The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1938-09-22

political observers whose business II
is to keep their fingers on the pulse
of public and official sentiment, to
keep from talking about war. War
breaks into every discussion of pub
lie affairs and political strategy. 1t
even overshadows the talk about the
composition of the next Congress
and whether the President or the
President will control it.
Not necessarily is the war talk
based on the belief, fear or anticipa-
ton that the United States will be
actively in war at any time in the
near future, but this country's rela-
ton to the war which Washington
now believes is certain in Europe
in the near future is of the highest
Importance from both the political
and the economic points Of view.
With hardly an exception, every
one in Washington who understands
the European situation or is in touch
with the views of the State Depart
ment is convinced that war is in
evitable. AS to when it will start
there are differences of opinion.
More think it will come next year
than this, but they agree that an
incident" may occur at any mo-
ment to touch off the explosives Of
stored-up racial and national ha-
treds in Europe.
Hitler's Prestige
Those who predict an early war
in any event point out that the in
ternal economic pressure in Ger
many is threatening Hitler's pre-
tige, and that he is the type of poll
tician who would readily resort to
a foreign war to divert his peoples
attention from their troubles at
home.
That is one of the oldest tricks of
political leaders who realize that
they are losing their holds on the
people. Something of that sort was
back of our own war with Mexico
90 years ago, when the administra-
ton of President Polk was falling
into disfavor by reason Of the wide
spread economic distress throughout
America.
The important question now is:
What would American policy be If
Europe goes to war? There will be
great pressure brought upon Con-
gress and the Administration, both
from abroad and from within, to
line up the United States with. Eng
land and France.
There will be no such thing as
true neutrality among the American
people if the great democracles OF
Europe are threatened, but there
will be a pretense of official neutral
ity, with rules against exports OF
war supplies gradually being re-
Taxed.
Old Age Pensions
Another topic which is being dis
cussed with some anxiety by both
Administration officials and others
is old age pensions. These have
been brought again sharply to the
front by the recent primary cleo
tons in California and Texas, and
the renewed activity of the Town
send Clubs in New England and the
other parts of the country.
With a candidate for Governor of
Texas winning on the pledge that
every Texan over go will get an old
age pension of $50 a month, a Sena-
torial candidate in California beat
ing the veteran William G. McAdoo
with a promise of $50 week for
everyone over SO, and the followers
of Dr.. Townsend claiming control of
three or four million votes for his
$2OO-a-month old-age pension plan,
an acute situation is presented.
The Administration has shown
signs of friendliness toward the pro-
posal to "liberalize" the Social Sc
curity Acts oldage provisions, by
broadening their scope to take in
farm laborers and domestic servants,
and by beginning the payment of
old-age benefits earlier and on a
more liberal basis than now pro-
vided.
National Debt Rises
The addition of 700 million dollars
to the public debt, by the floating
of a new Treasury loan early in Sep
TENDER, brings the total debt up to
above 38 billions, with the practical
certainty that additional expendi-
lures, under the appropriations
made by the last Congress, will
bring the national debt up to 40 bill
lions by next summer.
Whether any effective efforts will
be made to balance the budget by
keeping expenditures within the in
come from taxation, between now
and then, remains to be seen. There
is beginning to be talk in Treasury
circles of increasing taxes in various