The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-10-15
NEWSPAPERS OPINION
THE SOMETHING FOR NOTHING FALLAcY

The United States is doing nothing important 10
i+s citzens from an appalling popular illusion
which every dav is betokening more severe eVentuai
o,,oloriror Millions of good Americans are sui
f;no from the profound fallacy that, through sew
81 outstanding channels, it is now possible 1of
L. 70 yat something for nothing. Approaching
C.rforria on q certain road one passes through d
., IF ! 600 people having bank, halt dozen
to,os and an Odd Fellows Hall, above which IS
:, buoe sign reading, Townsend Club" OF the
600 residents 700 belong to the club and nope
presently, at age 60, to begin to receive S2OO q
month for life. Perhaps not II of the 700 have
ever earned $500 month. They are not looking
to any well-earned expectancy-they are banking
on most intriguing Notwithstanding apparl-
ton of the day.
California voters defeated Upton Sinclair for
governor but they did not end the dream of an
Epic empire that could come into being overnight.
The Utopia promised instant release from certain
inevitable state burdens. But in California the
dream lives on and its adherents are trying to re-
project it in a national campaign. Only a state as
fecund as California could hope to see such large
scale Utopian proposals as the Townsend Plan and
the Sinclair Plan budding and blossoming at the
same time They lift on similar wings into the
reaping substantial values without planting the
good seed corn of righteous expectation.
Townsendians and Snclarians have deliberately
reached out to draw something for-nothing ideas
into their consciousness others have had such ideas
thrust upon them. These, far more to be pltled'
are the unfortunate citizens of many walks of
American life who, having been forced by clrcun-
stances to accept public assistance, have been weak
inf yhpra 10
longer see down in their hearts why they should
be self-sustaining There are, intimate INSIDE re-
ports say, millions Of just such morally Empower
ished persons. Relief officials know what has nap
pened to public morale under the dole and the dis
guised dole. Appalled,, they tell their secret IN
whispers They know that multitudes of men ana
women have got long trek ahead OF them-lhe
multitudes have got to beat back to the rocky
tops of spiritual independence.
The American Legion, so lately re-demanding
the cash bonus through its St Louis convention,
might be momentarily offended by inclusion IN this
listing of bending moral forces. Yet no doubt
many Legionnaire has come to the stage OF Shout
ing for the bonus years ahead of its due because
the something -for-nothing atmosphere has envel-
oped him when his peace-time gas mask had been
laid aside This is unfortunate. For the American
Legion would be an ideal organization to take no
the cudgels for the complete regaining Of American
of the spirit. Maybe the Legion can
vet lead the way. Many war veteran has not been
misled by sentimental chatter-Many veteran can
see how sound America can't roll along segmerts
of citizens in Notwithstanding perambulatocs.
If not the Legion, then some other powerful
agency must load Big Bertha with spiritual dyna-
mite to wake up the nation. Disaster impencS.
Something for nothing is nothingness. 1t can never
be so clothed disguised blended into any philos-
ophy OF plan as to make it energizing force.
Always it is dud that moves no mountains. Amer
leans must move America; must begin always b.
moving themselves. Truly, these be made days
of mighty embodiment to the ready hearts of men.
but the embodiment is of new helps to those who
are accustomed to helping themselves. From the
Plymouth Rock of a re-dedcated Americanism
force must go forth to reconQuer the continent
True Americans ask paternalistic enrichment;
they swing their spiritual muscles toward the unset
fish enrichment of their tmes.-Christian Science
Monitor.