Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1940-06-17
Voters Ask
Higher Tax
Legislators Stunped
By Unprecedented De.
mand For Hi g h e r
Levies For Defense.
BY CHARLES p. STEWART
central Press COlumniSN

Washington, June l7.--FOr the
first time in American history (prOb-
ably in the history of any country
on earth) voters are clamoring to be
more highly taxed.
Photographs have been broadcast
throughout the land showing great
throngs Of them yoWling for higher
levies Oh their own income, to en-
able Uncle Sam the better to pre-
pare for war.
Legislators are completely stump
cd. It always has been automatic
rtmOng them that taxes positively
mustn't be boosted in an election
year. Boosts not only have never
been demanded by the taNpaying
public before; if decreed by the law
makers the latter have taken it for
granted that the reaction against
Nthem would be overwhelming at the
polls.
Politicians are not altogether con-
fident that the taxpayers are sure oil
themselves even yet. Political old
hands are suspicious that, while the
multitude is favorable TO SITTER
levics, provided for right now, they
will resent them when collection day
arrives. The preceding election fol-
lowing the tax increases, by then will
be water over the dam. However,
there arc senators and representa-
tives farsighted enough to look
ahead to a succeeding election.
From the administrations view
point it is highly gratifying to have
, its defense recommendations pOpu-
larly so ardcntly endorsed, with az
accompanying endorsement of the
financial allowances necessary to
foot the bill.
Nevertheless, if there is pro-
nounccd economy revulsiOn little
later on, it will not be so pleasant
for the latter part of the incoming
administrations term.
Future mass sentiment inevitably
must depend largely upon the wars
progress.
As to the Future
If the totalitarian nations continue
their sweep, it generally will be
agreed that no amount, voted fol
Uncle Sans defense, was too much
On the other hand, let the Allies
develop streak of luck, and the
complaint is quite likely to be made
that they were in a position to take
care of themselves and that we
ovcrdid ourselves providing to help
them.
Italy's entrance into the struggle
no doubt will weigh considerably
with American ideas of what the AL
lies need.
The fact remains that expert
Yankee miltarists do not take Sig
nor Mussolini and his followers very
seriously.
His navy is pretty good, but nc
match for British and French sea
+ strength. His aviation service is
we'll spoken Of. but the authoritative
consensus is that in his position he
needs formidable army to back ur
! his submarines, particularly, ano
, planes.
And an army is precisely what al
qualified critics say he hasn't got
worth speaking of.
In short. it seems to be widely &C
ceptcd that he will be little if any
more use to Herr Hitler as an active
military ally than he has been in re-
cent weeks just as a potential part,
ner.
InjUdiciOus? EXtravagant?
AS to the Yankee electorate there
appears to be less prospect OF how
that we have spent too much as tina
Uncle Sam may be accused Of doing
his spending injudiciously and ex-
travagantly.
Not only are experts unable to sec
how the Fascists can be of much helr
to the Nazi's; they don't readily sec
how the Nazi's can support the Fas-
cists very effectively
It's taken for granted that BcnitC
will launch his blitZkrieg simultanC-
ously against Suez and Gibraltar a
means of breaking out at both ends
of the Mediterranean. It doesn't APP
pear that Adolf has the right kind OF
fighting strength to support such {
campaign: presumably the Allies car
stand it off indefinitely. 1t ism
obvious that it will interfere par
ticle with their warfare against Hit
Ter. It simply will be totally diff
fcrcnt, side issue.