The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-12-07

NAV indicate larger proportion, puI IL
the relief rolls were cleared of the names
of people who can take care of themselves
if thy are compelled to do it, they would
be greatly reduced and the burden OF pub
lie relief would be vastly decreased.
The matter may be summed up by the
statement that the country finds about 80
per cent. of it's population in something
resembling normal condition, with around
ten per cent. unemployed. That 80 per
cent. of the population is enjoying nor
NAL existence and normal incomes Will be
promptly denied, of course, in some quar-
tiers; but there, are certain facts winch
cannot be explained away by denial, ana
it is certain they cannot be retuted by
facts and figures. This in spite OF the faCt
that the country's business condition IS
only about sixty per cent. Of normal, &C
cording to the most reliable information
obtainable.
Notice that The Times-NeWs does not
claim that conditions are normal; we only
claim that they are not sufficiently abnor-
NAL or unsettled with millions of the popu-I
Iation To force a reduction in cash eXpen-
ditures for amusementS and many other
things which cannot be clasSed as necessl-
ties The country, on the whole, is spend
ing as much for amusements as 1t ever
spent at any time in the past, regardless
of financial condition. 1t is spending vast
amounts for luXuries, but not at the rate
prevailing in the boom years. And, in ad-
dition, the people of the United States are
spending in useless and harmful ways, in
ways that injure individuals and under
mine society, billions of dollars which cam
not under any circumstances be charged
to the harmless amusement account.
For example, the brewers and distillers
of the country (note that these are not
figures compiled by the "drys'') estimate !!
that the first twelve months after repeal
of the Eighteenth Amendment the beer
and liquor bill of the United States was
81 500, 100000. That was far below what
the liquor manufacturers and dealers
a billion and half dollars in times like
these on alcoholic beverages.
What would billion and half dollars
accomplish in relief work? What would !
it buy of food and clothing for the poor? !
How many homes would it erect, under
government supervision or private initia-
fop in, oil
quate salaries to underpaid school teach
ers? How many miles of improved high
ways would it build? How many public |
buildings could be erected with billion
and half of cash? How many IVA de-
veloments or other government enterprises
could be financed with a billion and half |
dollars?
Of course, in addition to the actual cost
of the beer and liquors the country must ,
foot the bill for many millions of dollars
of direct and indirect costs of the liquor
business.
1t costs in loss of life; it costs in physi- |
cal and mental deterioration of the human
race through indulgence in the alcohol
habit; it costs in the lessened efficiency
of workers who drink alcohol, in lessened
and inferior production in industry, and in
the encouragement, promotion and in
crease of crime.
We do not believe it an over-estimate to
say that the total cost of liquor business
that takes billion and a half dollars of
the country's money for the purchase price
of its products, actually costs the United
States double that sum. Add to the bill
lion and half any sum you think reason
able to cover these additional costs, and
we believe that you, dear reader, if you
are a good citizen of this country, will be
dazed and staggered by the mere consid-
Grafton of the waste, the devilish extrava-
gance and curse of the liquor business.
But the country has money to spend for
liquor at the rate of billion and half
dollars year, while we are in the midst
of the country's longest and most alarm