Evening star., 1940-11-12

American to remain silent con-
oerEing such a danger. I shall
not be silent and I hope you will
not be. This is one of your
functions as a minority. But in
fulfilling our duties as an oppo-
sition party we must be careful
to be constructive. We must
help to show the way.
Thus, in order to counteract
the threat of imitation and to
correct some of our economic
errors, we can offer five steps
for our Government to take i'm
mediately.
Five Steps Include Drastic
Cuts Except Defense and Relief.
First, all Federal expenditures
except those for national defense
and necessary relief ought to be
cut to the bone. Work relief,
obviously, has to be maintained,
but every effort should be made
to substitute for relief productive
jobs.
Second. the building of new
plants and new machinery for
the defense program should be
accomplished as far as possible
by private capital. There should
be no nationalizing under the
guise of defense Of any American
industry with Consequent out
Law of Federal funds.
Third, taxes must be levied SO
as to approach as nearly as pos
sible the pay-as-you-go plan.
Obviously, we cannot hope to pay
for all the defense program as we
20. But we must do our best.
That is part of the sacrifice that
we must make.
Fourth, taxes and Government
restrictions should be adjusted
to take the brakes off private en-
terprise so as to give it freedom,
under wise regulation, to release
new investments and new ener-
gies and thus to increase the ma
tional income. I do not believe
we can hope to bear the debt and
taxes arising out of this defense
program with national income
of less than a hundred billion
dollars, except by lowering the
standard of living of every man
and woman who works. This one
hundred billion dollar income
can readily be produced if we
free private enterprise-not for
profiteering but for natural de-
velopment.
Fifth, and finally, our Gov
ernment must change its punl-
tive attitude toward both little
and big businessmen. Regula-
tions there must be-we of the
opposition have consistently rec
commended that. But the day OF
Witch-hunting is over.
If this administration has the
unity of America really at heart,
it must consider without preju-
dice and with an open mind such
recommendations Of the opposl-
ton.
Administration Has Power
To Cause Continued Disunity.
National unity can only be
achieved by recognizing and
giving serious weight to the
viewpoint of the opposition. Such
a policy can come only from the
administration itself. 1t will be
nf
position that discord and dis
unity will arise. The admlnis-
tration has the ultimate power
to force us apart or to bind us
together.
And now a word about the
most important immediate task
that confronts us. On this, all
Americans are of one purpose.
There is no disagreement among
us about the defense of America.
We stand united behind the de-
fense program. But here par
ticularly, as a minority party, our
role is an important one. 1t is to
be constantly watchful to see
that America is effectively safe
guarded and that the vast ex-
penditure of funds which we
have voted for that purpose is
not wasted.
And insofar as I have the
privilege to speak for you,
express once more the hope that
we help to maintain the rim OF
freedom in Britain and else
where by supplying those defend
ers with materials and equip
ment. This should be done to
the limit of our ability but with
due regard to our own defense.
On this point I can say with
out boast that never IN the
history of American presidential
campaigns has a candidate gone
further than I did in attempting
to create a united front.
However, I believe that our aid
should be given by constitutional
methods and with the approval,
accord and ratification of Con-
gress. Only thus can the people
determine from time to time the
course they wish to take and the
hazards they wish to run.
Mr.. Roosevelt and I both
promised the people In the
course of the campaign that If
we were elected we would keep
the country out of war unless
attacked. Mr.. Roosevelt was re-
elected and this solemn pledge
for him I know will be fulfilled
and I know the American people
desire him to keep it sacred.
Letters Urge That Cause
OF Opposition Be Carried On.
Since November I have re-
ceived thousands and thousands
of letters-tens of thousands Of
them. I have personally read
great portion of these communi-
cations. am profoundly
touched. They come from all
parts of our country and from all
kinds of people. They come from
Catholics and Protestants, Jews
and Christians, colored people
and white people. They come
from workers and farmers and
clerks and businessmen-men