The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-01-08
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
HEADING TOWARD DANGEROUS WATERS

One of the most dangerous things that can hap
pen to any country is for its people to become I'M
bued with an unreasonable and unwarranted feel
ing Of suspicion and dstrust toward one another
Class hatreds, religious prejudices, sectionasm
these and kindred sentiments work incalcu,
liable harm within very short time,
As result of political chicanery now being prac
tced there is grave danger of class hatred spread
ing throughout the nation which may result in dis
aster unless it is checked.
We refer to the recent speeches CT Assistant At
torney General Robert H. Jackson, Secretary OF
the Interior Harold Ickes and other supposed-to-be
leaders of the people.
They are endeavoring to spread the idea that
big Business" is responsible for the present ere
cession; that large corporations are deliberately
endeavoring to hold up industrial recovery, and
that prices of various articles have been boosted
without any justification whatsoever.
Of course all this is rather silly. In sense OF
the word, we don't blame Jackson and 1ckes: They
are merely playing the game of politics in the GOOD
old way in which it has been played for years.
When the present business slump set IN, the
administration began to get panicky. Folks were
beginning to wonder whether the New Deal was
such a marvellous thing after all. Congress dis
played spirit of independence not at all in keep
ing with its former docility. In short people were
beginning, to do their own thinking, and whenever
that happens the powers-that-be always get fright
ened. Drastic steps sometimes are necessary TO
swing the people back into line again.
That is what is taking place now. 1t would never
do of course to permit the idea to spread that our
political leaders themselves had helped to bring
about the slump; that their tinkerng with funda-
mental laws and principles was responsible for
great share of our present ills. Other shoulders
must be found on which this burden might be
placed
How about the laboring man? Those sit-doWrl
strikes year or so ago cost the nation many mil
lions of dollars. Then too there also has been the
added cost of the social security program and IN
creased wages But no. it would never do to blame
the laboring man. there are too many Of him.
How about the small merchant or the small man.
ufacturer? Not so good either, because they, too,
are to be found in large numbers throughout the
country. " ..-
How about the real big shots the huge corpora
lions which have assets of many millions OF dol
lars? That's good idea: there are only compare
lively few of them.
In order to make sure that the laboring man,
the small merchant or the small manufacturer
would not gain an erroneous impression, Mr.. Jack
son in his recent speech specifically said: 1.-THE un-
vanished truth is that the governments program
has succeeded nowhere else so effectively as IN
restoring the profits of business. Labor has had no
such advance. The small merchant has had no such
prosperity The small manufacturer has had no
such advantage"
Rather obvious, isn't it? But, as we said before,
all this is nothing but politics, and some degree OF
excuse might be found for it if it would end there
The real danger, however, is that these political
leaders of ours may create Frankenstein-monster
which eventually will get out of control and will
run rampant over the land, carrying destruction
along with it.
Whenever you can get one class of people sus-
picious of another Glass; you are heading for trou
ble Jackson, Ickes and others of their ilk should
not be permitted to SOW seeds of hatred and dis
trust throughout the nation merely to cover up
political mstakes.-State Magazine.