Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1936-12-17

With the return of the President to
Washington from his triumphant jour-
ney to South America, the policies
which will govern his second Admin
istration are beginning to take shape.
In the absence of any public statement
by the President, a great deal of the
talk about what he intends to ask
Congress to do must be accepted as
difficult to read the Presidents mind
and probably not until he delivers his
annual message to Congress on Janu-
airy 5 will there be any clear-cut def
milton of his program.
In general, however, the best in
Toned Washington opinion is that his
aim will be to find ways of increasing
the production and distribution OF
commodities at the same time increas-
ing the general wage level and short
ening the working hours in industry
and without permitting too high a pro-
portion of corporate incomes to be dis
tributed as profits to capital.
In other words, the Administrations
purpose will likely be to SO control and
regulate business as to insure a wider
distributor oil wealth..
That objective which, if reached,
would mean practically the abolition
of poverty and economic distress, is
one with which even the Administra-
tons vigorous opponents are heartily
in accord. Such differences in opinion
as may arise will be as to whether the
methods proposed will accomplish than
objective.
The President is believed to have
come around to the view that low
commodity prices don't necessarily
mean low wages. Ii is expected that he
will not encourage any organization
of business which has for its purpose
the maintenance of high prices and
large profits. The aim is, rather, ex-
pected to be the stimulation of mass
production methods which have
poved so successful in many industries
in reducing prices to the consumer
while at the same time increasing
wages to the men engaged in produc-
ton.
Here and Abroad
There is no question hat Presiden.
Roosevelt's prestige, both politically
| dllQ III Tile puDllC iiliilQ, Ids DNCi
greatly increaaed by his speeches ano
his reception in South America. Tht
way has been cleared, it is believed
here, for something approaching COM
plete solidarity of the Western Henri
sphere.
Beyond doubt, the nations between
the Atlantic and the Pacific are whole
heartedly for closer international re-
lations among themselves, looking to-
ward lasting peace and closer trade
and diplomatic relations.
Now that uncensored reports o.
what is going on in Spain are negin-
ming to come out, it appears that wha
started as a civil war has begun to take
on serious international aspects. Posi-
tive evidence hat Russia is supplyirs
tanks and other munitions Of war t.
the Communist government forces il
Spain, and that Italy and probably al
so Germany have been furnishing bot
munitions and men to the Fascist reb.
els, has reached the State Depart
ment. These seem to presage a con
hict which may easily involve all o
Europe.
The situation is complicated, more
over, by the British Cabinet crises, tn
outcome of which may have e DECISIVE
effect upon England's international re
lations and even upon the integrity O
the British Empire. Washington, there
fore. is watching European affair
more closely than ever before.
It seems quite probable that n Q
the most important problems present
ed to the new Congress for its earl
consideration will be the revision an
strengthening of our neutrality laws.
AS an evidence of the d~elicacy G
the international situation, the Stat
Department has issued orders to tn
entire diplomatic and consular corr
that hereafter no member of these ser