Evening star., 1939-05-18
Suggestion for Planned
Economy Approved.

To the Editor of The Star:
While was in Washington on Mon
day. May Is, I read letter in your
forum section by one w. o. c. Owen
that impressed me most favorably.
In the letter Mr.. Owen very ably
pointed out those obvious facts, namely,
that in order for people to buy goods
they must have money; that in order
for them to have money they must re-
ceive wages, that either industry must
pay the wages or the Government must
tax industry to pay relief and SO on
down the line. Mr.. Owen then goes on
to explain his plan for eliminating the
necessity for relief, which 1 feel would
work 100 per cent.
I am willing to concede Mr.. Owen all
the praise that he deserves for his
splendid contribution. However, my pur-
pose in writing is not so much to praise
as to point out that I think he omitted
one of the most powerful arguments in
favor of a planned economy, namely,
the effect on the minds of the people.
The Government has been most liberal
in dishing out relief, unemployment COM
penSation checks and what not. 1t has
been so liberal that huge national debt
has been piled up. Still, so far as 1 can
see, the masses of people are just as ap-
prehensive as they were before the Gov
ernment started to put out all this
money.
I think that people are apprehensive
simply because the basic or fundamental
troubles have not been eliminated. Re-
lief money is just what the name i'm
therefore, feel that general prosperity
never is going to return again until
cure Is administered. regard planned
economy such as Mr.. Owen briefly set
forth as the cure.
President Roosevelt publicly stated
that no one would be permitted to
starve, but this isn't near enough as
surance to give the average person. Most
people, find, want to be sure that they
are going to be able to participate in the
work of the Nation. 1t is assurance of
participation that people want and not
relief after they have been cleaned out
and kicked out.
We read in the newspapers that the
banks are stuffed with money; that the
railroads are in the red, and about
distress and log jams here, there and
the other place. Conservative people
won't take their money out of banks
and spend it unless they have pretty
good assurance that they are going to
be able to make more. This assurance
is lacking under the present govern
mental setup.
I am all too well aware of the fact
that the rugged individualists want to 60
merrily on their way. These, obviously,
feel that they can get theirs no matter
under what conditions we live. I adj
mire these people for their resourceful-
ness, but I certainly don't admire their
farsightedness, for I feel that if they
would consent to planned economy
that even they would do more business
and make more money than they do
now and with less wear and tear on
themselves.
Rugged individualsts think that they
can just bowl us over with salesmen
and advertising. But there are lot
of us who are not going to play to any
great extent until the rules of the game
are changed. We are going to hoard
money until the rules are made more
fair. We are sick and tired Of being
cleaned out and kicked out every few
years And the sooner the majority Of