The Washington times., 1935-08-03
Prosperity Is
Politically
Delayed
By JAMES T. WILLIAMS, Jr.

First, the game Of playing
personal or partisan politics
with foreign policy or "the Com
mon Defense"
Second, the game Of playing
personal or partisan politics
with taxation.
These two games are danger
Gus to the whole people because
the whole people are ultimately
affected by foreign policy and
"the Common Defense" and the
whole people ultimately carry
the burden of taxation.
Always in the year before a
Presidential campaign candi.
dates for reelection at both ends
of Constitution Avenue are
tempted to play politics with for
eign policy, with defense policy
and with taxation. The present
session of Congress is no excep-
ton to the rule.
Certain Senators and Repre-
sentatives in Congress seeking
reelection, or suffering from a
seemingly incurable itch for
publicity, NEEDLE with the prob
lem of National DefenSe-a do
nestle policy of the first impor-
lance. In complete disregard OF
their official oath, these legisla-
tive politicians have been vot'
ing and speaking against the
Presidents program for building
up the National Defense. They
have been promised national
publicity in return for this op-
position to the National Defense
and they are getting it.
SEEK VOTES
There is one organization Of
women, for ample, with
branches in the principle coun-
tries of the world. This or
ganization, with an interna-
tional executive committee,
drafts legislation to weaken the
American Army, Navy and Air
Forces. They take these bills to
the Capitol and they get them
introduced by legislative poll
ticians who put their list for
reelection above their constitu"
tional duty.
There is a group of legislative
politicians that is always seek
ing support of the hyphenated
minorities in American politics.
Instead of condemning hyphen.
ated Americanism, these politi
cal parasites goose-step before
the organizers of the hyphen-
ates. To curry favor with those
voters who hyphenate their
AmericaniSm these legislative
politicians will introduce bills
and resolutions regardless Of
their constitutionality, regard
less of their reasonableness and
solely because they are seeking
the support in their political
bailiwicks of hyphenated Amer
leans.
Always the appeal Of such
politicians is to the ignorance
and prejudice and passion Of
the electorate and never to It's
intelligence, it's patriotism or
common sense.
But playing politics with grave
questions is not always con-
fined to the legislative branch
of the Federal Government.
There have been times when
the same game has been played
by the Executive branch. And
that time appears to have re-
turned.
Take, for example, the pres
ent tax bill. It is being driven
through both houses by the
political piledriver of the party
in power under orders from
the Executive. This bill, as its
congressional sponsors are well
aware, is wholly political. It
is not a scientific bill. It is not
a bill to balance the budget.
It is not a bill to save the
Government from bankruptcy.
or to relieve the destitute, or
to feed the starving, or to
clothe the naked, or to shelter
the homeless.
It is a political bill, drafted
and introduced for a political
purpose. It is well known at
both ends Of Constitution Ave
nue. that it is going to be neces-
Sary to increase everybody'S
taxes in order to begin to pay
the enormous debt that has
been piled up in the last few
years. This increase in the
taxes Of "taXpaying everybody"
is not going to be popular. It
is therefore to be delayed until
after the next election.
A BAD BUSINESS
Meantime, however, by com.
pelling the enactment in the
closing days of the present
session a bill to tax the few,
the many are given to believe
they will escape an increase
in their tax bill. They will,
but not for long. After cleo
ton all will have to pay and
pay long after it hurts.
AS long as the executive
branch of the Government plays
reckless politics with the tax.
ing power it is probably too
much to expect a group of