Vagabond Editorials

(Continued from Page 7) those 60,000 people developed the fact that more than 60 per cent of those dependent people ARE TOTALLY UNEMPLOYABLE. The same percentage will probably apply elsewhere. :t :k ,t

FIow can this be? Why, friends, we've been shaking the bushel of humanity now for four years, and we've finally shaken our population into two absolutely distinct classes; those who are still independent and traveling under their o\ rn power; and those who are frankly and openly on the charity lists. This shaking of the human bushel has sifted to the leffe;p-qrhich is the charity department-the aged, the infirm, the indigent, the cripple, the dependent of all sorts. Those who used to be supported by relatives; who used to shake cups on the corneis; who used to eke out an existence of some sort in some way; they are all on the charity lists now. And that huge percentage mentioned would not be benefited if we created millions more jobs. They are too old, too ill, too crippled, or for any number of reasons, unable to work. We've got that list on our hands for good. ***

The other forty per cent on that list, of course, awaits the day when they can again find useful employment. In that 40 per cent you will find humanity representing people of all walks of life. I have seen people ask for public charity in the past year who four years ago were as fine people as walked the earth. They have been forced through sheer desperation, and complete inability to find employment, to succor themselves, to put their names on the charity rolls. And to such people it is a heart-breaking, soul-tearing thing that has come to them. Such people will be off that list the minute it is possible. But the majority on our charity rolls today, are there a "J"t; *

Two years ago you couldn't walk a block on a business street of the average city without being solicited for alms by from one to five people, while today you can walk a mile on that same street and never see a single beggar. 'We've all noted that change with much satisfaction. The answer is that we used to slip them dimes on the street corners, while now we give them three squares a day on the charity rolls. They are all there.

'We're going into the winter tremendously better off than we did a year ago. It's the first time in four years that we are better ofr than we were the previous year. The entire world is better-measurably and undoubtedly improved in condition from a year ago. The very fact that we no longer see the hand of beggary on every dorner, has greatly improved our morale. The fact that we are feeding them on the charity rolls doesn't depress us like it did when the streets were filled with vagrants. We've got to pay that bill some day, but we are not particularly worrying about it now. NRA has given us a lot to talk and think about besides the depression. It has done and will do a world of good. Where it doesn't work, it will be dropped, just as it was dropped this week in the rural districts. Where it is useful and helpful it will be used. We are slowly but surely climbing the hill. This will be a much better winter than last. No one need go hungry.

I can't bring myself to agree that our only hope to put people back to work in this country is by further reducing working hours and raising wages. I don't believe we have so reversed all our sound economics that men shall get a premium for the work they DON'T do. I believe that when this is over we will still have provable confidence in the good old adages of our fathers; that "early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise"; that "honesty is the best policy"; that "the eady bird catches the worm"; that thrift and frugality, and application are cardinal virtues and the basis of success; that "by the sweat of thy brow shalt thou live"; and various others of like sort will still hold water.

*:r{'

Japan has a grand old man named Korekiyo Takahashi, Minister of Finance. He has been watching our recent efforts with keen interest. He is quoted as saying "Vfhat' all nations need now is MORE uiork, not LESS work." And deep down in my heart a wee small voice steals the time-emblazoned words of the wife of the Mayor of New York to the Queen of Belgium, and says-"Takahashi, you said a mouth full."

*:*:t

Looks like we're going to recognize Russia. Too bad. I wouldn't recognize the Communist Government in an alley. It is no more fit to be on calling terms with us, than Hell's fit for a powder house. The papers say that Russia is going to ask Mr. Roosevelt this question: "In case of war between Japan and Russia, what would you do?" I'll tell you the answer to that, Franklin. Just say, "We'd encourage it."