Evening star., 1933-01-14

The country is inclined to believe that
the report of President Hoover's Re-
search Committee on Social Trends,
while suggesting measure OF new CO.
ordination as means OF overcoming
Embellishments in social life and in
dustry, is largely comprehensive study
of present conditions. The ability of
the investigators is recognized. and
their careful preparation Of material
is accepted as g basis for future in
quiries involving a search for effective
remedies. To some, the report is opti-
mistic as contrasted with assumptions
regarding the ideas of technocrats.
Taking an optimistic point of view,
the New York Herald Tribune holds
that lit excludes the idea of Utopia
or of an ultimate panacea." and points
out that the general view Of society,
the general concept of the nature OF the
social mechanism, and consequently OF
the manner in which we should deal
with it, accord with recent thought" >"
Referring to the scope of the work
done by Dr. Wesley c. Mitchell, chair
man OF the group, and his associates,
the Herald Tribune understands that
they have envisioned society not as a
single. static arrangement, but as a
NOlhp4IA Va AlON1lS 4dAUO1o, CdAAl oSeAtAe
and interacting on the others" Ex-
planning further. that paper states: II
these movements, these changes, all
proceeded at exactly the same rate.
there would be no trouble. The strains
arise when one clement is moving more
rapidly than another-aS. for example,
when corporate organization develops
more swiftly than corporation law.
when industrial production outruns the
distributive machinery, or when the
day-to-day conditions of urban life
change more rapidly than the conven-
tions and customs built up to guide the
individual in his day-to-day conduct.
The committee findings suggest that by
measuring and comparing the different
rates Of progress one might theoreti-
oally detect the points of greatest stress
and perhaps even lay the groundwork
for action which would lessen the strain,
smooth the way and hasten the adjust
mentS"
Few men are so reactionary as to
doubt that change is essential to prog
ress," states the Oklahoma City Times.
with the suggestion that If glaring
faults are faced squarely, the chances
of correcting them are improved" 1t
is convinced that the basic idea of a
living standard compatible with whole
some living conditions is definitely an
American ideal" The Rochester Times
Union quotes "one of the significant
paragraphs in the report" which advo-
Gates more purchasing power in the
hands of wage earners,' and the Times
Union comments: There is nothing
new about this emphasis on the neces-
Sity of purchasing power, But there is
little discussion as to what may be done,
if anything to distribute purchasing
power. Who wants to hand out pur-
chasing power unnecessarily, anyhow?
Unemployment relief unemployment
insurance, and similar palliatives are
not cures. If distribution of purchasing
power is basic, is there anything which
can encourage 1t, or even force it? II
there is, the business world could be
made to hum with activity, and en-
ployes would enjoy satisfaction of
wants never before experienced. The
course of industrial life has been Just
the reverse. Business brains have done
a great Job at production and cutting
costs Now it looks though they
would have to do something about cul-
tivating customers able to buy"
Observing that there Is indicated "a
gradual adjustment to a new scale of
living" the Rock Island Argus suggests
NN4ttS liAAS GOGS tlOt agree
with the technocrats that there is danger
or ehoas or collapse" 1t adds that they
declare mankind's brightest hope Is the
future OF applied science, and new in
IentionS are regarded as factor in
creating employment" The Chicago
Daily News draws the conclusion that
in economies the trend Is toward more
cooperation more deliberate planning,
less ilnregulated competition" while
in social life the trend is toward great
er democracy" and in politics the
trend is toward concentration Of respon-
sibility." The San Antonio Express re-
cords that "the objective is to help man
master his environment and the many
forces which continually assau him"