Evening star., 1933-02-17

VI ttCtCS tN UfttCfL fTOJ. w ItftuW r tCfu-
ing Ogburn of the University OF Chi
> cdgo discusses tDhdt he considers the
10 biggest problems facing America.
BY WILLIAM FIELDING OGBURN,
Research Director, Presidents Committee on
Recent Social Trends.
Cwritten for the Associated Press.)
The problem with regard to the
standard of living in the next few years
will be to prevent it from being lowered.
We probably shall be slow in COM
ing out of the present depression. 1t
may take from one to three or four
years, in which case the economic
forces will be driving down the living
standards. It has taken a long time
to bring them to the present level.
For 10 or is years following the
opening of the century the change in
the standard of life was very slow for
the wage earners. 1t moved up more
thereafter. 1t would certainly be a
loss to mankind If the gains of third
of a century should be lost in the few
years of the present depression.
Job Sharing Necessary.
A plan for sharing work by those
who have jobs with those who have
none is a necessary measure for meet
ing the terrible ravageS Of the present
unemployment but it should not be
allowed to serve as device for keep
ing the income down after the depres-
sion Is over.
For those out of work the standard
OF living already has fallen precipitous-
ay. The aim here should be to main
tain q minimum standard of living.
During the next few years the prob
lem will be particularly acute for the
hundreds of thousands and perhaps
millions Of unemployed who are very
near the retiring age and never will
be employed again.
1t is also serious for the young peo-
pie who have been out of high school
three, four or five years and have
been. been given u,1s no opportunity to form
cause of lack of employment.
When the present crisis is past, but
let us hope not forgot, the great task
will be to raise the standard of living.
Many times in history the fight for
more of the good things of life has led
to revolution and appropriation of land
and property from those who have by
those who have not.
New Program Arises.
The simplest way of raising the
standard Of living seems to be to re-
distribute wealth. This has been the
constant theme of radicals, hut now
a new program has arisen showing
that by increasing production and dis
tribution the standard of living will also
be raised
If all of the wealth of the world
were divided equally among every one,
the rise in the standard of living
would only be slight and perhaps tenn
porary, but II an economic organiza-
tion can be worked out so that more
goods are produced and distributed, the
standard Of living may be increased
more effectively.
The present depression has thrown
new light on this problem, for now we
have plenty of production and bulging
warehouses, but lowered standard of
living and hungry men.
! The problem is to work out an eco
nomic organization so the capacity |
OF purchase will flow along at the same
rate as the capacity to produce. If
this problem can be solved the danger |
of repression to the standards of mis-
cry Of earlier times will be removed
and prospects of much higher stand
ard of living viii be in sight.
Favorable Factors Cited.
There are number of favorable
factors. One is the fact that we have
prohibited immigration and our popula-
tion is increasing much more slowly
than 1t was. If we have fewer people
among whom to divide the gains, each
win get more. Il
The second favorable factor is that
our natural resources will be plentiful
for at least decade and probably for
a much longer time
The third favorable factor is invention
and chronological development, which
gives every prospect of yielding greater
and greater production of wealth With
these three factors favorable If the
economic organization can be made to
function better, it ought to be possible
to contemplate within the lives of per-
hapS many of the readers a much
higher standard of living for most of
our countrymen-far above the poverty
level
Other Problems Stand Out.
Two other problems should be men
toned. One is to try to raise the
standard of living in those few regions
less favorably situated as, for instance,
41 OublyluS GOWIio dllO VILLAGES, ana
among the sub-marginal farms. The
second problem deals with a certain
percentage of mankind who still will
remain the victims of accident and
circumstances For these more In the
way Of provision of social insurance
against disease, unemployment and old
age will be needed.
On the whole the outlook is very
dark for the next few years and will
demand the intelligent application of
all Of the forces of society, but in the
long run the prospect is bright for a
world without poverty.
TOMORROW: "Happiness-A Public
Policy. The most cherished desire OF
many is happiness, says Prof. Ogburn,
although little is known about that elu-
sive state Of being. Solving the prob
lens Of family relationship is the most
important step toward happiness. he as
serts. The development of a widespread
program of mental hygiene also will help
bring people closer to this will O. the
wisp. he says in his last article to-