The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-08-03

priced. The Presidents present action
is establishing a precedent wholly out
of place in America 1t is full of dyna-
mite.
We feel Roosevelt has made mis-
take in his implied threat of using the
boycott 1t is not necessary for HIM
TO use such extreme measures. Read
what Lippman has to say about this
matter, writing in the New York Trib-
une and other syndicated papers:
For the smaller employers there is
to begin withs no prima facie evidence
that they ever enjoyed the profit IL
flation of the boom and none that they
can quickly make large profits now.
They are, moreover not in position to
90 to Washington and argue with Cen
eral johnson. Therefore, it seems to me
that it is most cruel and unjust to
arouse public opinion against them with
slogans and buttons and placards Who
is going to distinguish between the
shopkeeper who is pocketing good
profits and the shopkeeper who IS just
managing to exist? Are we really 60
ing to let loose from Washington with
all the .Nss appeal of modern propa-
ganda a public opinion which is quite
incapable of distinguishing between
what Washington is beginning to call
the Stacker and the man who would
like to have his button and look like
a patriot but simply has not the money
to get his button?
This plan is good enough for the
well to do and the powerful. They
can and should be brought into it. But
for the weak and helpless it is brutal
and if carried through with martial
spirit will inflict upon them wholly
unwarranted humiliations and losses.
There is nothing men resent so much
as being compelled to do things they
cannot do and being punished when
they are innocent All over this coun-
try today there are men with little
shops who in the face of incredible diff
ficulties have just managed to stay in
business. Walk down main street in
almost any small town and see the
empty stores and you will realize hoW
terrible has been the struggle to sur
vive.
1T is intolerable to my mind that
the federal government should now
reach into these towns and, without
any investigation of the facts, without
any knowledge of each mans circum-
stances, presume to make public iudg-
ments as to whether this man or that IS
a Stacker or patriot Where, I should
like to know, does it derive the right
to do that kind Of thing? In what
statute IS there such a grant of power2
In what principle of American govern
ment is there the authority for such an
The idea Of reaching out to force
everyone into such a scheme bv the
sheer force Of public opinion Is not onlv
utterly unjust, but it is a case where
the remedy will aggravate the disease.
10 foment diseord and discrimination
boycotts and bitterness. in the neigh
borhoods of cities and in the towns
IS no way to revive business. Suppose
John Smith on the corner takes on three
more men, gets his button. and Tom
Brown down the street cannot take
on more men, does not get a button
and loses to John Smith a part Of his
customers What have you accom-
plished2 Probably you have ruined Tom
Brown, who then defaults on his lease,
stops pay ing his taxes and cannot meet
his mortgage. Does anyone seriously|
think that kind Of thing will make us
The vice of the scheme is that it /
does not and cannot take account of /
the Tom Browns, who would like to
have their buttons but cannot pay the
price. Upon them it threatens to I'M
loose q mob spirit and once the mob
spirit is loose it is farewell to Justice
and sympathy and decency among
men"