The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-03-07
GLOOMY DAYS

GIOOM1 OH1
Is the United States neadins
toward higher taxes? a postwar
depression? Dictatorship? These
are questions OF general concern.
An outstanding Republican. Rep.
Joseph W. Martin. forecasts that
the average citizen faces gloomy
DAYS" ahead, that the rising gen
erations will carry the heaviest
burdens and that all Americans
must be on guard to prevent the
loss OF their Democratic institu'
tions. Mr.. Martin, Republican ma.
tional chairman and COP leader OF
the House. warns the American
people that the average citizen
faces gloomy days OF sacrifice and
that II present trends continue, in
a few years there will be no real prl'
waite industry as We have known
it,"
Martin. a newspaper publisher in
private life who has spent sixteen
years in the House Of Representa-
lives, expresses fear that the huge
government debt and spending pro-
gram will result in a lower stan
dard Of living" for the average citi'
zen. He adds that American youth
will pay the real cost IN lost op-
portunity.
The Massachusetts representa-
tive asserts that even the habits OF
the American people will be con-
trolled from Washington il the
present trend OF government super
vision is continued. In the end, when
peace comes, he adds, II will re-
quire aggressive leadership and a
vigilant people 70 "recapture dem
ocracy"
we are moving swiftly toward a
totalitarian state, says Martin. I'VE
must be vigilaut in our efforts tc
prevent II. The youth OF America
are going TO pay the real cost o.
this whole business. Opportunity
10 get ahead in life, as previous gen
erations have had, will be definite
ly barred to the rising generations
Most Of them will be working for
the -zoVernment, directly or indi
rectly. The government will take
away their savings. The man who
has already accumulated security
savings for his old age may be all
right. The rising generation, how
ever, will find it difficult TO save
for old age and adversely. The young
fellow will only break even, no mat
ter what his income. because OF
high taxes and high prices, result
ing from high taxes and high gov
eminent spending
81 am fearful that unless we
tackle intelligently our ecoAomic
problems, We will wake up to find
We have a lower standard OF liy'
ing. One OF our major tasks is 70
avert this. The new federal debt
OF IS billion dollars, recently pro
vided by Congress, means debt
OF $493 TO every man, woman and
child in the United States The
interest charges on that debt will
cost each man, woman and child In
the United States S12.75 a year. A
family of five will have a debt Of
s2,465 hanging over its head and
that family's share OF the annua'
interest charges will be 1915. This
is the debt alone and on top Of that
will be placed the average citi
zen's share OF the tremendous ex
penditures Of operating local state
and federal governments. These
promise 70 be record breaking" 1
we drift into a totalltarisn state
as Mr.. Martin fears we will. thc
American people will have trouble
getting rid Of It after peace is re
stored to the world. He says, There
is grave doubt in my mind that oul
present form OF democracy can sur
vive the next few years. II will re
quire strong, aggressive Leadership
lit will require visilant people
o preserve democracy and oui
democratic institutions when this
emergency ends. luasmuch as this
Is the only place In all the world
WHARF true liberty exists, We mus
not fail 10 recapture democracy
when the war ends"
No one could paint a picture
much more gloomy than this. II 4
eKtreme-too extreme. We hope, yet
it Is possible,
II 10 more pleasant 70 tisteu 70
the Democratic theory that we sre
building for future stronger thar
ever before. that this talk OF ma
tional bankruptcy and Dictatorship
is merely political propaganda anc
that the people have little to zeal
IL the proposed preparedness pro
gram can be FASTENED 10 the necss
sary point OF efficiency.
II is for the people 70 decide
whether they will listen to tbs
gloomy side and fight against II, Of
accept the Democratic viewpoint
and mark time.
In either event II seems 10 b.
pretty well agreed that we neeC
more speed In getting the nations
preparedness program under way
more businessllke procedure anC
less political maneuvering.
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