Nogales international., 1941-05-10
OUR CIVIC PLATFORM
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First Tax Bill OF Defense Era

CONGRESS is mullin over the first tax bill of
the defense It is purposed to raise three
and half billion dollars by the levies program
made necessary to avoid any greater increase in the
National debt than we have to make.
Naturally, nobody is happy at the prospect of
heavier taxes but it is pleasant to relate that there
comparatively few faultfinders the prospec
tive obligations The people realize that this coun-
try is up against situation in which whate has to be
spent Is OF small Importance, compared with what
failure to meet that situation involves.
Of course, the man Of small income thinks that the
burden should be borne by the people who have more
than he has Obviously, the ten twenty thousand
a-year individual accustomed to living on commen-
surate scale, thinks he is being afflicted unduy, and
topotch income receivers feel that they are already
taxed. AS matter of fact, it is doubtful if
tax measure of any sort won universal approval but
the grim requirement of the general sacrifice the
prospective bill demands is being met rather cheer
fully.
AS to the excise taxes-who would worry if one
fewer cigarette went in a package? An extra penny
soft drink certainly calls for no great distress
and as for the man who drinks the strong portions
what deep sorrow figures in an additional dollar a
gallon whiskey? Actually, we are paying the
bill for of OisSiOn-like the rest of the
world. .:v.ee - -.
We were well our way to two-ocean navy
twenty years ago. Had we kept to that design, that
was interrupted by the Washington Disarmament
Conference, we would not have to be feverishly
building up great defense machine. Had we fol
lowed the example of nearly every other nation and
adpoted policy of military training for boys,
would not now be carrying draft, that inter-
rupts many careers.
"Of All Sad Words
If our two-ocean navy actuality and not
merely doubling of ship strength in course of
construction, for example, we would not now be
watching Japan, wondering if she was going to go
sent her empire expansion projects Japan would,
in all probability never have joined the Hitler axis
had we not abandoned the idea of constant martial
preparedness.
But twenty years ago the whole world dreamed of
long period of peace. The nations had subscribed
to anti-aggression pacts; outlaWed, theore-
ticay and automatically. The people of our coun-
try like those of England, France and the smaller
countries weary of strife, and douby weary of
war taxes Their governments followed the popular
ambition, and disarmament seemed the realistic and
econonis course So the world slept, while Germany
was nursing her wounds and building up the most
complete war engine ever conceived.
So we find ourselves today doing in haste what
we-had we had superhuman oresight-could have
done at leisure, arming against the asprants for
world domination, and praying that we can build
tanks arplanes, and ships fast enough to get them
to England and the other nations who fighting
against the enslavement that overlook dozen fine,
cultured, peaceable nations that have been over
whemed by the Nazi juggernaut before they, too,
are added to the loot of the dictators.
The tax bill will go through in the ordinary course
Of events Doubtless there viii be opposition by the
group that has opposed practically every stage
Of the defense program-not because they are
against it, but because it is an Administration mea-
sure.
Appeasement, A Futile Alternative
Fortunately, there are not many on the minority
side who adhere to this policy, and their number is
dwinding constantly. The Isolationists continue to
talk of negotiated peace Another Roosevelt spaek-
ing of those addicted to this line Of thought said
''There is but way to get righteous and lasting
peace, and that is to beat Germany to her knees"