Evening star., 1939-11-17

~ forthrightly be-
for the country
Charles G. Ross. with a great and
Inspiring program of internal i'm
provement. The slogan is suggested:
This country needs to be built up,
let the jobs fall where they may"
Reliance on public sympathy for
the unfogtunate, so it is argued, was
necessary in the beginning, but
charity seldom suffers long and is
kind-it soon grows tired" Hence
the need for a new approach-a new
reason for spending-if the con-
Structive work of the New Deal Is
to be carried on.
- Essential Part Of Theory.
1t Is an essential part of this
theory that light-hearted borrowing
for public projects must give way to
taxation; that if the people can be
convinced that the country really is
being improved, and improved in a
manner promising higher national
income, they will gladly foot the
bill. =
Significant in ITSELF as the formu-
lation of bold new design for a
spending program, the document
takes on added significance at this
tim0 because 1t closely parallels some
6f the views which are being ex-
pressed by and on behalf of Paul v.
McNutt in the campaign to build
him up as presidential candidate.
There Is visible evidence all over
Washington OF ofsMcNutt's wooing Of
the liberal elements of the party.
Manifsetly, if he can persuade the
New Dealers that he is man Of
liberal convictions, his chance for
Ahe presidential nomination will be
ttmmeasurably increased.
There have been passages in Nc
Nuts recent speeches strikingly
similar. in thulght, to the following
from the preamble of the document
in question:
America has to be prepared for
unpredictable events. the shape and
timing of which are beyond our
power to control. A year from now,
North America may be isolated in
ring of hostile air and naval bases.
Or there may be new peace fol-
lowed by economic collapse and by
the certainty of future wars.
Build Up Morale.
"Our own business is not merely
to strengthen our external defenses
to meet the worst possible outcome
Of the present war. 1t is also to
build up our internal physical con-
dition and our morale so thatsno
disaster can drive us to panic and
internal collapse. OF these, morale
is the most vital, as all recent wars
have shown.
"At the worst, North America may
be left as the only remnant of civil
ization. At best. North America
must be the sound nucleus for world
recovery after the present fit is over
That Is our business, and minding
it successfully will be craftsmanship
that will color the history of the
next Thousand years"
To what extent Mr. McNutt would
seek to give concrete application to
the internal-improvement thesis,
this writer does not profess to know.
That he is now thinking along the
general lines of this thesis, as set
out in the quoted memo, is clear.
Problem of Ways and Means.
TO return to the document itself
Discussing the problem Of ways and
means, it says:
National paralysis takes the form
of belief that this country cannot
afford the cost. of needed improve
nents. This illusion has to be
dispelled by education and expert
ence..
Fer those who are moved by
more or less definite notions of eco
&omic theory, the fact to be em-
'nhasized is the margin of waste be-
tween present and possible national
income. Some 100000 900, 900 worth
of productive ability is being wasted
annually by idleness of men and ma
chimes. All new activity whether
for armament or for flood control,
or for new schools, up to this total,
comes out of waste and is therefore
added to national income.
"The only condition necessary to
establish this relation is that the
people pay the bill out of their in
Seased incomes. The physical re-
Etion Is mere fact of nature, that
when idle men are put to work their
net product is net addition to the
total. But this fact cannot be util-
lied In economics unless the book
keeping is made to At, which in
practice means taxation.
Value Of Improvements.
"For sthe majority of voters, the
fact to be emphasized is the real
value Of the improvements them
selves. 1t is plainly true that GER
tain diseases, including syphilis, ma
laria, typhoid. diphtheria and tuber-
culosis, are costly to the community.
They can be prevented for less
money than it takes to have them,
treat them and bury the victims.
In the same way, flood control and
erosion coptrol cost less than floods
and erosion. Forest fire prevention
costs less than forest fires. Recreaa
ton facilities cost less than the
amount Of juvenile crime which they
prevent.
"The various constructive works
that this country needs are all well
established. Each has its thousands
Of interested supporters among the
voters. But the innumerable prof.
ects do not Click together into q
national forward movement.
"The missing element is universal
appreciation of the value. of work
which now is only locally appreci-
ated. The political campaign
should provide forum for bring
ing all these separated enthusiasms
together, criticizing them, selecting
by rational discussion those that
can get general approval, and giving
. mandate to the successful party
to push these works to success"
Psychologist to Speak