Vagabond Editorials

By Jack Dionne

In the good old days there was a well known and highly rated axiom to the effect that "it's the galled jadc that winces". In later years the famous revivalist, Sam Jones' couched the same thought in more modernized terms, saying, "It's the hit dog that t_n":"t";. But it isn't always truc.

The other day a frlend of mine heard one of his managcrs telling someone about how he and hisfamily had been economizing "since the hard times came". My friend got this fellow into a corner as soon as possible, and said to him, "Are times as hard as you say?" Surprised, the employce answered, "Why sure-arcn't they?"

"'W'ell," said the employer, "I'm inclined to think they arc hard with me, but I didn't know they were.with you. The books show you are getting the same salary you were getting in L929. In 1929 your dollars weft worth not more than 90 cents. Today, according to the best figures available, your dollars are worth fully one dollar and twentyfive cents each. So I'm wondering just how times got so hard with you".

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"And furthermore," he said, "if you are spreading that kind of gospel afound your town, you, who are really much better ofi financially than you have been in a long time, how do you expect to induce people who may themselves be getting hurt by conditions, to do any buying?" The employee scratched his head. It was a new idea that had burst on his thought. "I believe I've been a di fool", he remarked. "Check.and double check", said*his employer.

The fixed income man who hasn't had his income reduced, is getting a lot more money than he was getting last year. For one thing is certain and that is that the buy.ing power of a dollar n"" 1""T"":d by leaps and bounds.

A veteran lumberman from Illinois sends this department a suggestion that he thinks would be of value both for the present and future. He calls attention to the fact that in thc middle west where he lives the retail lumber dealer as a rule carries a considerable amount of stock out of doors. Has always done so. Usually this was fast moving stock, that didn't stay in the weather long enough, when conditions were good, to nermi; "Ttolt deterioration.

My correspondent declares that there has been really tragic loss to the dealers of that territory during the past year to uncovered lumber yard stock that has not been moving normally by reason of slow business, and has deteriorat- ed in the weather. He tells of sccing beautiful timbers and dimension badly weathet d*natd from staying a year without cover in retail yardsl y" tcrritory.

He suggests ttat tbe retail lumbcr deders generally gct busy and take advantage of tbe low pdce of low gfade lumber, to build sheds to house dl thcir lumber. It would protect their stocks, and- would give employment to a lot of men, just at a time when the rmanployuent problcrn is tle scrious matter ttat confronts tte natim. He tclls of sccing onc retail lumberman he knows give $3{X)0 to tte rrilief for unemployment campaign in his town, while he had thousands of dollars worth of good lumber spoiling in the weather because of insuEcicnt lard room-

This correspondent suggcsts tbat the usual uncmployed man would far rather have a job tbat would givc him sur. tenance than take charity from tbc unanploymcot fun{' and that the rctail lumberman who actuaEy nccde shcds would do well to build some shcds, Ptltcct his stocLs for ttre present and future both, and give honcst onployrmcnt to men that need it'

There is a lot of meat in what this lumbcrmao bas to say. There are thousands upon thousands of such yards in the United States that ought to usc some of thcir ovn building material, and this would be a good time to do it It would set a good example. With materials and labor at prcsent costs sheds could certainly bc built cbeapcr. than cvet before ,l ,r ,t

Financial figures show that the banls are bursting with scared money everlnrhere. Whcn tbe scare bcgins to sub. side, conditions'will begin to improve. \lllhco the scare is gone, conditions will be grand. It won't tatc a long timc to come back as some peoplc prdict becausc the rcturn of confidence will bring a flood o[ buying. Dam up thc buying powers ofa nation for more than a year, and you build something that wlll bc worth looling at wheo it bursts. t'}t

There isn'tathing in the world ttc mattcr sith this country today except ttat evetyone who has Eoncy is bolding onto it until they see wbat is going to ha1rycn. And financial coagulation is to ttre nation whet blood coagulation is to the human body. **rt

We need faith as we never necdcd it before. Faith in our country, faith in our institutions, faith in one anothcr, faith in ourselves.