The Daily Alaska empire., 1936-07-15
THE ANSWER TO WHERE DO WE
 GO FROM HERE?"

The most casual comparison of the platforms adopted by the Republicans at Cleveland and by the Democrats at Phladelpha-and voters, never be- fore should compare them with care-reveals the astonishing contrast between them. The former for the most part reminds the reader of the labels that grade of patent medicine that typified by Kicka- poo Indian Sagwaw, which was equally effective in reducing high blooo pressure or raising low blood pressure And it's specific promises are even more arresting because in every instance without excep- ton the blanks themselves contain qualifying clauses which completely nulify the commitment and render compliance obviously and utterly impossible
 The Cleveland platform of course provides for an immediate balanced budget. definitely and concisely promising that this shall be done not by increasing taxes but by cutting expenditures drastically and (also) immediately" Yet it pledges "grants-in-aid" to states for unemployment relief, for old-age pen sions and other purposes pay benefits to farmers the domestically consumed portion of their crops fin order make the (stl hgher) tariff effective and favors larger appropriations for the army and navy than the billion dollars voted by the Con- gress which just adjourned. At least $3,000,000OO0 would have to be cut in expenditures for unemploy ment relief farmers benefits social insurance larger armaments to mention only the principal items in order to balance the budget next year not one of
 
 anced in Mir Hoovers first fiscal year.
 How would these promises be fulfilled? Under the title of security" only the subject of is mentioned It must be provided from the proceeds of direct tax widely distributed Granted that GUS toms tariffs would be raised that is specified att two points in the platform, certainly there would be need for federal sales tax or application of the in come tax to much lower brackets than at present or both All of course would bear most heavily upon the poor The expression widely distributed" assures that much
 But the conflicts and actually shoddy compro mises that are to be found in every plank of the Cleveland creed and the amazing omissions of such subjects as neutrality banking notwithstanding there is a title which reads "Bankng"-TVA the chaos in the coal industry, etc, etc, the features which it entirely apart from the fortnight state ments in the Philadelphia platform are fundamental The Republican document clearly endeavored to make government as nearly powerless possible. The Democratic platform not only referred to definite accomplishments of the Roosevelt administration during the three long years the story of the cour- age of man who led a beaten and confused people out of an awful crisis but it tells you what you may expect It answers the question: Where do we go from here?" in the crisp convincing words the aver age man and woman can quickly comprehend and admire.
 The Philadelphia pronouncement is based upon achievement that stemmed from a clear conception of what ails mankind, not only in own land but throughout the world It ignored generalities in deal ing with the issues as decidedly the Republican platform ignored many self-evident facts, for in stance that big business let alone restricts produc- tion in the interest of profit but denies that priv- ege to the farmer The Democratic document breathed realization that the restoration of our