Evening star., 1935-04-15
SELF-SUFF|C|ENCY
HELD RUIN Of i. S.
Gideonse Terms Movement
Old "Tariff Gag" Re.
vamped.

The specter of widespread unem-
ployment and disorganization OF the
American economic structure II the
proposed program Of national SELF
suficiency Is accomplished was con-
jured up before a Town Hall audience
last night by DR.. Harry D. Gideonse.
professor of economics Of the Univer-
sity of Chicago.
DR.. Gideonse, who spoke on "Can
the United States Prosper Under a
Program of -Sufficiency," had a
straw man in his topic, for only one
member of the panel, DR.. Theodore j.
Krepps of N. r. A., favored a measure
Of national self -sufficiency, and that
only for a short time. The rest OF
the panel had to resort to extraneous
subjects for argument.
Old Tariff Gag"
DR.. Gideonse characterized the self
suffciency plan led by Charles Beard
and William Randolph Hearst, as the
some old tariff gag" in new dress.
THE new argument for the tariff Is
that by cutting of all foreign trade
we will eliminate the conflicts which
lead to war" the Chicago educator
declared. But such a policy would
place many articles of use by the
masses beyond their reach by raising
prices tremendously.
The self -sufnciency movement is not
confined to the national field, he de-
clared, citing regional movements, such
as the Buy Georgia" and Buy Cali
fornia" movements. as we'll as the
Kansas port of entry law providing Tor
inspection of all goods coming into
the State at so ports OF entry.
THE establishment of such State
elf-suficiency systems throughout the
country would result in Balkanlzeo
market he asserted.
u. S. Ruins Own Markets.
Crop surpluses were attributed to
destruction of United States foreign
markets by the United States itself
through high tariffs.
1T will be hard to restore these
markets, but it does not follow from
this that we should destroy them a
little more. which would result IN
greater internal disturbance. There
would only be more need for Govern
ment Intervention and more triple
AS"
DR.. Gieonse combatted the argu-
ment that foreign trade is insignifi-
cant by citing the relationship of the
cotton crop to the wealth OF the
South.
The speaker found confusion in the
use of the terms nationalism and in
ternationalism. contending that those
who are usually described as nation
alists are thinking only in terms OF
regional elf-interest. while the So
called internationalists are thinking in
terms of complete national well-being.
Six Sit on Panel.
He insisted that foreign trade must
be maintained in order to prevent the
Hitlers and Mussolinis from giving
the world a little more Of their variety
Of peace"
The panel discussion was partici-
pated in by Dr. Krepps. DR.. David
Cushman Coyle, member of the Tech
nical Board of Review of the P. w. A;
Representative Allen w. TreadWay Of
Massachusetts,, Secretary of Commerce
Roper, Assistant Secretary of State
Francis B. Sayre and DR.. Albert Baster,
lecturer in economics at University
College. Exeter, England.
Secretary Roper cited the 100000
Americans who are depending upon
foreign trade.
DR.. Krepps took the stand that as
the result of excessive advances in
economics beyond the rest of our So
cial and political development We
should resort temporarily to eco
nomic national self-sufficiency, halt
ing the advances of the machine and
synchronizing all phases of society.
Economy Seen Dislocated.
Dr.. Coyle saw serious dislocation
in the domestic economy as the result
of insufficient exercise of the power of
taxation by the Federal Government
Assistant Secretary Sayre declared
that self -suficiency would force 50,-
100000 acres of land into retirement.
and over 100000 men in agriculture
as we'll as 100000 men in industry
must be provided for in other fields
of endeavor.
Representative TreadWay contended
for the maintenance of tariffs at
high level, although not urging still
higher rates.
DR. Baster cited Englands use of a
tariff to bring down high wage
level when the labor movement proved
TOO strong to effect this in other ways.
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