The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-30
Time for Q Deep Breath

The 10 years that shook the world, bounced 1t around, left 1t daZed and 1unl- bled are over at last. They weren't all good, and they weren't all bad. They were tumultuous years that will be re- membered for two things -- depression and war The 1930s were years in which hard times followed quite naturally the fabulously good times of the '20s; when the beer baron racketeers of America moved over to make room for the dic' tator-racketeers of Europe.
 During the riotous decade, new social theories were tested, new men shot to world prominence, great many new problems appeared and some old ones were suddenly drawn in sharp relief. lt was an era Of shameless aggression ana hypocrisy on a broad scale. The rumb' lings of war that were almost inaudiole in the late '20s rose in terrifying cfe- scendo and crashed intermlttently upon the world almost at regular intervals during the sos.
 Manchuria fell to the Japs, Mussolini grabbed Ethiopia, Spain was ripped apart by civil war, Japanese aggression Tn Chlha started anew, Hitler took Sudetenland, Czechosloyakia, Austria, Memel, Danzig, and divided Poland with the Soviet Union. MuSollni reached over 10 annex Albania. Britain and France declared war on Ger many; Stalin began an offensive against peace.loving Finland.
 America began the sos with depres. nion so devastating that in a couple or years the people were willing to try any thing. They turned to the New Deal, with governmental philosophy the coun. try would have rejected in the midst of the opuent 20s. They watched With mingled cheers and catcalls as the New Deal placed firm restraining hand on business, as 1t inaugurated NRA and AAA and later CWA and EZRA and WPA and PWA. They watched the new gov- efnneut a. t tried first to save and then l9 bolster aomeownersihp with HOLC anG FGt nd FILA and USHA. They waited ioI Lne jobs they were told would come after Uncle Sam started putting nickels into the slot machine on the theory that some day he would have to hit the jackpot.
 The citizens cheered and wassailed when prohibition was thrown out and b. the end Of the decade they were watch ing alphabetically the growing campaign pointing toward new prohibition era. And all the while, Americans were aflx.. iously watching Europe and the rest of tIlB WhIIHlB WOlld1 4llS DSaA0 VI eAAS AeSSe major war were far from healed, and Americans were grinly determined as the decade drew to climactic end, that they would have no part of the new conflict.
 What is there to do in the 1040s? Plenty. The biggest problem Of the world in general is to find a new kind Of peace q peace that will outlast the power-luSt Of selfish men. Whatever America can con. tribute toward such a peace, 1t should offer unhesltatingly.
 Within the United States however, are still the enignaS we have tried but haven't succeeded Tn solving. We must concern ourselves with unemployment, with security, with national economy. We must try to set up sound agricultural program and to improve housing condi- tons. We must do all these things while, at the same time, we keep out of Europe'S struggles, except insofar az we can help in establishing peace. There will be plenty to do in the next 10 years. We had bet ter roll up our sleeves and get going be. fore time slips away.