Evening star., 1939-10-18

~ VdIlOuS SIUupS Ill
the Nation, as reflected in letters,
kilograms, conversations and COM
munications from organizations and
their spokesmen, would seem to be
as follows
l. Labor-Opposition to war arises
out of fear that the Wagner Labor
Act would be suspended and that
hours would be heightened without
any corresponding increase in wages
Standards built up after years of
struggle would be temporarily set
aside, with the danger they might
not be soon, if ever, replaced.
2. Buslnessmen-Opposition to
war comes strongly from a fear that
II war is declared prices will be fixed,
profits limited and such a regi-
mented control exercised over the
system of free enterprise" as it is
now known, that the dictatorship
which business men have been ap-
prehensive about as arising out of
"left wing" tactics would be realized
Also deep-seated belief exists
among businessmen that America S
entry into the war would inevitably
mean third term for President
Roosevelt, and the prospect of this
horrifles the anti-New Dealers, of
whom not a few are businessmen, to
such an extent that sometimes they
do not know which of the two con-
tingencies makes them shudder
most.
Recall Prices of Last War.
3. Farm organizations: American
participation in the war would be
regarded as a calamity by those
who remember how Government
fixing of prices worked hardships
In the last war and how the farmer
suffered because of the one-sided
nature of the price fixing Although
the farmer was assured that the
prices of the things he was buying
would be regulated also, it turned
out that the Government did no
such comprehensive job of price fix
Ing, and the limitations almost en-
tirely were on the prices at which
the farmers produce could be sold.
4. Foreign-born groups: Many of
them have friends and relatives in
volved in the present war and have
no desire to see America partici-
pate In an overseas combat of any
kind.
5. Munition makers: They can
make more money out of neutrality
than out of Americas position as
q belligerent. This is because the
moment America entered the war
profits would be fixed as we'll as
selling prices, whereas, in a period
OF peace, there Is virtually no limita-
ton. The same is true of airplane
manufacturers and the hundred and
one by-product industries of the
war munitions business, from steel
to lumber.
s. Financial influences: These are
almost all opposed to war, not only
because of the high taxation to be
encountered, but because Americas
public debt already has been dou-
bled since 1888, and any greater
strain on national credit would be
interpreted as meaning an inf1a-
tion or, to put it another way, a
further devaluation of the purchas-
ing power if not the gold content
Of the dollar.
G. O. p. Chances Imperiled.
I. The Republican party politi-
clans: A distinct opposition to war
has developed because 1t makes i'm
possible Republican victory in
1910.
8. The Democratic party politi-
clans: American entry into the war
is opposed because an entirely new
set OF executives would be intro
duced and many changes would be
forced by public sentiment with re-
spect to key positions in the Gov
ernment. Liberal reforms would be
sidetracked, and the conservative
fright wing" philosophy, bordering
on Fascism itself, might be COM
PEELED as a means of effective op-
Grafton of the economic machine.
All the w. P. A. and P. w. A. prof.
ects would be wiped out overnight,
and even the c. c. C. doubtless
would be militarized. The Demo-
cratic political leaders therefore
would much prefer a maintenance
OF neutrality and peace and the
slogan that "Mr. Roosevelt has kept
us out of war"
Taken all together, it is difficult
TO find any responsible group that
wants war, and Congress knows it.
Every day, however, there is talk
about America being dragged in,"
though nobody explains how, with
20 many elements in opposition, the
dragging is going to be so easy.
Reproduction Rights Reserved.)