Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-28

eign wars left US singularlyi free
to pursue our own destiny. Those
fourscore years saw the trans
formation of the United States
from a weak nation to a world
power. With world power came
world ambition. for in 1893 we
turned to overseas Imperialism.
Twenty years later we again
saw the American flag flying over
foreign battlefields.
The World War with all its
aftermath will hardly be compar-
able to the war with which we will
be faced if this measure is en-
acted.
II our 19 months participation
in the first World War could bring
a harvest OF 100000 deaths. 30O.-
900 casualties, $38, 1000. 10000 in
actual wartime expenditures and
iucaculable cost in human suffer-
ing, political disorganization and
lasting economic dislocation and
depression, what Is to be the cost
of participation in this war?
MONUMENTAL WAR
Think OF the prospect of a BIZ
continental war in which our
supply and communication lines
would span the Atlantic and Paci-
fic. And for what? To save our
form Of government, our freedom
and democracy, we are told. But l
submit that II is a strange paradox
TO save democracy by losing IT.
Can any one doubt that our
man power would be reduced. that
our resources would be depleted
and that our wealth would be
squandered What are the conse-
ouences OF a total war? We can
only Judge the future by the past.
Chronic unemployment, heavy
tax burden, treasury facing a
SIS. 900, 100000 debt hnit--these
are the tangible results.
Innumerable makeshift economic
experiments. CONSTITUTE o n
changes and gradual decline of
free entcrprise-will these not be
accelerated by the huge expendi-
lures which such a war viii
necesSitate? What will be the
result?
1.-The return of millions OF
i war veterans-but not TO
jobs
C-Many employers will no
49, L. hssS
the postwar economic retrench-
ment inevitably win cause q
dislocation Of industry, . de-
crease In purchasing power and
curtailment Of production
which will drive any number of
our industries to the wall.
C-With the wartime Industries
- shut down. unemployment
will exceed all bounds.
"A depleted treasury $780,
+ 100000, 900 In debt will not
be fitted TO cope with the prob
lens of national reconstruction.
rehabilitation and adjustment.
WHO. then, will feed the un-
~ employed and the eX-wsr
veterans: And that question
will have 10 be answered. The
hungry stomach IL . powerful
argument, II cannot be an
swered by theory or debate.
WILL INITIATION COME:
VIII Intervention mean a can
collation. of credit. the imitation OF
the currency and government ex-
preparation of our natural re-
sources and public utilities? Will
il stop there! Is this democracy?
II we have learned nothing else
from our past wars. one fact re-
mains conclusive-that after every
war We have a more ruinous de-
preston.
Our present budget calls for an
expenditure greater than that
which occurred during the actual
war in which we we're engaged in
1917. II this is but the begin
ming, what, then, will be the end?
Haste. as we all know. makes
waste. But we arc informed that
speed is the order of the day. In
that event, we can be assured that
waste on a hitherto unparalleled
scale will accompany IL.
So. 10 return 10 the postwar
economic situation, the defense in
dustries will close. When they
close. their employees must inevi-
tally be without their customary
wages. Without wages, they can
not be consumers to the extent
that industry will require. Thus.
a large part OF the purchasing
power will disappear.
THE PLAGUE SPREADS
This reduction eventually will
affect the production of many
o her peacetime industries and
viii result in curtailment of pro-
duction, causing further unemploy-
ment. The last depression saw
100000 of our fellow Americans
out of work. II we assume that
the same number will again be
unemployed and added TO these,
four or five million ex-war vet
Grams. then, a bankrupt treasury
will be a real source OF trouble.
But our troubles VIII not be
merely economic. The people blame
those whom they believe respon-
sible for their grief woe and
despair.
II the government is strong and