Evening star., 1935-10-13
Death Follows
Prosperity
BY Frederic J. Haslsin.

course OF the dialogue which Robert
Burns reported, brought out the COM
parative advantages Of the rich and the
poor and, to the philosophic mind, the
poor seemed to have the better of it
from the standpoint Of health and hap
piness. 1t takes something of philoso-
pher to agree that poverty is a desirable
state. Nathaniel Hawthorne said that
poverty was one of the major crimes.
Yet the official records of the United
States Government reveal that the death
rate rises as prosperity rises and falls
in hard times. To some people death
seems a happy estate and one to be
looked forward to with eagerness, but
this can scarcely be regarded as the
normal attitude. So we have two cu-
rents crossing. Most people shrink from
death and most people detest poverty,
yet death haStens after riches and delays
its visits to penury. The ancient prayer.
"Give me neither poverty nor riches"
seems to strike a selfish mean.
In the year 1929 the United States
enjoyed the greatest measure Of pros
perity it ever had known in its entire
history, but the price was high death
rate The various calculations show
some variation, but, striking an average,
it is found that the national income was
in the neighborhood of $4,000, 900 900,
the greatest income in money which
any nation ever enjoyed. 1t was re-
markably well distributed. The wages
of workmen were high, those OF skilled
labor being especially so. Entrepreneurs
and capitalists were thriving and those
living on unearned increment were re-
ceiving fat dividend checks with salts
flying regularity In that year the death
rate, according to the mortality sta
tistics of the Bureau of the Census, was
almost 1900 per 100000 of population.
Every one will remember that it was
late in 1929 that the great depression
began with the crash of the stock market.
To be sure, the actual causes of the de-
preston were in existence prior to that.
but, as few we're aware OF the TACT, 1t
made no difference. Income dropped by
the billions and the death rate to 1,133.
This may seem the more remarkable
because of the large number OF suicides.
It will be recalled how ruined stock
market spectators we're jumping from
windows so fast in New York that it
was said in some of the loftiest struc-
lures they were standing in line! In
1929 there had been 1920 suicides, Civ
ing rate of IA per 100000, and in 1880
there were 1851 giving a rate OF 100
per 100000.
Health Improves Steadily.
Even with the suicides of the bank
rupts and the disappointed, the general
health of the Nation was so much better
that the death rate for all causes Of
death declined markedly.
The national income still was going
down the next year, 1881, and the sui
cides kept climbing. In 1881 there were
2OO88 suicides or 1913 per 100000. These
were chiefly, it is understood, among
those who had lost fortunes and who
dared not face the health-giving delights
of poverty There seems to be a good
deal in the idea that it is better to
have never had at all than to have had
and lost. Yet while the suicide rate was
mounting so rapidly, the general death
rate declined to 1,107 per 100000 OF
population.
The year 1882 was, for some, the Bit
terest year of the depression. National
and individual income had continued
to decline That year the full weight OF
the tragedy was being felt by people in
all walks. 1t was not only case OF Tor
merly rich individuals who were sud-
denly forced to face hardship. Artisans
who had not known days unemploy-
ment for years we're unable to find work.
Office workers, store clerks, all manner
of people in the earning classes dlscoV-
cred they no longer could earn. Dire
poverty overcame many. The suicide
rate in 1882 mounted to 20,927, or ia
per 100000. Most of the brokers had
been closed out in the earlier years.
Bankers began to figure largely now. But
Srnnnnd
only 1,089 per 100000.
In 1888 President Roosevelt took office
and the people, or many of them, seemed
to cheer up. It was inevitable that the
downward trend in many lines would
have to continue from sheer momentum,
but there seemed to be a glimmer OF
hope in the New Deal and, indeed, be.
fore the year was out there was consld-
erable unemployment at better wages
and under better working conditions.
Better Times Increase Death Rate.
In. 1881 the number of deaths from
hunger and thirst had been 80; In 1882
they had dropped to 81, but in 1888.
with the New Deal coming round the
corner, they rose to 80. That showed
that conditions were still bad, but the
fact that suicides declined to 1898 Is
an indication that there was more
hopeful spirit abroad in the land, that
despair was fading. In this low year
and this was before the great relief ex-
penditures had begun to be made-the
death rate from all causes dropped to
only 1,O67 per 100000, the lowest it had
ever been. More than 100 fewer deaths
per 100000 than in the prosperous good
old days of 1929! National income was
down to only about S40,000,000,00 900
year-less than half of what it had been
| in 1929.
Now begins the new chapter. With
| the stimulation which business was given
| by the National Industrial Recovery Ad-
ministration, the Agricultural Adjust
ment Administration, and the other New
Deal agencies which were distributing
money right and left, putting millions
on relief and improving business IN
| general, the national income started its
| climb back. 1t gained more in 1884 than
| 1t had lost in 1888. Billions were added
| to the income of the people.
We find deaths from hunger and thirst
| dropping to 21 and suicides dropping to
1899, the lowest they had been since
| 1929. But more important than any
thing else, the total death rate had begun
| to climb again. It had been only l,O67
| in the worst year. With returning pros.
| perity, it mounted to 1,1o4 per 100000 OF
| population!
When the bad years were in progress,
there were many expressions OF satis-