The Coolidge examiner., 1939-08-31

Strong is the hope of the American people that we
will not again become involved in European war NOT
strong judging by standard public opinion polls the
faith that will be able to keep neutral very con
siderable segment of population believes that we
would eventually go to the aid of the European de-
mocracies # they forced to against the
dicatorshpSat least if the went on for some length
of time and the relationships seemed to have the ad
vantage.
Anc so the United States is preparing for war-and
this preparedness does not only involve the largest military
expenditures peace-time history Also involved is
plan for IN Day" Mobilization Day. prepared largely
by military officials which, the outbreak of hositie
would have Immediate and drestic effect every in
divdual and every business IN the land.
Heart of the pan Of course, is detailed procedure
for conscriptng manpower-The War and Navy Depart
ment heads remember the confusion that followed
entry into The last war and determined that it shall
not be repeated 1t is believed that the current plan will
make possible to organize very large for either
foreign or territorial in short time Every
within the limit must be ready to enter government
service, in military ether capacity call-the seec
ton will be made by sort Of lottery system Unmarried
young men, good health, will naturally be conscrpted
first
And industry will be mobized with equal complete
War Resources Administration stated by import
ant business working with military chiefs, will be
given gigantic authority IN such matters regulating
prices labor trade ard the of supplies IN
dustries which believed essential the will be
encouraged and helped to expand Industries belev-
ed not essential will I've discouraged and perhaps forced
out of business Soe industries will be taken ard
operated by government. Under any circumstances in
dustry and trade will be 100 per cent con-
trollei by government and penalties will be in
store for those who protest too much.
But iris isn't I'LL there is to the problem-some of
fcal have long believed that efficient demands
giving fe executive branch of the government undream
edof dctaoria President if they have tn
way would be given rigid control the radio the
be virtually aboshed-all in the of the national
interest Any individual right which those in command
thought Emica to the successful prosecution of
could be abrogated by Presidential decree.
The point of view of those who plan such unpre-
cedented legislation is clear enough They principally
military They greatly concerned with the best
means of fighting war, and they little concerned
with democratic theories Any might become in
volved Ill will be against dctatorships-where one-man
government makes possible high degree of mechanical
efficiency and speed of action Therefore, they argue wei
must operate on the basiswe fight dictator
ship with the methods of dictators AS cynics have
observed this would amount to giving up democracy in
order to it.
Of course, government by-decree" would last,
theoretically, only long the emergency But as
many point out emergency what the at the tol
makes tit could be extended indefinitely During the
last war President Wilson given great dctatoria
powers But Wilson was strict constitutonalist and
Jeffersonian Democrat-he felt passionately that de-
ocracy was menaced by increasing the powers of gov
ernmen the people. He accepted his great powers
only as matter of bitter necessity. and dvested himself
OF them as rapidly as possible when the ended An
other President with other views and ambitions could
pursue dianetrically different course
Congress must endorse these any other IN Day
laws before they go into effect doubtful if
peacetme Congress would consent to abrogating demo-
cratic liberties But is pointed out the hyserical air
OF real emergency Congress might be stampeded into
doing amos: anything And that has great many though
full people seriously worried these days.
Business continues to look up in many lines Nothing