V.gabond Editorials

By Jack Dionne

I used to try and confine these items to lumber comment. But I find that the biggest "kick-back" that comes from fhese Vagabonds is from topics that wander away from lunber and its problems. And, since I write for my readers, why not keep on Vagabonding? +8* d< rf i(

The average fellow wants to get away from his business, and rest his mind and nerves by thinking about other things. Like the old story of the Irishman who was pulling the wheel-barrow, with his back to it. His friend saw him and said, "Pat, you know it's easier to push a wheelbarrow than it is to pull it." And Pat said, "I know it, but I get so tired of lookin' at the d-n thing."

The Wall Street Journal says that borrowings on life insurance shows a decline, and wonders why. You don't suppose the fact that ninety-ninb out of every one hundred men have borrowed every nickle they can get on their insurance has anything to'do with it, do you? ***

Present conditions are not going to really frighten me until I begin to find parking space on the streets, and Gmpty seats at the fake wrestling matches.

The sawmills of the United States sold four hundred rnillion feet more lumber than they manufactured during the first nine weeks of this year, and sold every foot of it at a loss. Looks like we're in the fix of the people in an exclusive neighborhood, where one man went broke and sold his beautiful home to a rich Dago. When the Dago moved in the other residents of the swell neighborhood held a meeting, and agreed to buy out the unwelcome newcomer, and divide the loss.

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The Dago accepted tetr thousand dollars above his cost, and moved out. The treasurer of the neighborhood comrnittee billed each of the neighbors for his pro rata share of the ten thotrsand. One of them, a wag, sent a note with his check, that read: "It's a pleasure to be associated with to fine a group of people, in so worthy an enterprise; but at this rate I'm afraid we'll have to do a Hell of a volume before we show much of a profit."

A certain manufacturer of wooden fixtures has created and affixes on the first page of every bid he makes on a Job, a bright red sticker that reads: "IMPORTANT NOTICE; THIS IS OUR ROCK BOTTOM BID, IT IS

NOT PADDED AND WILL NOT STAND A CUT.'"

He says that he has noticed a decided improvement in the attitude of the buyer since he began using this sticker. The fact is that everyone admires a man with fortitude enough to quote a decent n;ce--1nd;tick to it.

Arise and be of good cheer, folks. Congress is now going to legislate to fix the purchasing powetr of the dollar. And while they are thui busily engaged in working miracles, why don't they pass a law restoring the fire of youth to the limbs of the aged-make health contagious instead of illness-turn weeping into laughter-pain into pleasure -wrong into right? If they can do tho one, they can as easily do the rest. ***

"There were giants in those days," says Genesis. Wonder what Genesis would report in THESE days if he could visit our House of Congress? ***

The brainless demagogue shouts "soak the rich" ! And that sentiment appeals to thotrghtless many. How easy it seoms ! No trouble to balance the budget. The country is full of rich men who have far more than they need. Take their surplus away from them by the high tax route ! Let the poor man alone! Simple, isn't it? Why hadn't we thought of that before? ** ,r.

It never occurs to these "soak the rich" adherents, that it just can't be done. Not in the way they are thinHng of. \J[/e can pass these high-tax-for-the.rich laws; without a doubt. But then what? The rich furnish the money trhat provides the jobs and the positions for all thc rest of us. Tax him inequitably and what does he do? Why, he just takes his monelr out of commerce and industry and buys tax free securities. Then where are your jobs-and your high taxes? ***

The Congressman who doesn't want'to. cut his own salary, and votes agalnst the use of the broad-ax in reducing Government costs, but wants to balance the budget by soaking the rich, is a perfect example of the level to which our alleged thinking men have fallen. They don't understand that there are only two ways to balance our budget; cut exp'enses, or raise taxes. And where do taxes come from? From the pocket of the consurnef, t No matter what sct of a tax, or how it seems to operate, in the final wind-

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