The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1933-01-19

some way there would be a new deal
that would help things. The psychol-
ogy was not unlike that of the player
who asks for a new pack when the
cards have been running consistently
against him.
All Americans, regardless of their
politics hope that change for the
better is coming. Up to this time,
however, it must be admitted, that
the Democratic leaders have given no
evidence that they have a concrete
plan for lettering conditions through
legislation
For example, the leaders of the ma
jority party seem to be unable at this
time to agree on any definite course
for the fundamental balancing of the
budget. For time we were given to
understand that most of the congress
sional leaders wanted sales tax. But
this was quickly dropped when the
news came out that Governor Roose-
welt was opposed to the sales tax.
Then came the journey of the Demo-
cratic leaders to Albany to confer with
the President-elect. This was follow
ed by statements that the additional
sales taxes necessary would be raised
by soaking the incomes of the middle
classes and cutting down the exemp-
ton of those with small incomes.
But Immediately there came such
a kick back to this proposal that it
was apparently showed into the back
ground. Now we are told that the
budget will be balanced not by rails
ing taxes but by cutting expenses.
If this can be done, the American peo-
pie will take off their hats and admit
that Congress is full of real states
men.
But the evident lack of a definite
program on taxation and the budget
is already bringing sarcasm from the
Republicans. Minority Leader Smell
summed up the Republican view re-
Gently when he said:
"It is perfectly evident that the
Democrats are not going to do any,
thing. about balancing the budget at
this session. They don't even intend
to try before ten or fifteen days be-
fore the end of the session. That
means that they have thrown up in
despair.
"The Democratic plA .orm was just
as emphatic on balancing the budget
as it was on beer, and while they have
spent more effort on beer than on
balancing the budget, it is evident
they will fall down on both.
"To the outsider looking on, it looks
as if the President-elect is running out
on his congressional leaders before
they even get started.
as this the much-heralded cooper
alton between the President-elect and
congressional leaders that we heard so
much about during the last campaign?
The President-elect says he is only a
clearing house for ideas. l can tell
him without fear of successful con-
tradiction that if he is to lead his
party during these strenuous times, he
must be something more than clearing
house. 1t will be necessary for him
to have a program of his own and
stand behind it for two successive
days running"
But while there seems to be lack
of cohesion in Democratic forces let
us not become too discouraged. Let it
be remembered that the depression
may right itself without further as
sistance from the government. De-
pressions have been known to do that
very thing in the past. We are now
more than three years along in the
present era of business stagnation. 1t
is about time that there were evil
dences of improvement. Nature will
take its course regardless of Wash
ington politics. Let us hope that the
time for fundamental improvement
is at hand.
BUY AMERICAN