The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-01-13

| political group to be intent upon pre-
serving itself in power, and that end
never has been accomplished by i'm
Partially.
But the New Dealers wish to avoid
blame for the conditions now con-
fronting the ma
| Would ton. Conveniently
Shift Blame enough, there is
| no mention being
made now of the tremendous pres
sure that was eXerted through four
of the last five years to bring about
| higher prices. Those prices now
are held to be the result of mo-
nopoly, not the fault of the profess
sors who were saying a few years
ago when prices were moving high
er that 1--WE planned it that way"
So political guns are turned on big
business-but my guess is that lit
tie business will be hurt more than
big business by the refusal of the
Wallaces, the Ickes, the ELEPHANTS,
| the Jerome Franks, the Corcorans
and the Cohens to recognize that
Hitler's style of business manage
ment must fail here as in Germany.
The frankest statement about the
whole thing has come from Mr..
Roosevelt himself. He declared re-
Gently that "over-extension of in
ventories" was responsible for the
current depression. That is to say,
producers and manufacturers, feel
ing that business was booming, pro-
duced or manufactured too much.
They did not recognize that the bet
ter business we appeared to have in
1885 and 1886 was highly superb
cial. Nor were they aware what
the Washington government would
do in the way of controlling or bur-
dening business of all kinds with
new taxation and new restrictive
legislation.
1t was from those latter two
| things that fear was bred and the
factories and farms that were being
worked full tilt because prices were
| going higher were left with an over
stock. I think it can be fairly said
| also that few persons expected to
see such encouragement from the
administration for labor to fiout the
law and take over control of prop
erty as has happened. Whatever
else may be said, however, the fact
remains the theories constantly be-
ing advanced by one or another of
Mr.. Roosevelt's advisers have
frightened millions of persons who
still have a few dollars which they
would like to put to work. On the
whole, I am convinced those dollars
will not be put to work unless and
until there is assurance from Wash
ington that sanity and not monkey
doodle schemes will be exercised in
governmental dealings with the
country's business. It is dishonest
on the part of government, regard
less of political party, to charge
that business brings about depres-
sions; any person with grain of
sense must know that no individual
desires to throw away his own mon
ey or throw away a chance to make
more.
President Roosevelt has taken e
firm stand for larger navy. His ac-
ton deserves COM
For Larger mendation. Condi-
Eouv tons throughout
the world are such
that he would be foolish to dis
regard the necessity for a strong
defense. 1t will cost money, of
course, but preparedness has
proved cheaper always than being
thrown into war because no other
nation is afraid of us.
1 have an idea that Mr.. Roose-
welt will be attacked from a dozen
different directions. So-called peace
organizations will try to pin his ears
back and make him say uncle"
but I have gained the impression
that Mr.. Roosevelt will adhere to
his program. Certainly, nearly all
students of international affairs
agree that he is 100 per cent right.
In a letter to house leaders, Mr..
Roosevelt suggested the necessity
for construction of two battleships,
two light cruisers, eight destroyefs
and six submarines during the fiscal
year beginning next July l. These
craft are in addition to other naval
construction already considered for
the next fiscal year. 1t will take
two or three years to build some
of these boats. Planning and pre-
liminary work ought to be started
on them as soon as possible. Mr.
Roosevelt believes the work ought
to start right away-and after all I
think most folks will agree that the
President is in a better position
than anyone else in the country to
know what the dangers are.
Mr.. Roosevelt explained in his let
ter that world events are causing
me increasing concern" and that,
am convinced, is a most mild way
of stating conditions. On the other
hand, am informed authoritatively
that the President did not have any
particular nation in mind as one
which would require us to be ready
to fight. Indeed, it is quite definite
that it is the general discomfort,
unrest and instability that is dis
turbing to our government. We have