The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-11-23
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long as its leaders recognize the
paramount interest of all in the
common welfare of the country.
Only when leaders and factions
demand the utmost for their par
ticular benefit, with reckless dis
regard OF the rights of others, will
the country suffer. Luckily for
the nation, Mr.. Roosevelt, by viz
tue of his great victory in the
election, is in a position to curb
excessive demands and to use the
great power and prestige of his
office in behalf of the economic
welfare of all citizens.
Mr.. Roosevelt's first admins
ton has been occupied almost sx-
clusively in an effort to speed up
national recovery through govern
ment action and by legislation take
the steps necessary to prevent a
recurrence of the abuses which
eliminate in the disastro Us depres-
sion. "a Naturally, as the nation APP
proaehes prosperity, the legisla-
tive demand alters and it becomes
necessary to consolidate the. gains
made and set upei machinery to
more or less stabilize conditions.
An illustration of this changed
outlook comes to mind in relation
to the price level. When the de-
preston brought about wholesale
collapse of prices, the citizens of
the country were burdened with
debt incurred at much higher
price levels. Consequently, the
individuals found it almost impos-
sible to contemplate the payment
of existing obligations and the
President, through various means,
attempted to lift prices to a more
equitable and normal basis in Or
der that the debts incurred could
be liquidated. While all indebted
ness has not been taken care of,
we are, at least, approaching a
stage where sthe equilibrium has
been established and it will not
be necessary to take further rem.
edial action.
In this case, the task is to pre-
serve The goal gained and prevent
another disastrous drop. In re-
gard to legislation invalidated by
the Supreme Court which sought
to improve conditions for millions
of our citizens, it will be neces-
sary to continue the battle. This
will undoubtedly be done but, we
feel sure, the necessary statutes
will be passed legally and that the
Supreme Court will eventually
approve the laws which express
the und;sputed preference of a
vast majority of Americans.
Few thinking citizens believe
that workers anil farmers have yet
been assured of the economic OPP
portunity which should be theirs.
Anyone who contemplates the
standard of living now available
for the lower income groups in
this country will readily agree
that, if necessary, the government
should take positive action to re-
move any special favors to other
groups which interfere with the
accomplishment Of the end in
view. ussv! -
aarei familiar with the
recent report of the Brookings
Institute, showing that six mil
lion families, or more than twen-
ty-one percent of the national
total, had incomes less than ST.
900 per year in 1929, the era of
so-called prosperity. According to
the same source, twelve million
families had incomes of less than
$1,000 a year, twenty million
families had incomes less than ST.
500 and, on the contrary, only a
little over two million families had
incomes in excess of $1,000 per
year. Some six hundred thou
sand families enjoyed incomes in
excess of $4,000. The point to
these figures is that the lower in
come groups are unable to buy
the reasonable necessities of life
and thus maintain what should be
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