The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1936-11-23
AN ALASKAN VIEWPOINT

Many sentiments have been expressed about t
cent election, but one of the most interesting a
lie which reveals the -mindedness of many Ala
ms is found in the Ketchikan Chronicle. That new
per under the title Tuesdays Election" says
History is record of constant change over
the resistance Of forces secure under existing
systems. The election Tuesday is an epochal
chapter in that history, for it shows concu-
sively that the American people have COM
mitted themselves to g course that involves
great change III our whole manner of conduct
ing life and business
There is nothing connmOnistc, nothing sinis-
ter about this attitude. The affirmation of
the new deal is the affirmation of a program
of human rights 1t is all affirmation of the
Roosevelt policy of obtaining greater leisure
for the common man, Of providing him with
recreational facilities, OF giving him security in
sickness and in health in old age and in youth,
in employment and unemployment.
From the election the forces which have re-
sisted this gradual change must learn lesson.
The lesson has been recited beforce, countless
times. 1t was enacted in Greece in Rome. 1t
was enacted in France. 1t was enacted in our
own American revolution, in our own Civil war.
Autocratic governments which resisted the
desire for change fell with crashes that re-
tarded the march of civilization. But now we
have a system Of government which is more
pliable. The human forces resisting change
only explain why they resist such change
Then as Tuesday, the people in orderly fashion
can give Their endorsement to the program
which they most want Just as the choice was
expressed in orderly fashion Tuesday, SO must
the change take place gradually and in orderly
fashion.
All this does not mean that there should be
death OF opposition. II there were we should
have modern italy or modern Germany
with their absence of individual liberty But
it does mean that the forces of opposition
should be shaped off differently that the OPP
position should be centered less on the end
than on the means. With this new mandate
from the people. Mr. Roosevelt is not going to
upset the United States But he may reason
ably be expected TO carry toward the goals
which he has so often sighted in his public
comments
With the election barely over the admins
tration has limited that il Will undertake
changes in the corporation tax law which drew
so much fire from the Republicans That is
only sensible The law as is stands defeats
its own purposes. There has been hint too
of changes in the social security law That
also is only sensible Despite the partisan
democratic claims before the election the So
cial security law as ii stands provides mini
mum OF benefits at a maximum of cost OPP
position to the law does not imply opposition
to social security, and with the fog of cam
paigning finally lifted there is no reason why
the subject cannot be discussed dispassion-
ately and the law repaired rs circumstance
demands.
President Roosevelt is to be congratulated
for the overwhelming endorsement he has re-
ceived. He is trusted by the people But he
knows, and it is to be hoped that his followers
know as well that more than Ie.O0o0Oe voters
Still were hesitant enough 20 avoid endorsing
the New Deal Mr.. Roosevelt has said that the
rights of the minorities must be respected. and
there is every reason to believe that in his
next four years President he will demon
strate his conviction by refusing to plunge
into those radical, overnight changes which
some enthusiastic theorists will demand of
him.