Evening star., 1938-09-25
BY MIC. X.

such Gin this time) amazing
L serlsibleness that the reviewer
cannot resist quoting large part Of
1t. It has to do with ourselves. After
commenting on the horrifying but
very real likelihood that war may
break out in Europe at any time,
the writer writes as follows concern
ing our own proper attitude toward
such European folly:
If such a conflict breaks out, no
nation save those in the New World
has much hope Of not becoming in
volved, and it is questionable whether
New World nations can save them
selves from that eventuality. Ger
tainly they would have to exercise
an extreme degree of caution, patience
and self-control to do so, and that
is particularly true of our own Gov
ernment with its far-flung trade and
interests. In this connection-and the
reviewer wishes that these words
could be printed in large and flaming
capitals-"in this connection, what
our Government is forced to do de-
pends measurably on the way the
people Of this country think and act.
The people cannot take sides and
expect the Government to remain
neutral; cannot fight foreign wars
in their homes, their clubs and on
street corners, without riSking the
development of such psychological
pressure as might force their Govern
ment to fight. II they want America
kept out of foreign wars they must
refuse to let themselves become ex-
cited over foreign quarrels; must put
stop to collectivized efforts in behalf
of this or that cause, and concentrate
on their own problems, Of which they
have plenty and to spare.
For one thing, the American people
still face the problem of recovery-of
putting 10 or II million people back
to work; of bringing about peace
between labor and capital; Of restoring
business confidence; OF overcoming a
continuous deficit in the Federal budget
and d continuous increase of the
Federal debt; of preparing themselves
to vote intelligently in this falls
elections.
"a IL this represents big chore
even for the American people
a chore which has already consumed
eight years without accomplishing any
thing like what was hoped for or what
must be accomplished before it can
be regarded as finished. During these
eight years We have increased the
public debt by some twenty billion
dollars; have boosted Federal expenses
by approximately so per cent; have
swept away many of our States and
cities into the mire of unbalanced
budgets and greatly increased taxes
During these eight years we have not
only expanded public payrolls enor-
mously, but have imposed on public
agents the burden of providing shelter
food and clothing for millions. Whether
We have established permanent pol
icy in this respect is question which
must be answered in the not far
distant future. If we have, something
must be done to disassociate the new
multitude of jobholders and the still
greater multitude of dependents from
the field Of partisan politics.
The risk of allowing emergency
funds to be mixed with politics has
beec vividly illustrated by this sum.
me.s scramble for nominations ane
party control in several States.
ut requires no strain of the imag.
ination to deduce how Government
money and Official power were used
The man in the street understands
perfectly we'll how foremen of public
projects could influence voters with
no more than a nod and hint, anc
how relief agents could do the same
thing with those in desperate need
(Does he understand? Is there any.
body who does not understand?) Al
the situation is now set up, power tc
hire and fire. provide relief dis.
perse subsidies or gratuities, repre-
sents nothing short of power to use
public funds for campaign purposes
Several million voters have become di-
rectly or indirectly dependent on such
funds for their very existence. Wha.
politician could withstand the tempta.
ton this involves?
1--WE have opened wide door fol
machine politics, peanut graft. forced
collections and effective influence all
along the line. Bossism and ring rule
will come (will come, did you say?)
as natural by-products of this unholy
alliance between noble charity made
possible by taxpayers and practicaI
politics as carried on by ward heelers
and henchmen. This can only be re-
garded as one of the gravest problems
raised by the New Deal. The New Dea
has become an issue not only between
the Republican and Democratic par.
ties but within the Democratic party
sitself."
WELL, that is excellent plain talk
and it raises question which has
long seemed to this reviewer as one o1
overpowering importance and yet one
which most writer's have seemed to re.
gard with indifference or cynicism-the
question Of the relation between the
giving of relief and the influencing OIL
votes.
That question puts the reviewer ir