The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-01-19
tl|oIljd99qf6lij Biz Z,
National Topics Interpreted "a fFTTKEfA
by William Bruckaft lwI31F
by William Bruckart

OGAL AeOOBCFGlt GpOhGt III ulHDEr
speech concentrating the late Presi-
dent Wilson's birthday, that there
was danger Of war, he told the country
then of danger that is much more
grave than he desires to admit at this
time.
But If war does come, all of our
problems will be changed at once. I'm
employment will disappear quickly;
farm SURPRISES will be absorbed, pub
lie works, debts, taxes, credit, currency
questions, all of these will be changed,
and In their place will come new prob
lens.
President Roosevelt Is following out
policy In respect of his dealings
with congress
Fear to Oppose that he began
forced to call it
into extraordinary session last March.
Then, through circumstances resulting
from the distressed condition Of the
country at the moment, the President
relief only In piecemeal fashion. Con-
gress did his bidding. He submitted
recommendation one day, and few
days later 1t was enacted into law.
He and his advisers wrote most of the
legislation before 1t ever was submit
ted formally to the house or the senate.
Now. the President is doing to same
thing. He saw the advantages of the
system that he was forced to use once,
and Is capitalizing again on the per-
sonal popularity which he has through
out the country. Consequently, his
speech, his message on the state Of the
Union, was in the form of generalities
He made not a single specific recon-
mendation. But they are forthcoming
now in numbers. One by one, the
projects Of his plan move from the
White House to the Capitol, there to
be accorded support by the tremendous
majority which the Democratic party
holds. Few, II any, Of them will be
rejected. The reason is the Demo
cratic majority is afraid to oppose the
President.
Politicians, even in the Presidents
own party, are mystified by his wide
popularity. And when a politician Is
mystified, ne doesn't know what to do
about it The result is that the Presi-
dent Is going to get on as he desires
with consolidation or expansion or ex-
tension of his recovery plans about
as he desires. Republican leaders
in congress are not going to raise
much Of fuss. Their policy is to let
the Democrats take all of the rope
they can use, and hope they will trip
themselves Democrats count on the
personal popularity of the President to
carry them along to reelection, for
they don't see anything else to do.
And while the subject under dis
custom Is the personal popularity Of
the President, Washington observers
attached great Importance to his per-
sonal visit to the halls of congress for
delivery Of his message on the state Of
the Union. You will remember, the
message was broadcast. Numerous
writer's and other observers here main
tain that Mr.. Roosevelt was hardly
giving a thought to congress, even
though he stood before its member
ship tn person. He was concerned
then, he had been concerned before,
only with making his position clear
with the folks back home. In that
manner he succeeded in getting pres
sure exerted on congress for the
things he wanted done.
Present indications are that there
will be little meddling with the tax
laws this session.
AUOid NelU. The program of the
T1r Ley;ea administration. as
thus far unfolded,
Is read by many as avoiding new tax
levies until congress returns in jan
uary, 1885. In the meantime, the con-
gressional elections will have been
held and the average person is not
going to get excited about future taxes;
the Democrats will be able to cam
paign without having to fight Repub-
hcan argument calling attention to
increased burdens of taxes.
But more taxes will have to be
levied in another year. The Presi-
dent has proposed to congress the
greatest peacetime budget in history.
a budget that proposes the appropria-
ton of $4,000, 100000. That is almost
two times as much money actually as
there is In the United States, for the
money stock of the government ranges
only slightly more than $5,O00,0 5000.
So 1t means that government credit,
government debt will be boosted to
new heights. Unless our government
wants to do the dishonorable thing OF
defaulting on it's obligations. the notes
and bonds 1t sells on which the money
is borrowed for budget use will have
to be repaid. The taxpayers will pay
and pay and pay!
For instance, when the public debt
reached its hitherto high point, about
500, 500, 100000, the interest on 1t