Glacier County chief., 1940-06-07
GEN ERAL
jon N SON
.ydHc.'
Washington, d. C.


suggests that some people didn't
raise hell earlier about our defense
essness because they didn't realize
Ehat was going on.
II is true that he did not share
hose illusions" But he is very
subtle in seeming to find any sup
port in the terrible events of the
last few days for his policy of our
sticking our necks into that mess.
The existing battle situation COM
pletely liquidates his interventionist
leanings by proving plainly that we
II had no business there and couldn't
have done any good by doing one
thing more than we have done.
This brings up the vital question
( Of our defenselessness. Those who
didn't realize the danger abroad
may be excused for going to sleep
on it.
But how can the President be ex-
cused? With full information he
p went to sleep on preparedness. e.
His comparison of the money
spent on defense during this seven
years with the preceding seven
years is purely political and unfair.
In the seven years before Roose-
z welt, there was no menace from
Germany and no need for vast prep
aration. There were treaty limita-
tons on naval increases. The allies
held Germany helpless.
Hitler came with Roosevelt and
began the seven years of rearma-
ment and preparation of the vast
force with which he is destroying
Europe. The allies could have
stopped him any time up to 1886.
They neglected to act.
Mr.. Roosevelt also went to sleep.
This column constantly called atten-
ton to this situation, beginning with
its very first issue early in 1885.
It is no alibi to refer to the amount
Of money spent on defense. It
plainly was not enough and it wasn't
spent to the best advantage. It was
not wasted" or poured down
rat hole" But it provides no excuse
to minimize our woeful lack of land
ward preparation to kick at critics
who insist on the truth.
The naval job has been well done
in part, but the job in aviation, army
and provision of strategic bases is
woefully inadequate.
Pollyanna statements made by
the President and over the air on
the same night by other officials do
not agree with expert testimony
before congressional committees.
Jumping our equipment as ION
hand" or ION order" is meaningless
and misleading.
All these things are bygones. Our
job is to correct these blunders. But
we can't correct them without rec
ognizing them. These attempts to
gloss them over are of themselves
danger and a continuing blunder.
The President is right in saying
that, for unified defense, we must
avoid hatreds. He has produced
them in mass.
Even in his Preside chat he
warned against war "millionaires,"
promised continued handouts and at
least seemed to say that in this Pc
riod of sacrifice and extreme effort
by everybody none will be demand
ed from labor. And yet prices are
to remain low regardless of in
creased costs and no control.
Perhaps it was a gesture toward
unity" that no new taxes were sug-
gested and financial aid was prom
ised to industry. People who pay
taxes are far more realistic. They
are demanding increases.
No truly American industry seeks
profits due to war. No truly Amer
lean worker is unwilling to do his
part.
Nothing in the fireside chat sug-
gests the stern, tough administra-
ton that this situation requires.
To any veteran of our greatest
American defensive effort, it cannot
fail to bring goose pimples of ap-
prehension. !,
It did not face or truly tell the
facts. It promised speed and eff
ficiency and offered no convincing
plan for getting them.
1t reekS with kind OF timid fun
bling that has carried England and
France to the brink of destruction.
It was a third term political docu-
ment rather than a formula for i'm
mediate and effective defense.
NO TIME TO LOSE
The rearmament problem is the
deadliest this country has to face.
It is purely time problem.
So we talk Of Harry Hopkins
greatest waster Of billions IN our
history. He is . man whose life
and training have been such that,
through complete ignorance Of II,
he distrusts our industrial system
only . little more than Il dietfusts
him. Nofuovef II b Q 3o-ho0r-a-
dav fofS.n1d Z {Ioukiraas hka1elk h