Is unusual. SO far as We have
been able to discover there is nothing
quite like 1t in the entire range of
economic history. 1t is heroic
remedy and we must all understand
1t from top to bottom. 1t Is not bally-
hoo. 1t Is not boycott. 1t is not
magic. 1t Is just what it seems to
be and nothing mere nor less. 1t is a
frank dependence on the power and
willingness OF the American people to
act together as one person in an hour
OF great danger. And that brings us
to the critical point OF the program
which / must make with all the en-
phasis at my command.
This thing won't last three months
unless all men who now have employ
ment and all who are now to be put
back on the pay roll-or to have their
part-time work increased-turn right
around and pour the entire beneflt
back into the channels Of trade
Our people have smiled their way
through this hell-there Is not one
| who has not made his sacrifice. II
he kept his job he gave something to
somebody. He helped some friend or
some member Of his family-too proud
to ask for public help-too much up
against 1t TO refuse what we kindly call
loan. No use harping on that. We
all know what is meant. The thing
We all know that has gone on all about
us recalls a favorite line in poetry,
perhaps in error:
And I have. done one braver thing
Than all the worthless did
And thence a braver yet doth spring
Which was-to keep that hid"
1t is the sublimest thing in our story
the secret Of every decent person,
which-to every decent PERSONS no
secret at all The blundering silent
sentiment Of this self-styled. hard
boiled people Of ours Is enough to
bring tears to the braZen eyes of
squatting Buddha
To insure against fear. the people
! who have q little left have adopted
a non buying policy that is fatal to
psychology that sends us shabby to
our work Unpainted houses-cracked
| shoes, many times alfsoled-shiny
pants - rafting automobiles - dyed
dresses refurbished wardrobes - all
these badges of unselflsh husbandry
must now be discarded if this plan
is to have fair chance to do what
We hope for 1t. We must shake our
selves out Of this four-year- idea
Of doing without against a rainy day
and We must do that overnight.
Business Must Increase.
Keep this in mind. outside of few
great corporations. there is not an en-
ployer in this country who can take on
and maintain these vastly increased
costs of unemployment unless he Is
promptly compensated by increased
business The Unemployment that the
| Blue Eagle is bringing is not enough.
The whole plan will fail unless by this
vast encouragement Of free spending
We can break the frugal boarding habit
which springs from fear and lack Of
confidence and substitute a generous
public buying that will start the wheels
OF industry in all OF its departments.
Buy! Buy now! Buy everything you
need and have so long denied yourself.
It is the key to the whole situation.
You have been thus urged several
times before during this depression.
but the difference between now and
then is that now there is the best
reason in the world for buying-that
it is good business We know here
what are the advance quotations to
retailers for restocking their shelves
with goods They show price advances
OF from 40 per cent to 60 per cent
because of increased costs due to re-
employment and higher wages. You
can't get away from it. Either the
whole structure is going down like
house of cards, or We shall not see
again the prices now available for