Imperial Valley press., 1939-06-08
BY ROGER BABSON


church which I attend at wellesley
Hills has what is called an Open
Door" The church is open every
afternoon and evening. seven days
a week. and fifty-two weeks a
year for those who have problems.
Some lay man or some lay woman
is in charge of the work each af-
ternoon or evening.
There are fifty of these business
men and women of the community
who are on duty during the year.
In addition to being of help to
those who call with their various
problems. these conferences are
Of value in enabling citizens to
learn first-hand Of the spiritual.
educational. economic, and civic
troubles which the less fortunate
have.
When the big depression started
in l930-31-it was the day labor
ers who were first thrown out of
work. The greatest hardship came
upon them for they had no savings
accounts nor other reserves. AS
the center of the depression was
reached-in 1888 and l934-another
group, including white collar work.
ers, began to suffer as their saw
ings were used UP. Both of these
groups have been aided for some
time by the WPA and other forms
of government spending. The re-
cession of l938-39, however, has
reached the higher bracket incomes
the salesman, executive, and en-
ployer group.
Employers Hard Hit
Eight years ago the distress cases
we're among the poorly paid day
laborers. Five years ago they were
among the mechanics and clerks.
Now they are among the executives
and employers. Recently was on
duty at the open Door" session.
I had five callers. Three Of my five
callers were among the executive
class who ten years ago were re-
ceiving salaries in excess of $4,000
a year and two were employers.
This is not only new development
in the unemployment situation, but
it is vitally important to every
manufacturer and merchant.
These executives and their fami-
lies have been the good spenders
If this group must now slash their
standard Of living. it means even
less trade and fewer jobs. No
WPA or government, relief pro-
gram has yet been devised to help
the investor, executive or employer
group. In short. an entirely new
problem is developing today in con-
nection with unemployment. The
employer class is now suffering with
all others. Since they are the ones
who must provide the jobs, the
time has come for action.
If We arc 10 continue our system
of private ownership, there must
he radical changes In the attitude
of the government labor leaders,
and even preachers toward employ
erS. Unless the state is TO take
over all industry and be responsible
for giving everybody job. then
it is essential that 1t help. rather
than hinder. employers. When there
is shortage of work, the need is
for more employers. This is the
simple and only answer to unem
ployment:
We are, therefore. facing this
situation: Either We must change
our American system Of government
and turn to state capitalism
(which ultimately develops into
Fsscism) or else We must change
our attitude toward employers
builders and investors. We have
played at this thing too long. Nov
that all groups are suffering. we
can delay the choice no longer
When scores of well-paid executives
are forced to sell their homes, slasf
their standard of living, and return
TO manual day labor, then We arr
smack up against a problem Whicf
has not yet occurred during thf
depression.
Must Encourage Employers
If the great need today Is 70
more employers, we must encouargf
employers. The following are three
ways this con be done:
ID Taxes can and must be low
cred. I refer to city taxes, stat
taxes, federal taxes, and the othe
hundred and one taxes now inflict
ed upon employers. This, moreover
is not an appeal for the idle ricfI
AS far as am concerned, Roose
velt can put 80 per cent tax ol
the play boys" I am asking TO
lower taxes ON homes, business