The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-03-06


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THE NEED FOE LEADERSHIP
Garrison, N. OAK,
Feb. Is, 1883.
With another Democratic Admin.
1seration coming into power In Z few
days It = interesting to note . recent
article by that seer Of Democracy,
Colonel House, phantom joint.execu.
tive Of the Wilson administration.
The Colonel comments upon dicta.
torship q now exercised In Italy and
Russia ana Eliminates upon the pos.
6tb1lity Of some similar DEVELOPMENT
IN oar country q Z virile substitute
Tor the inefficiencies Of American ad-
ministratton. While these media.
tions are not apt to be seriously re-
ceived by the rank and file Of Ameri-
cans there q IN undercurrent Of logic
IN them that serves to emphasize the
tremendous need Of America for i'm.
msdtate and efficient Leadership.
While It must b admitted that the
led tape Of our legislative and I'd.
ministrattve system gives too little
authority to the executive, there are
many executive privileges that might
be exercised by q real leader that
have been avoided by past presidents
Tor purely political considerations.
Tue plum Of . second term Is . dif-
3icult prize for president to resist
but there are many who are now
hoping that the president-elect will
vindlcate the overwhelming mandate
given him In the last election by ris.
ing to greatness - . leader during
the next four years, regardless Of
political consequences.
Tho country wants prosperity and
% willing to work for It. But work
- hard - It may progress can only
be stimulated by removing all pos
sible obstacles from the path Of pro-
gress to the end that courage and
effort may effect Improvement and
profit for the workers.
We have had enough Of panaceas
and artificialities that would fain
cure the depression in one broad
sweep. What We need = the exercise
Of common sense policies that viii
contribute to the effectiveness Of
work. We have the man power II
we can get the leadership.
Let us look Ut tho chief problem
that win yield to courageous leader
ship. Undoubtedly the first and most
important task i to reduce govern
ment expenditure to Z point COM
pattble with government income.
That means balancing the budget
not on paper but actually-on q Ne.
ceipts and disbursements basis. It
Is not enough to trim the corners
and attempt to make up the differ.
ence with . few forms Of taxation.
The country Is over taxed now, and
any additions to the national tax
burden are bound to b reflected In
reduced buying power which would
be counteractive to business improve.
ment.
There are ways to cut government
expenses In huge blocks. The cutting
may prove painful to those who de-
pend upon government Jobs and gov
eminent patronage for income-but
the pruning must be done. It d esti-
mated that 400. 000y 900 can be saved
In the Veterans Bureau alone-and
an equal sum BY the contraction and
elimination Of bureaus and services
that are now performing for govern
VMANk YAWs tNI>u that Aoss1A ~~~N -
delegated to private agencies. There
are millions In appropriations being
spent for government aid projects
even though some Of them may be Of
. self-liquidating character. They
could be eliminated or deferred to
the need Of balancing the federal
budget. Government payrolls have
not been cut commenslrately to the
reductions In the income Of the mass
Of the people: military and naval
costs can stand further contractions,
government interference with private
business has lost many millions Of
public Sunds that can b definitely
eliminated q . future item by the
simple procedure Of abstinence. Pro-
hibition enforcement expense Is an
other huge cost item that will pres
emily b classified Is Z non-recurring
expenditure.
It will take executive courage to
apply the pruning knife to these
various activities but the results
should justify the ruthlessness Of the
method. Initiation In any form can
never accomplish the virtues that
could b gained by stimulating public
confidence 100 per cent IN the sound
ness Of the governments finances 6
evidenced by . truly balanced budget.
FREE credit doesn't mean. . thing un.
less business men viii boyrow-aud
business men viii not borrow until
some evidence Of profit can be seen
- direct result Of the borTowtng.
That profit must come from sales
and the mass Of the people, even II
they have money Ii pocket. win not
buy - long as they feel insecure in
the stability Of their Jobs and In
comes. They will continue to hoard
against the possibility OF unemploy-
ment and want until they feel that
their government Is on . sound fin
ancial basis.
Il these assumptions be reasonable
and the sequence Of the logic seems
sound-American Leadership has the
one great responsibility Of reviving
public confidence by setting the ma
TONS financial house In order before
business, commerce and trade can be
expected to accomplish its own re-
vival By concerted and aggressive
production. distribution and merch-
andising.
Leadership In government Of IN
aggressive sort viii enlist many able
followers In the private fields Of
economic endeavor, once It has
proved BY It's acts that Il - able to
bring government expense within the
reach Of income. with such = tart