The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1941-08-21

out sending 1t to conference. there
by avoiding another roll call In the
House which very probably would
have resulted in the measures de-
feat. The administration resorted
to the usual log rolling to get the
required number of votes. Had
Congress been free from outside
influence the measure would not
have passed.
When the original draft law was
passed year ago 1t was generally
believed that the term of service
would be for one year. Let me
quote what some of the men,
bers Of the House Military Affairs
Committee said at that time, in
urging its passage.
Mr.. Motif Service is limited to
IL months"
Mr.. Harter: 1.-THE training period
is for one year."
Mr.. Sparkman: "Trainees can
not, except in case of war, be re-
tanned longer than II months"
Mr.. Celler: "Give these daftees
years training. They are then
to be returned to private and civil
life"
If I understand plain English the
service was to be for IL months
unless Congress declared a nation
al emergency, which it has not
done.
A contract is a contract whether
it be between governments, indiv-
iduals or the government and in
dividuals. There has been great
deal Of misinformation put out in
regard to this whole question,
which is to be deplored. The emer-
gency is not as great today as it
was II months ago, the President
to the contrary Notwithstanding.
Therefore, I can see no justifica-
ton for extending the period Of
service to those who are already
in, and voted accordingly.
Would Protect Small Business
The country generally will APP
prove the action Of minority lead
er, J. w. Martin, in naming a COM
mittee Of Republican House MEM
bers to devise ways and means to
save small business enterprises
from extinction by diversion of
raw materials to armament pro-
duction.
Adopting the name Small Bust
ness Defense Committee the group
has already begun functioning. The
Chairman of the Committee, Con-
gresham Halleck of Indiana,
states that the Committee will use
every possible means in helping
small manufacturers who are slow
ly being crowded out of the pic
ture by reason Of being unable to
secure raw materials.
The American people have not
yet begun to realize the many ang-
les to the defense program, which
is resulting a dislocation Of our
economic life. Already many small
concerns employing from a dozen
to several hundred hands have
been obliged to suspend operations
and the number is growing daily.
When it is considered that more
than 60 per cent Of Americas in
dustrial production comes from
the smaller units it will readily be
appreciated how important it is
that they be permitted to continue
operations.
Administration Opposes INSTALL
ment Buying
In ordering the Board of Gov.
ernors of the Federal Reserve Sys-
tenn to Investigate, regulate and
prohibit" installment buying the
President hopes to curb threaten
ed initiation. Administration eco
nomists say that the move was nee
essary in order to prevent soaring
prices.
Nearly all are agreed that some
thing along that line is necessary
if the objective is to be achieved
The worst thing that can happen
to any country is initiation. We
saw what it did to Europe 20 years
ago. If initiation comes to this
country in an equally wild form 1t
will completely wipe out the mid
die class, which Is the backbone
Of the country.
A Vicious Measure
The bill to freeze" government
holdings of cotton and wheat for
the duration of the war has passed
Congress and is now on the Presi-
dents desk. Under It's provision
the government would be stopped
from taking advantage of the ris-
ing price trend to dispose Of por-
tions Of the surplus stocks on hand.
1t is to be hoped that the Presi-
dent will veto this measure which
is absolutely without justification.
If the governments hands are to
be tied in disposing of its surplus
stocks Of cotton and wheat, what
is to prevent a runaway market
which would result in prohibitive
prices to the consumer? Then,
too, the government should have
the privilege of going into a ris-
ing market and recovering present
investments and past losses. This
Is another instance Of vicious log
rolling.