The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-07-02
NEWSPAPERS OPINIONS
THE IRISH SETTER VOTE

We have young Irish setter at home, and
ne causes much trouble, especially in the garden
and the orchard. He chases the rabbits and the
chickens frightens the birds and is guilty of many
other crimes and misdemeanors. When he is called
he doesn't come unless it suits his convenience and
pleasure When everyone else has failed to call
him in an appeal is made to the cook for help
When she comes out and raises her voice he comes
like streak of lightning Incidentally, the cook
feeds the Irish setter. Notwithstanding the fact
that the food she gives him does not belong to her,
she has wonderful personality in the estimation
of the Irish setter. In election she would carry
the Irish setter vote one hundred per cent regard
less of the issues.
Congress has given the political party now in
power authority to spend or give away billions Of
the peoples money in practically any way it may
choose. The President earnestly asked that he be
given this power to spend the taxpayers money,
and the administration forces succeeded after
bitter fight in giving their chief the power he de-
sired.
Congress was not permitted to direct the expen-
ditures of the billions appropriated Twice the ad-
minstraton forces defeated proposals to prohibit
political activities by employees in emergency agen-
ces. Hopkins may continue to tell the millions who
are receiving relief at his hands his choice of
didates in the various states
The administration forces also defeated all eff
forts to turn over the work of relief to the several
states.
The millions on relief, the eleven millions unem-
ployed, the great hosts who seeking easy loans
from the government, the school people and other
large groups of voters will look to the head
of the political party in power for help. He will
be regarded the greatest benefactor and helper
in time of need.
Since the great dispenser" has the power to
punish some groups and reward others. to punish
some candidates for office and help others, to
punish communities and show great gener-
osity to Others all seekers will naturally strive
please in every way possible.
The billions Of gft-money in the dispensers
hands give him a very persuasive personality with
millions of voters who are seeking as large share
of the gift-money as possible. Political loyalty
will doubtless be capitalized for all it is worth.
In view of our experience in the distribution of
government money and partisan politics, it is al
most unbelievable that an intelligent people would
turn over billions of the taxpayers money to the
head of the political party in power to be spent
and given away by him as he peases, in the inter-
est of millions of voters who soon to go to the
polls and vote the merits of the party that is
making them the gifts. The act is absurd it
would be unbelievable if it had not already
cured
To the extent that the election is controlled di-
rectly or indirectly by special governmental aid,
it is in no sense a constitutional election. Votes
thus influenced bogus votes, and officials elect
ed by such votes bogus officials Such cleo
ton is really public auction in which party
has the power to outbid all others, buy what he
wants, and pay for what he buys with his eompeti-
tors money.
Such crude jungstic political condition can
not continue in an enlightened country 1t is an
tagonstic to the elementary essentials of orderly
government and also antagonistic to elementary
moral principle 1t must go!-Gus W. Dyer pro-
fessor of economics and sociology, Vanderbilt Uni
versity..