The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1940-04-25
CAPITOL
.-Ne2US
Wants No Strings
BY Harold Knutson

On Thursday of last week Presi-
dent Roosevelt transmitted to the
House a request for 975 million
dollars for WPA. He asks that in
stead of spreading this sum over a
12-month period he be allowed to
spend it during the next eight
months which, of course, means
that the lntire sum would be made
available during the 1910 cam
paign. 1t is doubtful if Congress
will accede to the time limit pro-
posed by the President. We have
not forgotten how he permitted the
WPA rolls in Kentucky to be pad
ded with hundred thousand
workers in the 1889 campaign.
These workers were laid off a day
or two after election and just as
winter was setting in. The same
thing happened in Pennsylvania
and a number of other states.
WPA Is the Presidents political
right arm, and I am not far off
when I say it has been used as a
political lever almost as much as it
has for relief in a number of states.
The central administrative section
has been wasteful in the extreme.
For instance, they spent in one
year 331 thousand dollars for the
making of films showing the work
of that organization. None of this
money went for relief or was paid
to relief workers. It went to high
priced executives, and for per
diem employees who were paid
from five to twenty-five dollars
per day, plus expenses for subsi-
stance and travel. This film service
was headed by a director who re-
ceived salary Of ten thousand
dollars. He was assisted by pro-
duction consultant and technical
consultant. each Of whom were
paid nine thousand a year.
AS a matter of fact the money
spent on the film service might
just as well have been poured into
a rat hole. In showing bad housing
conditions one film contained a
scene OF an individual getting his
food out of garbage can. which
would indicate that the more album
dant life we have been hearing so
much about the past seven years
has not yet materialized.
I wish someone would tell me
how the spending of such large
sums of money on such a useless
project can relieve the distress of
those in need? I have repeatedly
stated in these letters that had the
huge sums appropriated by Con-
gress for relief been spent wisely
there would have been enough to
have provided for all in need.
We do not hear much about the
manner in which relief money is
being spent but we do hear a con-
slant clamor for yet greater ap-
preparations. To say the least, 1t
is discouraging.
F.D.R. Tells Japan
Washington was rather disturbed
last week at the emphatic warning
given by Roosevelt and Hull to
Japan and the rest Of the world
to keep hands off the Dutch East
Indies. At his press conference
Mr.. Roosevelt told the gathered re-
porters that he agreed fully with
Secretary Hull's expressed hope
that status quo will be maintained
in that part Of the world.
We have considerable stake in
that area. It Is there we get our
rubber and tin, also certain spices
Then, too, the Dutch possessions
are fairly adjacent to the Philip
pine Islands. Were Japan to take
possession Of the Dutch East In
dies she would completely encircle
the Philippines, which might re-
suit in their absorption when they
become Independent in 1916.
Want Dominion Status
The Filipinos evidently do not
relish the idea of being turned out
to shift for themselves. For forty
years our little brown brothers, for
whom we have done so much, took
great delight in picturing Uncle
Sam as a monster Of oppression
and not once did they overlook an
opportunity to beat their breasts
and exclaim with Patrick Henry
Give us liberty or give us death"
Now that they will shortly be turn
ed loose they are not so sure they
won't draw both out the grab bag,
as they will lose their preferred sta
tus in our market and also the pro-
lection of the American Army and
Navy. Already the Filipinos are
putting out feelers over the poss-
Utility of securing an arrangement
that will give them dominion stat
us. That, of course, would permit
them to "eat their cake and also
have it," Congress will never con-
sent to such an arrangement un-
less the political develoments in the
Far East were to take turn that
would make retention of the Is
lands absolutely necessary for our
national security.
Minnesota Honored
The Republican National Conn.,
mittee paid a fine compliment to
the State of Minnesota and her
young governor when they voted
to make Mr.. Stassen temporary
chairman of the national conven-
ton, in which capacity he will de-
liver the keynote address. For near
ly "a year his was the name most
frequently mentioned in connec-
ton with that responsible role. The
people Of Minnesota, regardless Of
political affiliation, will approve Of
Mr.. Stassen's selection and take