V.sabond Editorials

By Jack Dionne

The guy who said that when the wolf came to his door he let him in and soon emerged wearing a nice warm wolfskin coat, has been outdone. The latest champion depression-beater is the fellow who said he was left an orphan at the age of nine months and had to battle for hirnself and make his own way from that time. When asked how hp got his start at nine months he said he crawled to a baby show, won the cash first prize, and was unbeatable from then on.

In the recent yu"r, a,rril, *ni"n our national wealth has increased about 600 per cent, our national cost of Government has increased about llfi) per cent. Not even our most notable spendthrifts have ever increased their living expenses as greatly as has Uncle Sam. We waste enough money in Washington-as compared with what we were spending for Government before the World War-to pay off our national debt in a comparatively short time. And our Government needs to do exactly what we have all individually had to do, that is, get ITS budget back where it belongs. And there will be plenty of trouble until we do.

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The Chinese-Japanese muddle covers the front pages of the press these days, and Uncle Sam seems greatly interested and concerned. f guess I'nr, a little hard-hearted, and Uncle Sam isn't going to pay too great heed to my suggestions, anyway, but if it were ME, I'd get our American citizens out of the line of gun-fire, retire to a safe and sane distance, and say-"Sick 'em."

The other day there were two oil-field workers standing close to me in an elevator. One of them said to the other; "Found a job yet?" "Nope," replied the other. "Don't worry," said the first; "IJncle Sam will have a job for you in a few days." "What doing?" inquired the other. ..Shooting Japs," said the first one. "Ife'll have to bring them to Goose Creek, then," said the other. And everyone in the elwator laughed.

Surprising the number of indorsements that have come in for the opening paragraph of the Vagabonds last issue, in which a lumberman was quoted as saying he was hopeful for the future because "God in His time takes care of many things that we do not understand." Yet why SHOULD it be surprising? For certain it is that when man, after striving in vain by his own efforts and wits to overcome overwhelming odds, seems instinctively to turn for comfort and aid to a higher Intelligence.

One of the best, one of the wisest, one of the most useful men this or any otttrer nation has given the wmld for its greater glory, was old Ben Franklin. Ben used to say that the Power that made hirn and took care of him was perfectly capable of continuing that care; so why should he worry about the future or the hereafter? "And," B,en added, "the most acceptable service ure can render Him is doing good to His other children." Ben didn't pretend, with all his magnificent intelligence, to know much about this "Power", but he had perfect faith that whatever It was It had assumed the responsibility for him from the beginning, and was perfectly capable of continuing the job.

If all of us today had some of that simple faith of the great Franklin, we would quit trying to lift our.selves by our own bootstraps, and would emerge all the sooner from undesirable conditions. We need, all of us, to repeat frequently this quotation fronr, "The Game Guy's Prayer"; "Help nrre to rememb.er that You won't let anything come my way that You and I together can't handle."

The trouble is that it can be truthfully said of most folks what the fire-tongued Voltaire once said about women. It was related to him that a w(xnan of his acquaintance had become deeply religious, and Voltaire remarked: "\l[fhen woman ceases to be acceptable to man, she turns to God." ***

And now our Government turns its attention to the task of inducing this nation to quit hoarding its nr,oney. We respectfully recommend to those in charge of the work that they don't overlook putting the banks of the country on their mailing list. That's where this hoarding business started; and that's wherel to end.

I'm very greatly enthusd over the prospect of what the Government Refinance Corporation may accomplish. That two billion dollars COULD be poured into the financial veins of this country in such a way as to develop an early and excellent condition of animation. It may easily be the proverbial straw that will strengthen the carnel's back so that the load will becomre lt*l. Ol contrast.

Think what it would mean if we could get the frozen CASH that the people of this country own, into circulation ! We have more than twenty-eight BILLIONS OF DOLLARS in the savings banks of this country. It is estimated that the safety deposit boxes, the old cupboards, and other

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