The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-04-02
Washington Merry-Go-Round
was an economic report

WASHINGTON, April duced the President to fave was an economic report on
 The report is extremely frank, and it shows that instead of being ill danger of starvation as in the last war, the new Nazi economy is geared so that Germany can withstand war for years.
 This, together with the recent naval and aviation reverses suf- fered by the British, has convinced both the White House and the State Department that the Allied situation is extremely grave. and that as of today Hitler actually is the victor in Europe.
 What the British have not here- tofore realized is that the German people for a generation have been geared to withstand privation. During the years of the Republic, immediately after the World War, the toll of separations and the scarcity of food kept the German people down to a war level of liv- ing. Further, in the six years of Hitler'S power they have been on food rations, so that present war time rationS cause no unrest. NAZI-CONIMUNIST SYSTEM
 Even more important is the fact . that under Nazi economy the great bulk of the people are work ing for the government. This ap- plies, first, to the mass of petty NaZi officials, which has come to be enormous, and also to labor. For German labor in reality works for the government, wages being standardized and factories being strictly regulated, if not owned by the government. And the Nazi Government is extremely careful to see that labor does not get rest less.
 The middle man or small shop keeper also is dependent upon the government. He buys his raw mat erials or his goods at prices fixed by the Nazi officials. And if he fails on his notes, they are not taken up by the bank, which is government-controlled -- though how the German banks are able to keep going is a mystery.
 In other words, the whole
 strategy of Hitler is to prevent
 business collapse and labor un-
 rest and so far he seems to
 have been completely successful.
 FURTHERMORE, the British economists figure that Germany has raw materials available to keep going a long time. During this war she can tap the rich granaries of Hungary, Jugoslavia, and Rumania, to say nothing of Russia; also their ore and oil.
 AND AT PRESENT, Foreign Minister Won Ribbentrop is work ing on a gigantic economic tie up stretching all the way to the Pacific and including Italy Japan and Russia.
 NO WONDER THE BRITISH AXE WORRIED.
 BOYS WILL BE BOYS
 Boys will be boys even on Capi- tol Hill, and none cuts more boy ish capers than puckish Repre- sentatives Jack Houston of Kan saS and Luther Patrick of Alaba- ma.
 Houston, an a1umnus of the stage, and Patrick of the radio, usually perform their horseplay at the expense of pompous collea- gues, but they are not above work ing out on each other. This hap pened the other day while the dark-browed Kansas was deliver ing a serious speech on the farm question.
 Patrick Strode down the aisle and came to a halt directly in front of Houston, fixing him with a stern stare. Patrick said nothing just stood there looking at Hous- ton with a deadpan expression.
 At first Houston paid no at tention to this singular behavior, but presently he stopped and stared back. The House began to litter. Finally, Houston said, 'I yield to my friend from Alabama"
 Patrick studied him for a few moments, then observed, "That won't be necessary. withdraw my question:"
 CT +horL %ha OentIamau Rnr h;s very learned and Illuminating con- tribution," replied Houston sol- emly, with a deep bow, while the House roared with laughter, IN AND OUT
 You can put your bets down that the two top men on the Kan sas delegation which the state Re- publicans will name on Thursday