Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-08-11
by the Asseeiotsd Press

PALO ALTO, Calf, Aug. H.
Following Is the tert of former
President Herbert Hoouer's ad-
dress last night at Stanford
University:
My first duty Is to acknowledge
your generous reception and these
most generous gifts to the library
1t is now "a years since this
library on war, revolution and peace
was founded. Over these years
friends of the library have con-
tributed over $3450,00 toward its
support. And of priceless value have
been the millions Of documents and
materials furnished freely by hun
dreds of individuals and three-score
governments.
This institution is not q dead
storage. 1t Is living thing which
over the years will correct a vast
amount of error in the history of
these troubled times. It will also
teach the stern lessons of how ma
tons may avoid war and revolution.
Scholars Can Be Free.
Not being a Government institu-
ton, it has never received a dime
from Government sources, and its
scholars therefore can be as free
as the Sierra winds in its use and in
the expression of objective truth.
In the somber situation of the
world I would be derelict If today
discussed the lighter side of life
instead of the serious issues which
weigh on my heart.
Some of you will know that during
the past two years I have added
somewhat to my previous knowledge
OF the currents of Government in
this republic. Beyond the immediate
problems of efficient organization
of the Federal departments, there
arise from these investigations some
grave questions as to our whole fu-
ture as Nation.
People Must Think.
Now, as never before, we need
thinking on some of these questions.
If America is to be run by the people,
1t is the people who must think.
And we do not need to put on sack
cloth and ashes to think. Nor should
our minds work like a sundial
which records only sunshine. Our
thinking must square against some
lessons OF history, some principles
OF Government and morals, if we
would preserve the rights and dig
nifty of men to which this Nation is
dedicated.
The real test of our thinking is
not so much the next election as it is
the next generation.
am not going to offer you So
lutions to our National ills. But
/ shall list some items for thought.
Perhaps in Japanese English a
subhead would be Bring feet
from clouds into swamp where we
now are"
We must wish to maintain a dy-
manic progressive people. No Ma
ton can remain static and sur
vive. But dynamic progress is not
made with dynamite. And that
dynamite today is the geometrical
increase OF spending by our gov
ernments - Federal. State and
local.
Cost of Government Scars,
Perhaps I can visualize what
this growth has been. q. Twenty
years ago. all varieties or Govern-
ment. emitting Federal debt serv-
ice. cost the average family less
than 5000 annually. Today, also
emitting debt service, it costs an
average family about $1,000 an
nually. -
This is. bad enough. But beyond
this is the alarming fact that at
this moment executives and legis-
latures are seriously proposing
projects which if enacted would
add one-third more annually to
our spending. Add to these the
debt service and the average fam
lily may be paying $1,000 yearly
taxes. They may get little back
II they live to over IS years of
age.
No doubt life was simpler about
lat years ago, when our Govern
ment got we'll under way. At that
time there was less than one Gov
eminent employee, Federal, State
and local. including the paid mill
tary, to each 120 of the popula-
ton. Twenty years ago. there was
one Government employee to about
40 OF the population. Today, there
is one Government employe to
about every % of the population.
Worse than this, there is today
one Government employe to about
eight OF the working population.
More Get Government Money.
Twenty years ago, persons d.
rectly or indirectly receiving reg
ular monies from the Government
that is, officials, soldiers, sailors
pensioners, subsidized persons and
employees of contractors working
exclusively for the Government
represented about one person in
every 40 of the population.
Today about one person out of
every seven in the population is a
regular recipient of Government
monies. If those of age are all
married. they comprise about one
half the voters of the last presi-
dental election.
Think it over.
In the long run it is the average
working citizen who pays by hid
den and other taxes. I have made
up a little table showing the num-
Der OF days which this kind of
citizen must work on an average
to pay the taxes.
Days Work.
Obligations from former wars II
Defense and cold war "a
Other Federal expenditures IL
State and local expenditures IA
Total thus far 81