Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-11-27
War Best Economic Spur
To Nation, Dr.. Nearing Says
Natural Expansion
Or Domestic Market
Unlikely, He Holds
BY ]. A. FOX.

war, in the opinion Of Scott Nearing,
pacifist.
The well-known sociologist and
economist, who is In the Capital for
a lecture, is not advocating blood
shed, but as he took time out from a
dinner engagement at the Cosmos
Club last night for q rapid-fire dis
course on a variety of topics, DR..
Nearing put in a boost for a war is
an economic builder-up in expound-
ing theory that is slightly heretical
If judged by the standards of those
who talk of the vast consuming
power Of the American people, and
the prosperity entailed therein.
That, to DR.. Nearing, is so much
conversation.
Further expansion of the domes-
tic market is out of the question at
present." he says bluntly.
If there is to be improvement, he
adds, it must come from one of three
sources: New industries, new lux
uries, or war preparations.
And the only one worth copper
| 10 Vic C11l1O.
No involved logic is required for
DR.. Nearing to reach this conclu-
sion. AS he sees it, the American
people have been oversold on just
about everything; the buying has
been done on the installment plan
and has encouraged spending not
justified by income, and demand can
no longer keep abreast of potential
production.
New Buying Time Needed.
Some new industry, he says, would
spur a new line of buying--the au-
tomobile and radio did it before, he
comments-which in turn would
boost production, with consequent
pickup in employment, thereby
completing a prosperity cycle.
The same thing would happen
with some new luxury, DR.. Nearing
points out, but the real clincher
would be a good brisk war, with lots
Of munitions being made, turned out
and used up without delay.
Tearing down to build up?" he
was asked.
That, DR.. Nearing admitted, was
| the general idea.
1t was suggested that the Henry
Ford school of thought, for instance,
would give him an argument on
this point.
He conceded that was highly
likely, but went to the record to
support his theory.
In 1929, he recalled, national in
come was $50 900 900 900 and in 1887
SIS, 900 900 900 "in 6O-cent dollars"
That, he said, didn't speak so well
for things. Further, he continued,
about the only people who have any
money to spend, on the basis of
their 1887 income, were those who
cut in on about so, 900 900 900 in
rents. interest, dividends and royal
ties.
DR.. Nearing thinks extensive road
building may help some, and he
also emissions slight upturn in
the automobile industry. He went
no further.
Not Worried Over Debt.
But at that, he is satisfied that
this Government, at least, is not
going to the dogs. While the public
debt no wis around $38 900, 900 900,
he feels it could 60 to $4,000, OOO,-
600 or $50, 000, 0O0, 900 or even more
perhaps. without prospect Of ser
ious difficulty"
The forecast for Great Britain,
however, is not so optimistic. Her
trouble started with the Boer War,
he says, and in the four decades
that have followed there has been
q disintegration that now has re-
solved the empire into three nations
and seven autonomous units. Con-
currently, Italy has moved in to
control the Mediterranean; Japan,
taking over Manchuria, menaces
from the East, and all in all, the
British lot Is not happy one.
DR.. Meanings lecture will be given
in the Y. w. c. A. at BIS tomorrow
night and admission will be free. It
is sponsored by committee includ-
ing the Rev. Richard w. Hogue,
Daniel N. Shoemaker and DR.. John
H. Gray, former president of the
American Economic Association.
The subject will be: Forces That
Are Pushing the World to Disaster"