The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-07-21
AN AMERICAN DEPRESSION

The United States is the only nation in the world
experiencing depression at this time. Every other
country has puts it's house in fairly good order.
But, for us, we are still at the bottom OF the
ladder with 13 millions out of work
Why? Because we swept off our feet by a
wave Of hysteria, back in the year 1888, when we
were inst getting over the shock of the stock mar
ket collapse.
Why? Because our national government is being
cursed with a spoils system which is raiding the
public treasury 1t is plain fact that taxpayer S
money is being used on an enormous scale to buy
votes, and thereby keep the worlds most colossal
bureaucracy in power
When the recent relief bill was before the house
of representatives, certain patriotic congressman
forced some very important facts and figures out
into the open from the private files of Harry Hop
kins.
1t was discovered that in election years, between
June and October. about two million more people
are given relief money than in years when no cleo
tons are being held.
In other words let poor people. unemployed
people - people who have encountered financial
misfortune . let them starve when there are no
elections Feed them little when it comes time
to vote!
deal, makes Andrew Jackson look like piker!
Fortunately. for our hungry citizens, 1888 is an
election year You may expect few cans OF
beans between now and the general election III
November.
1884 was an election year In November
1884 according to accurate sources, there were
2s3 OOO more people on relief than there were
in June of that year. There was a decrease OF s.
165 600 for the same period in 1885, because 1889
was not an election year
1925 WAS an election wear In November 1896,
according TO accurate sources, l,2l3OOO more peo-
nile were on relief than there in July OF thaI
wear There was decrease Of 2.G48,OOO for the
same period in 1887 because 1897 was not an elec-
ton year.
This system Of capitalizing upon human suffer
mo is not only immoral it is inhuman Why should
man be made to suffer when there are no elec-
tions only to be fed when it comes time to vote!
Much is being said these days about alien 'lsms
taking root in American soil, and certainly there Is
no place in our country for any ism except Am
ericansm! But there is greater enemy IN our
midst right now than any foreign doctrine that
has vet been imported to these shores from the old
world
Our greatest foe is already within our gates. 1t
is the evil of sef-perpetuatng bureaucracy,
maintained by an intolerant and immoral SpolS
system.
The remedy is threefOld.
First. We must rebuild the national character so
that the men who have carried us to the brink OF
destruction. will be removed from places Of public
trust. by an aroused public opinion.
Second. Bureaucrats and spoilsmen must be
taken from the public payroll, thus helping to re
a,,oo +bo onaratinp costs of the government, and
WAKING nossible a reduction in the tax burden
borne by the people.
Third: States and cities must be given the re-
snonsibtv of disbursing relief funds, through bi-
partisan agencies, thereby taking the long arm OF
centralized dictatorial bureaucracy out OF the per-
sonal lives of CITIZENSHIP. Gerald b. "ih'ou'