The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-12-15
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The Real Tragedy
The super -optimists are wont to
refer to "the late depression" Is proof
Of their boundless hope for the
future.
More sober minded folk can hardly
accept this dictum. They appreciate
the fact that It viii be = long time
before the expression Is fully war
ranted, even though there are ample
evidences that we have come = long
way up from the bottom Of dull
despair in recent months.
One sign Of the changed psychol-
ogical attitude Of the peope-and
there are many-is the fact that they
are again looking forward, rather
than backward, and are turning their
attention to the question Of how to
improve the situation. Naturally.
much OF this new outlook finds ex-
preston in criticism. both Of things
as they are and Of the methods adopt
ed to change them. To this extent
criticism is an excellent sign, unless
clearly inspired by selfish interest q
distinguished from the common veal.
Also, as things get moving again,
we realize anew the real tragedy Of
the situation which we brought upon
ourselves back In 1929. This u the
enormous waste Of productive labor
which is represented by the idle men
Of the nation.
Consider. for example, the way In
which our standards Of living have
deprecated. Home building was 50
badly stunted that it practically dis
appeared. People were forced to
abandon habitable dwellings and seek
shelter In almost anything that Of
fered or which they could construct.
How different 1t would be II the
carpenters. masons, concrete workers
and other artisans in this industry
had been steadily employed. How
many tenements would have been
torn down, how many inadequate and
poorly-built houses would have been
relegated to the status Of garages.
Consider such physical necessities
as shoes. How many men, women
and children would be poorly shod If
the factories had been working stead
lily and the products Of labor had
been evenly distributed.
Think In terms Of anything that q
man needs or uses, whether necessity
or luxury, and 1t IL easy to see that
the real tragedy lies In our failure t.
produce rather than In over produc-
ton.
Because Of the perversity Of human
nature, the attack on this situation
has had to be made In . rather I'm.
organized way. Hence, with the cot
ton plan, we had farmers blowing un-
der their acres and undoing the wori
which they had done only = short
time before. It was . grim remedy
Tor bad situation. The same thing
In approximately the same degree
holds true for the hog slaughterinl
plan.
No one can justify these moves OF
the basis Of sound economies ant
their sponsors do not attempt TO d,
60 on that basis. They were merel,
expedients devised rs substitutes 70
lack Of proper thinking and plan
ming In the past.
In the cities We have had man
power going to waste because ther
was no place to put it to work. O,
che farms it went to waste becaus'
the competitive necessities Of tn
times forced the farmer to work to
hard. It i stu . cock-eyed worl'
because the people In 1t have SUI
fered from mental conditions whicl
made It 50.
But the people are changing an
they viii change the world with II
They are willing to do things and :
accept ideas now which they woul,
have laughed to scoru . few year
ago. That Is the one real benefit v
have received from this nations
Gethsemaae through which We hav
only recently passed.
en- as our material fortunes ver
{ g backward. Ne were preparin
c.sclves to receive . new spiritu,
end economic vision which viii stan
us ia good stead IN the future.
Too Many Poor Houses
With the mercury hovering arour
zero. It = easy for anyone to am
mat too many peoplo aso living
poorly constructed houses, not only
thu but - Other sections q L
eountzy.
The American Builders Aaoociatic
q urging the eose9nment % remet
this By expanding IT. leaning opeEs
tions to provide for the constructit
q new homes. IT. interest, Of cos,ra