Evening star., 1932-05-17
A Patriotic Program.

Democratic party, in radio address
delivered last night to the people Of
the country, cast politics aside and laid
down a program in the interests OF the
American people. In many OF his pro-
posals the former Governor OF New
York was entirely sound. Some OF
them, however, may send cold shivers
up and down the backs Of members OF
Congress, both Democrats and Repub-
licans, members who are calculating
how many votes they can obtain from
organized minorities Of the people. For
example. Mr.. Smith shoots boldly at
the proposal to pay in full the SOL
diers' bonus at this time, and follows
I'D that attack by assailing the pay
ment of large sums to hundreds OF
thousands of war veterans whose dis
abilities resulted from other than war
service.
Mr.. Smith, MAe President Hoover,
demanded that partisan politics be
eliminated from the consideration OF
vital relief measures before Congress.
Indeed, many of his demands upon
Congress are in line with recommen-
dations made by the Chief Executive.
The titular heads Of the two major
political parties are united in urging
that the Governments budget be
promptly balanced to maintain the
credit and financial stability OF the
I1nth dan1nnd rigid
governmental economy and the reor-
eanization of the Federal departments.
Mr.. Smith insists that such reorsani-
eation Is a function Of the executive
branch of the Government, not the
legislative, and that the President
should be empowered by Congress to
bring about reorganization. Both are
aligned against the further payment OF
the soldiers bonus at this time and in
favor of cuts in the payments made TO
veterans under the many amendments
to the veterans relief legislation which
have been put through Congress to OBJ
tain special benefits for men who did
not receive their injuries in war
service
There are differences in the programs
of Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Hoover, as well
as similiarities. Mr.. Smith reiterated
his demand for a huge public works
program to be financed by bond issue,
a program which has been SO far re-
sisted by President Hoover. Mr.. Smith
is out In favor of legalization Of and
q tax on beer. If President Hoover has
any such plan in mind, it has not been
revealed. And Mr.. Smith renews his
recommendation that the payment OF
war debts to this country be suspended
for twenty-five years, with chance for
the debtor nations to reduce their in
debtedness in the ratio Of their pur-
chases of goods from the United States
during the moratorium period. Presi-
dent Hoover has taken a stand against
debt cancellation.
With a boldness for which Mr.. Smith
has always been known during his long
political career, the Democratic leader
calls upon the Congress to repeal the
legislation by which it tied President
Hoover's hands and prevented him from
acting promptly in connection with the
war debts to this country at the close
OF the present moratorium. Such legis-
lation, Mr.. Smith declares, "leaveS the
country without a spokesman at a
critical time" He has, indeed, outlined
course devoid OF partisan politics, a
course which may never be followed by
the Democrats in Congress, but which
does credit to the far -sightedness Of Mr..
Smith aS well as to his patriotism.
The former New York Governor dealt
with the pending Federal tax bill with
out gloves. II believe" he said, 'in the
general manufacturers sales tax TO meet
the emergency. I think it was a mis-
take for Congress to turn 1t down" In
q few brief sentences Mr.. Smith sketch
ed the real effect Of such a tax on a
man with 81 900 to spend during q year,
showing that at most the tax would
cost him no more than So, q sum which
any man could spare TO his country In
q crisis. And following up the tax
problem. Mr.. Smith, asserting that al
his Life he had stood by the man of
limited means, denounced the slogan
"In order 70 make up the defcit-soak
the rich" That" he continued,
means soak capital, and you cannot
soak capital without soaking labor at
the same time" II Mr.. Smith were in
the White House today many Of the
DemocI Its in Congress would be in for
q sound drubbing at the hands OF the
Chief Executive.
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