The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-06-09

| ing at the 1eQeral teat IS because
they have been taught by the Wash
ington government through six or
eight years that they could do it
and get away with it. The politi-
clans within a state can not be
blamed wholly, because they are
politicians, seeking election or seek
ing to hold office or party power or
what have you. 1t was so much
easier to bring pressure to bear in
Washington, go home with big
checks, shout to the folks that they
were bringing home the bacon
without adding to the tax of their
home folks. That is, they said there
was no additional tax because it
was federal tax that had to make
up for what the states drew out
and the federal taxes are not as
easily seen as taxes in state, a
county or a city.
1t has come to such pass these
days that few state politicians dare
to suggest at home that they raise
the relief funds locally. It would
be political suicide, they feel. So
they follow the beaten track to
Washington, and the Washington
politicians from President Roosevelt
down haven't the courage to send
them back home without some token
of appreciation-something of mi
nor character like a check for few
millions and promise of more.
If one is really going to trace this
thing down to its start, I believe
it has to 60 back to Herbert Hoov-
er's administration. It will be re-
called that Mr.. Hoover proposed and
obtained congressional action on a
plan by which the Reconstruction
Finance corporation was created. It
was to loan money to tide business
over until the depression had worn
itself out. 1t was not a sound plan
then; it is not sound now. It was
opposed by Democrats then but it
has been expanded and enlarged
and glorifed by them since. But
the fact that it was created consti-
tutes the tragedy. The fact that
there was spot where government
cash could be borrowed started poll
ticians looking to Washington. It
was a pretty soft touch for them.
The LaFollette type of mind and
the group of professors who figured
the nation could spend its way out
of the depression moved right into
the long halls and took over desks
in every place they could find chairs.
The thing spread like wildfire and
it is still is going, as witness the
latest program involving six billion
dollars.
1t is going to require many years
Of effort to restore states to their
own boundaries.
Long Road They have got
Ahead themselves in to
debt with the fed
eral government; they have found
how easy it is to do that and they
will do more, unless the people them
selves realize what it means. Un-
less the states again take control
of their own affairs, state lines will
mean nothing. The nation will be
run from Washington bureaucrats'
desks and good government by the
people themselves will be a thing
of the past.
There is a phase of this control
from Washington upon which I want
to record a few especial observa-
tons. I refer to the great waste
that occurs when the federal gov
eminent attempts to handle such a
delicate and direct proposition as
relief. This phase inks me and it
ought to irk every one who hates to
see stupid administration use up so
much money needlessly. My morn
ing paper few days ago carried
a dispatch from Cleveland announc-
ing that public funds-from Wash
.ington-were going to be used to
give work to four hundred men for
six months. They are going to count
the trees in Cleveland. Think of it
counting trees as means OF CIV
ing work! Surely, it is possible
to create some other kind of work.
I believe it would be better to give
that money outright for the con-
struction of some homes for fifty
families, or any one of hundred
thousand things.
Such things as this are bound to
happen, however, when the states,
counties and cities lean so heavily
on Washington. Citizens lose con-
troll when they let their politicians
dodge responsibility by calling on
Washington for everything. And
there is no doubt in the mind of
any one who has studied the prob
lem but that the citizens will pay
more when their relief needs are
met from Washington than if they
forced their own officials to assume
the responsibilities of their offices.
I suppose, however, that it is not
in the interest of the politicians to
bring about recovery in normal
way, whether they are local or state
or national politicians. If they can
accomplish election the way it is
now being done, they may as well
continue. Each one has only one
political life to give to his country
and if he can make that political
life a good long one by kidding
his constituents-well, why not? !
repeat, however, and there can be
no denying the fact, that relief is
going to cost each citizen more be-
cause the money is being chiseled
out of Washington rather than the