The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-09-06
Facts and Figures
BY
FULLER WARREN

timism about the future of our
Country. Unemployment, not long
ago the most terrible ScourGe
since the Black Death almost de-
populated Europe, has been prac-
tically wiped out in the United
States.
More than 100000 Americans
were employed in April of this
year, Production is at an all-time
!high-evcn exceeding that of the
war years.
No crippling strikes have oc-
CURED in nearly year.
Science and medicine continue
to fight successfully against dis
ease.
More people than ever before
are enrolled in schools and col
leges. And most states have rails
ed teachers salaries.
Life expectancy has length
ened to more than sc years, &C
cording to figures recently re-
leased by the Metropolitan Life
Insurance Company.
But amid all these encouraging
signs, these hopeful auguries,
these pleasing prospects, there is
one disquieting development, ono
clOud in the Skv
l refer to the resurgence, the
recdudescence, the revival, yea!
the return of Herbert Hoover.
Once again, it seems that he is
being accepted as a soothsayer,
wise man of the West. Once
more he is being sent on mis-
sions, appointed to economic
commissions, and asked for adj
vice by the nations highest Of
ficials. Hoover's opinions on the
most puzzling and confusing prob
lens are again being quoted as
the ''law and gospel" by many
newspapers. Some people in high
places seem to think he is the
1947 model thunder that was
heard atop Mt. Sinai when the
Divine Decalogue was handed
down to Moses. Colleges and uni
verSities; have been almost run
ming over each other in the rush
to confer honorary degrees on
Hoover At the last count, he had
some SO.
All this hubub over Hoover is
very disquieting to those of us
whose memories go back to the
20's. In the middle .20's, when the
foundation was being laid for the
worst panic that ever "panick-
ed" the world, Hoover was bally-
hooed as the greatest man who
had appeared upon earth in mod
ern times. His pontifical pro-
nouncementS upon economic
Questions were accepted as close
ly akin to divine revelation. No
man of this century has been as
widely acclaimed for having
thoroughly mastered and COM
pletely understood the American
economic system as was Herbert
Hoover in the eos.
Then came the terrible awaken
ing, the bitter establishment. In
1928, Hoover was elected Presi-
dent of the United States. Less
than year after the Great En-
gineer" took office, Americas
economic system crashed like an
airplane with two dead engines.
Hoover seemed utterly helpless.
He grew more beWildered and
confused as the depression Wors-
ened. While Hoover continued
to croak that prosperity was just
around the corner" 100000
men lost their jobs and the Ma
ton sank deeper and deeper in
to despair Confronted with a
crisis, Hoover showed none of
the ability his worshipers of the
20's claimed for him. He left Of
flee in 1888 the most repudated
and discredited President of
modern times.
Yet, IA years later, he comes
bouncing back into national
prominence as the elder states
man" who knows most of the
answers.
What is our Country coming to
when the most dismal failure
ever to be President is being
hailed as an oracle and acclaim
ed as a soothsayer!