Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-06
The Political Mill
By G. Could Lincoln.

Of his prominence in the Democratic
party and the fact thst he is to be q
contender for the presidential nomi-
nation next year. His discussion Of
America and her part in international
affairs. coming 1t this time when PreSi-
dent Hoover has urged upon the world
years suspension Of intergovern-
mental debts as an aid to economic
recovery, goes beyond the limits set in
the text OF Mr.. Hoover's proposal. In
the opinion OF Gov. Richie It Is time
the American Government cease play
ing the ostrich. which he pictures as
the "favortte political bird Of our Ma
tional Government"
1t has been the policy OF our Gov
eminent" Gov. Richie said, TO insist
that there Is no connection between
our international debts and reparations.
and that the allies must pay their debts
to US whether Germany does or does
not make her reparation payments to
the allies. The Government has now
been forced TO recognize that the con-
nection Is direct and inescapable, and
that II Germany does not pay the
reparatlonS to the allies, then the allies
are not going to keep on paying their
debts to u.s."
President Hoover, Gov. Richie to the
contrary Notwithstanding, has by mol
means admitted this to be the fact IN
ms proposal for years moratorium.
The President continues to insist that
the reparationS of Germany and the
debts owed this country by the allies
are two very distinct things But the
Maryland Governor goes even further
and declares that II the moratorium
Tor one year becomes effective, there Is
no likelihood that the payments by
Germany he nj u,ilI h.
resumed and that. as a consequence,
this country must expect that our
debtors will not resume the payments
on their debts
The surprising thing" continued
Gov. Richie. is that We have thought
the prevailing conviction among our
people to be that the foreign countries
must be required to pay their debts
20 US. l believe that this Is the general
feeling. and yet we find our country
responding favora blv to a proposition
which II contaminated will doubtless be
the beginning Of the end Of those pay
mentS."
The Maryland Governor believes that
the PEOPLE are waking up TO the fact
that we cannot prosper II Europe is
prostr2te and he adds Il count all
this distinct gain and a distinct
awakening" He insists that whether
the debts are TO be scaled down or
not paid at all the thing which has
become apparent 70 American eyes Is
that Germany must not be allowed to
collapse and that such a collapse will
have bad effect on America as we'll
as on Europe generally.
AS l see it" the Governor continues.
the truth is that our money was neces-
sary to the winning OF the war, Just as
our boys were. The debts are due US,
and We are entitled to demand them.
II. with ewes open. We hink it is wise TO
do So But when the timn comes to de-
eide. II will be the pert of wisdom TO in
ouire to what extent present loss may
mean ultimate profit
Perhaps the Maryland Governor Is
looking bit farther ahead, both eco
nomically and politically. than are some
other Democrats and many Republicans
who are insisting that Americas pres
ent attempt 10 aid in the economic re-
covery of the world shall not be pre-
Jude to any further cancellation Of the
war debts owed this country. The late
William Jennings Bryan. another very
prominent Democrat. not long after The
war was over declared emphatically for
the cancellation of all the debts owed
this country by our allies in the war. |
holding that II would aid in the general
revival OF Europe and make for such
good will toward this country as would
improve our trade enormously. But one
thing seems quite clear. as it appears
to Gov. Richie. and that is. II there is
to be lesSening Of the payment of the
debts OF France and the rest of the al
lied nations to the United States, there |
must also be lesSening Of the pay !
mentS by Germany in the matter of
reparations. Such a suggestion will fall
DULY upon the ears of France. even
more DULY than the suggestion that
America forgive her debtors will fall
upon the ears of this country.
%K*
So far other Democrats of promi-
nence. including leaders in the Senate
and House, have been careful in giving
approval to the Hoover debt suspension
plan. to assert that this moratorium
should not be construed as affecting in
any way the future payment of the
debts owed this country by France,
Great Britain. Italy and other nations
Of Europe. But what If the Democrats
come around in the future to the view
now put forward by Gov Richie? Or
is the Maryland Governor. in his ad-
dress, merely pointing the way to what
moratorium is put into effect, leaving
the Democratic party in a position to
say. Il told you So" and to heap upon
the Republicans blame for hating the
payment OF the foreign debts to us?
The question OF the debts owed this
country by those countries with which
America was associated in the World
War became a political matter soon
after the arnlistice was signed. When
the money was loaned to the allies dur
ing the war and legislation was put
through authorizing the loans leaders
in both parties, speaking on the floor
OF the Senate and House. asserted that
this money was Americas contribution
TO the cause. and some of them made 1t
clear they did not expect repayment.
But that all changed later In the
1920 campaign for the presidency the
war had become unpopular with many
elements In the country, and they were
out to take a crack at the Democratic
administration, which had been con-
Quoting the war. They took the crack,
and 1t became popular to insist that
the allies should pay back every dol
lar that was loaned them. even though
much OF this money was expended with
American manufacturers and producers
for goods wanted by the allies. Well,
these debts may bob up again as a po-
ltical question, unless the country Is
beginning to agree with William Jen-
nings Bryan and with Gov. Richie
mat 1t may be q wiser policy in the
end not to demand all that under the
strict letter of the law we are entitled
to demand.
y
The Federal Farm Board threatens
TO become prominent again in the polit-
lcal picture because of its recent decla-
ration OF policy regarding the millions
OF bushels of wheat owned by the board.
In that declaration the board said 1t
would not sell in excess of 5000, 900 BUSH
els of(Wheat in any one month. Political