The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-10-06

ment has determined there must be q
proclamation issued when the neces-
sary number of states have voted re-
peal. But it seems to be preparing to
ward off trouble by an arrangement
providing for the date of the pr0cla-
nation to be the same as the day Of
the last vote. 1t appears, therefore,
that when the last convention has been
held, a day or so will elapse before q
certificate of its action reaches WASH
ington, and then the proclamation,
previously drafted and signed, will be
formally issued.
AS q practical matter, Of course, the
country will know pretty well what
it can or cannot do long before the
last convention is held, and prohibition
repeal likely will be celebrated before
the machinery in the Department Of
State gets around to grinding.
AS the campaign to repeal prohibit
ton approaches an end, another cam
paign, backed by the
"Buy NotD" administration and
can,na;on On led by NRA, is get
ting under way. Just
now, Gen. Hugh S. johnson, national
recovery administrator. is trying to get
the country to buy, or those who still
have money are being urged to "buy
now" It is a part of the general
scheme to set commercial and indus
trial wheels in notion, because If those
millions who still have jobs and who
have been holding tightly onto their
money will let loose of some of it for
the things they need, there will be
big difference in the total of sales In
the country.
1t is a fact beyond peradventure of
a doubt that thousands Of persons.
their confidence shaken, possibilities
of lost jobs. funds tied up in closed
banks and that sort of thing, have SIM
ply refused to buy their normal guam
tity Of merchandise. They have been
denying themselves many things which
they ordinarily would buy. because Of
the uncertainty Of the times. General
johnson is simply asking them to re-
turn to their normal ways Of living.
It is not confined to the individual
consumer, this holding off from buying.
Retailers have been running with just
as small stock as they can, and job
bers and wholesalers have held down
their inventories to the minimum. The
waiting policy which the retailers, the
jobbers and the wholesalers have fol-
lowed, necessarily has reacted on the
manufacturer.
General johnson has dual purpose
in his 'buy now" campaign. He has
been promising those businesses that
signed the NRA codes that efforts
would be made to encourage new busi-
ness, or a revival of old business, for
them. Besides, it is imperative to
most of them that they obtain great
err volume of business. They cannot
meet the added expense of higher
wages and other code costs unless
something like old-time trade recurs.
General Johnson is trying to push the
.buy now" campaign on that account
as much as to force business upward.
If business revives, of course, It means
more jobs, and more jobs means res
toration of conditions like those six ar
eight years ago when we termed our
country as prosperous.
President Roosevelt's program to
buy farm SURPRISES for food for the
country's poor and
Surplus Food destitute is probably,
for Needy about the most pop
ular thing he has at
tempted. 1 have heard little criticism
around here. Most of the folks with
whom I have talked have praised him
for the move just as vigorously as they
criticized him and Secretary Wallace,
Of the Department Of Agriculture.
when they announced their scheme to
pay a premium for pigs and for sows
about to farrow in order, to force hog
prices higher. A large part of the
pork from that wholesale, and / be-
neve ridiculous, slaughter of pigs went
into fertilizer. 1t was the most waste
full thing that l have seen a govern
ment do believe the consensus
among observers here is the same as
my own. But the program Of using
that meat, and portions of the surplus
wheat and cotton and dairy products
and fruits, etc., to relieve suffering, Is
quite q different matter. In the first
instance, everyone regards the latter
course as human, a course that will
do some good. The same can hardly
be said of the former arrangement,
despite the claims of the brain trust"
economists who argue that higher
prices will prevail as a result of the
plan.
Present plans call for the use Of
about $75,O0O,OO0 of federal money,
funds contributed to the treasury by
taxpayers Of the nation, in the pur-
chase Of the food and clothing mate
rails. That ought to buy many meals
in any language you may speak, and
food is food however it is obtained.
There are approximately 3,5O0OOO
families on relief rolls throughout the
country. That means something like
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