The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-07-20

Attorney John c. Blackall or Hartford. a native of Waterbury. delivered practical address al the meeting of the Connecticut Federation of Women's Dem0cra- tic Clubs at the home of Mrs Fannie Dixon Welch in Columbia Mir Blackall said in part as follows:
 "The average voter today Is thinking not so much in terms of political parties as in terms of his country and his 'roof-tFees and the security of his children" the speaker said. The vicissitudes of fife he willingly accepts for him. self: but he wants some assurance of the solution for the next gcner- ation of the problems that have confronted him. The voter today is not interested in 8 mans party label, but Is interested in the mans outlook on life and its problems.
 Prohibition, said Attorney Black all, is not the main issue of the political campaign. There are other problems more pressing which must be solved before the people will be satisfied. Repeal can come only." he said, when those who desire it face the issue squareIy."
 "The Republican Party. through Its own faut, is in eclipse north of Maryland and east of the Mis- sissipPi River. Its handling of the prohibition question has had some thing to do with that. The Repub- iican national convention at Chi cago, however, was not a criterion of the mental attitude of the rank and file of the Republican Party because there were too many of- fice-holders at the Chicago con- vention who did not consider ques- tions with open minds. The result was that the Democratic conven- tion, on this question alone, has in- dicated the possession of courage which comments the admiration
 The voter, Attorney Blackall pocketbook and determine what reducing the vast cost of govern- ment.
 Burden of Government
 "In 1912" he said, s"Federal, state and local governments spent two billion dollars at time when the national income was but B billion. This meant that the citi- zens had to give up per cent of their income for taxes. In 1881 governmental expenditures were 12 billion, whereas the national income was only 54 billion, so 22 per cent of the national income was spent on government. Ore hundred dollars a head for every man. woman and child in the United States is too high a price to pay for government. Only by courageous democratic leadership. such as Roosevelt and Garner can give. and which the republicans have failed to give, can the cost of government be reduced. Only under Governor Wilbur L. Cross, who has indicated by his program to date what good things are m store for the people if they reelect him, can the cost of state govern. ment be reduced.
 "A complete survey of the state government with view to reor- ganization and elimination of waste is highly desirable and un- der Governor Cross and a friendly legislature. the democrats could accomplish great deal in this direction. The present tax com- missioner of Connecticut, MT Blod- gett, has been alive to the tax sit- uation of this state and his re- ports during the last few years, together with his observations from time to time, indicate that it would not be mistake for a non- partisan commission to survey the tax situation in this state. It is unacceptable that such survey would show that too great bur- den is placed on real estate.
 'When government eats up too much of your money, you must eliminate some of the government" the speaker added.
 Expenditures are so high that it would not hurt to eliminate en- tirely' a great many things we thought necessary. What is the use of having a jail in every when a general state in- could be run at much lower cost? The chief justice of