The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-02-27

Happenings That Affect the Dinner
Pals, Dividend Checks and Tax
Bills of Every Individual. National
and International Problems 1nsep-
arabic from Local Welfare.

In future years, historians will re-
cord the swift changes that took place
in the temper and attitude Of the
American people and their leaders
during 1910 and 1941. Looking back
now on the months that followed the
Outbreak of World War II, it seems
as if we lived then in another world.
The majority of the people wanted
|neutrality-and they wanted no part
of Europe's newest mess. They want
ed to avoid the risk of war at all
costs. And the statesmen who rep
resented them felt the same way.
Today the polls show we still want
to keep out of war-but that a con-
siderable majority, despite that, ia
vor helping England to the fullest
extent even if it involves the risk of
our being drawn into war. No one
talks Of neutrality is as dead as
Moses. The cash-and-carry policy has
been virtually forgotten-it is per-
fectly clear that every financial re-
source will be used to help arm
Britain no less than ourselves. The
American people, in short, are violent
ly partisan, and the American nation
is definitely and irretrievably involved
in the war.
What has caused this change? 1t
took us almost three years to become
really anti-German in the last war
it took us less than year this
time. Better communication, both
verbal and visual, has been a factor.
So has the amazing courage of the
British people-the Americans like
and respond to any display of bravery
against odds. Most important, in all
probability, has been the fast-growing
feeling that our destiny and Britain's
are inter-mixed and inseparable, and
that if Britain falls we will be in
grave danger.
There are those who stoutly believe
this doctrine, but they are much in the
minority. The President obviously
thinks that Britain is fighting for us
as we'll as for herself. So do most
members of Congress. SO do the bulk
of the leading commentators. So does
a long list of principal daily news
papers. That is why opposition to the
lend-lease bill has made so little
progress. There just isn't enough
support behind it.
Last chance of defeating or serious
ly modifying the bill-and, at best, it
was an extremely frail chance-died
when Wendell Willkie took the stand.
Mr.. Willkie received 22,00O,000 Amer
ican votes last November, only 4,000,-
600 less than the President. His trip
to England, in which he crammed
months of visiting, talking and in
|vestigating, into a few days and
nights, was dramatic pilgrimage.
He made a fine impression abroad.
While he has lost some of his past
supporters, he has gained new friends
and followers. So when Willkie said
he was 100 per cent in favor of the
bill, with certain notifications, and
went even farther than the President
in some respects (by suggesting that
we give Britain outright destroyers
and Army bombers) the die was cast.
The two men who were given the
votes of close to 50,000,000 Americans
in their race for the presidency, and
who stand out head and shoulders
!, Iabove any other national figures of
this day, believe that England's fate
/. and our fate cannot be separated.
There is no doubt of their sincerity
even as there is no doubt of the sim
cerity Of those who still hold differ
ent and opposed point Of view. And
there is no doubt that this country
is committed to the hilt to the policy
for which Roosevelt and Willkie stand.
!, Today millions of Americans hate
Hitler and what he represents with
an almost personal hatred. For Muss-
olini they have contempt and laugh
ter These millions of Americans feel
that the dictators are their enemies,
Just as they are England's enemies,
THE old crimes and mistakes Of i'm
Iperial England have been forgotten
And in the opinion of many a thought
full student, we ourselves are about to
embark, from necessity, on an un-
lprecedented imperial policy of our
Iown.
!, 1t is forecast that the Treasury
will not offer any new tax proposals
until late Spring. By then, it should
have a fairly good idea of how much
the lend-lease bill, plus our own re-
armament, is going to cost, and how
much Of the total it is advisable to
pay for as we go.
!, Higher direct and indirect taxes
are, Of course, considered inevitable in
Uniformed circles. That means further
|upping of the income tax rate in all
brackets, and perhaps further lower
Sing of exemptions. 1t also may mean
new taxes on commodities, to be col
: lected at the source rather than from
1.-THE consumer.
!, The sales tax has many supporters
So far, this tax has been opposed by
the Administration, but some feel that
; it will eventually be accepted as a
matter of necessity. States sales tax
es have proven tremendous and de