Askov American., 1941-01-30

week opened with aM
the Inauguration
that was witnessed
by the usual large -
crowd of visitors
from outside. Un- &
like the preceding
Roosevelt inaugu- lQlll 5 |Il(l| |lLsl g..yo
rations, it was a bright, clear, sun
shiny day but cold north wind made
extra wraps advisable. AS usual the
ceremonies were held at the east
entrance of the Capitol and the oath
administered by Chief Justice Hughes.
The ceremonies were brief. Mr..
Roosevelt's address was quite gen.
eral in character and unlike his
message to Congress and his last
fireside chat, which were considered
quite war-like. He called upon the
American people to re-dedicate them
selves to democracy and free gov
ernment, but there were no specific
illusions to what our future foreign
program will be.
1t is quite generally believed-in
fact, it has been stated by Secre-
taries Stimson and Knox-that the
critical period for our country will
come within the next 80 days. There
are few who do not believe that we
will be in the war by the first of
June.
The latest rumor is that we will
seize Dakar, which is the point in
Africa nearest South America. AS
l get it, the purpose would be to
use Dakar as point from which to
supply the Greeks and the British
North African Expeditionary Forces
with American war materials.
On Thursday Colonel Lindbergh
and General Hugh Johnson appeared
before the House Foreign Affairs
committee in opposition to H. R.
1776. Both gave it is their opinion
that the United States is safe from
invasion and that the lend-lease bill
is another step away from democra-
cy and a step toward war. Lindbergh
went even further by declaring that
Britain cannot win, even with our
help unless, of course, Germany
should collapse from within.
General johnson testified that in
order to bring about the complete
defeat of Germany, it would be neces-
sary to invade continental Europe.
He stated that England doesn't have
enough men under arms to do that
and that we could not possibly send
over enough soldiers to make up the
required number. It seems that mech
anized warfare requires much more
tonnage to keep going than has been
the case in preceding wars.
Colonel Lindbergh stressed the i'm
mediate necessity of a negotiated
peace, backing it up with the asser-
ton that entrance of the United
States into war would be "the great
est disaster this country has ever
passed through" Certainly, our par
ticipation in the last war was the
worst thing that has ever befallen
our land. 1t was responsible for the
initiation and deflation that resulted
in bank and business failures and
the prostration of agriculture in all
parts of the country. That war was
the direct cause of the big depres-
sion which doubled our national debt
and I am satisfied that if we get
into this war it will result in national
bankruptcy and perhaps in the de-
struction of our form of government.
We were deceived back in 1917 and
we are being deceived now. Per-
haps Barnum was right when he
said that "the American people like
to be humbugged." If we 60 into
this war with our eyes open, and in
the face of the bitter lessons that
we should have learned since that
fateful day in April 1917, we will
have asked for whatever befalls as
a result.
To Boost Debt Limit.
On Friday last there was intro
duced in the House an administration
measure to raise the national debt
limit from 49 billion dollars to IS
billion dollars. The measure has been
referred to the Ways and Means COM
mittee, of which I am a member,
for consideration.
Secretary Morgenthau, several
months ago, mentioned the figure of
IS billion dollars as the probable
public debt by June 80, 1912, and
said that an increase of Is or 20 bill
lions in the limit would be neces-
sary. Many in Congress feel that
the debt limit should not be raised
more than five billions at one time.
In order to raise the tremendous
sums that will be necessary to carry
on the defense program, it will be
necessary to widen the income tax
base so as to take in nearly all indi-
viduals and corporations, even though
such incomes be comparatively small.
1t will also be necessary to raise the
rates all along the line. Before we
get through, it is quite likely that
a manufacturers sales tax will have
to be imposed.
There are certain features to tax
alton that many overlook. All pay
taxes. Everything that we eat, wear,