The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-10-30
Rv Staff Writer)

WASHlNGlOIN, l.. ~, Wv 90"
Analysis of the vote OF the
house of representatives on re-
vision of the neutrality act to per-
NIT the arming of ships, coupled
with the recent vote on the new
$6,OOO,O 100000 lease-lend bill, clar-
flies the present state of political
party differences in our govern
ment.
When the majority of Republl-
cans voted for the lease-lend mea-
sure, it was believed by many
here that party lines were finally
being dropped, so far as our attl-
tude toward international ques-
tions was concerned. But the
house vote on the neutrality act
revision showed that this is not
the fact-that while the Republl-
cans are willing to support meas
ures for greater production of de-
tense materials, they are unWll-
ling to back the President in any
step which tends toward our in
volvement in the war.
On the neutrality act revision,
the Republican members OF the
house voted against it by the
overwhelming majority of lib to
80. while the Democrats favored
it bv a vote of PIG to Il. This
makes it clear that, after two
wears of debate over our foreign
policy, the Republicans still re-
main the isolationist party while
the Democrats are the interven-
zionist party. And it shows that
the Republican members OF the
house still oppose President
Roosevelt's foreign policy just
about as strongly as they did
when the war in Europe started.
Republican leaders here point
out that, in addition to slzable
number of members of their party
feeling that we shouldn't become
involved in the war, many OF
them agree with ALT Landon, VINO
in a recent broadcast, said that
small group of New Dealers ARE
using the national defense emer-
gency as a smoke screen for their
attempts OF build a collective
state"
Mr.. Landon charged that this
group plans to strangle the small
business man because its members
believe che is an economic an
achronism, like the livery stable" ,
After concentrating economic po-
wer in a few hands, Mr.. Landon
went on, "they figure that it Will
be comparatively easy, using
again the slogan, hate economic
royalists, to insure the permanent
establishment of their ideas Tor
a collective state"
This bitter denunciation of the
administration by leader OF the
Republican party is interpreted
here as indicating that the Repuo-
lican opposition to the whole for
eign policy of the administration
is being kept alive for fear OF
'abuse of power" by the Presi-
dent rather than merely to eX-
press disagreement on the need OF
our country's help to defeat HIT
Ter. The Republicans clearly do
not intend to let their enmlty Tor
the whole New Deal policy be
sidetracked by the present emer-
gency.
Meanwhile, realizing that Whe-
Their we get into the war or Whe-
Their we don't, our major problem
is one of increased defense pro-
duction, the heads of our govern
ment's defense agencies are work.
ing up elaborate plans for doub-
ling the speed Of production OF
planes, tanks and ships.
Talking of goal of $4,000
planes, including $4,000 long
range bombers, by the end OF
1943-a victory program" is now
being worked out to divert at
least half of our nations produc-
tive capacity to defense produc-
ton. It is estimated that at the
present time, and under presen
appropriations, only Is per cent
of our productive capacity is en-
gagged on defense items.
The new plan, which is rough
ly expected to shoot our present
defense appropriations of 60 bill
lion dollars well up over the loo
billion mark, is aimed at turning
out twice as much defense ma
terial in 1912 and 1913 as was orr
ginally planned. The program Is
believed to be an answer to the
recent statement of William S
Knudsen, head of the Office O.
Production Management, who salt
that this nation must decide be
tween outranking the Nazis ate
years of effort at present produc
ton rates or piling on "ever,