Evening star., 1937-01-20
~ h

hVe nrSt-claSS hOtelS and minor eStab-
liShments enjoyed an increase of more
than % per cent in the two years from
1888 to 1885, and 1885 comes to a close
with still more glowing reports on the
part of managements While December
and July are considered to be the two
months least promising to those in the
hotel business in this city, these two
months this year had their full quota
of hotel patronage.
These highly desirable conditions are
reflected in other sections of the Nation,
of course. We hold no individual claim
to prosperity and increasing happiness.
The Department Of Commerce made, a
few days ago, what it designated as a
report "Of paramount significance" in
which they stated that business and in
dustry in the aggregate would, from pres
ent indications, be "out of the red" this
year for the first time since 1929. Esti-
mating a national income of at least
$6O,OO0 O00,0 900 this year, the department
continued, lit appears probable that in.
come produced may equal income paid
60 has been narrowing since Franklin
Roosevelt took office in 1888.
While the physical appearance of
Washington has become more beautiful,
and its economic status more secure dur
ing the reconstruction era under PreSi-
than these factors is the added hap
pineSs, peace and contentment that has
developed in the spirit of the people.
There Is a new ring in the voices of
the citizens, a new light in their eyes.
There is heard again on all sides the
logical fact that when the hearts OF indi-
viduals are burdened or oppressed with
economic considerations they have no
spirit for comradeship, for the inter-
change Of those pleasantries and con-
siderations that characterize the light
heart. During the days when depression
sat like a stone on the souls Of the people
here and elsewhere there was marked
muteness in mans contact with his
fellows.
Friends passed on the streets with
nod: Strain sat upon the countenances
q thing of the dead and irretrievable
past.
Now that has altered. In buSses there
is q pleasant chatter of small talk. On
street corners or In Offices groups ex-
change anecdotes again that have moth
ence Steps that Jagged have taken on
q new spring. There is boundless
vitality evident on every hand, as II the
people had drawn something from the
buoyant nature of the President himself,
who-even his enemies will admit-never
of our morale, even In the darkest days
when he first took office.
Faith has, indeed, returned to America.
The future looms rosy with prosperity
and we are again making plans and
dreaming dreams with confidence In our
own power to materialize them.
This Is, to my mind, the greatest gift
that President Roosevelt has given to
Washington and the Nation as whole
confidence in itself, new heart, re-
stored spirit.
Certainly when he drove this inaugural
day down that broad avenue where ma
terial evidences of q changed Capital
cleaned solid and secure along his way,
they must have meant less to him than
the faces Of the people. "The only thing
we have to fear is fear ITSELF he told
a trembling, despairing Nation less than
four years ago. And they believed him
and fought It.. What We see in Wash
ingtOn today is only concrete evidence
of the results of overcoming fear. In
the four years that are ahead Of u.s. under
the same leader who taught us this
truth, we should, shorn now of that
fear, make historic strides locally and
nationally.