The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-08-06
Economic !.
~M@hA@hA
National and international Problems
Inseparable from Local Welfare

Some of the most thoughtful Wash
Iington observers have been much
troubled lately by the power and ag
Igressiveness displayed by certain pres
sure groups which are hard at work
tgrinding their axes in the capital.
Theoretically, the nation is now unified,
with all citizens determined to do their
utmost to help win the war. In ac-
ltuality, a good many citizens seem
more concerned with how they can use
the war to serve their own ends, and
how they can avoid as much personal
sacrifice and inconvenience as possible.
Labor in number of basic indus
tries is demanding substantial wage
increases, despite the obvious fact that
higher pay for workers must result in
higher costs and higher prices all along
the line-thus putting into effect an in
lhationary spiral that in the long run
would hit labor as hard and perhaps
harder than any other group.
The heads of some of the big farm
organizations, despite their patriotic
speeches, are fighting tooth and nail
for more and bigger subsidies-and
they are implacably resisting any and
all attempts to place workable ceilings
ON farm prices If these groups win out
and they have tremendous influence
| in Congress which is largely made
lup of men from agricultural areas
still another inflationary spiral will be
well underway.
Incidents have been unearthed where
certain business interests put their own
Wishes ahead of the needs of the ma
ton. However, it is generally true that
the record Of industry in this war has
been excellent. Furthermore, industry
of all kinds is regulated and controlled
to the hilt by government--which is
not true of either labor or agriculture
Taxpayer groups are also extremely
active in Washington, and all of them
with few honorable exceptions, seem
means to make the other fellow pay
for the war. They are all for sacrifice
so long as someone else does the bulk
of the sacrificing.
The blacklist picture of all, in the
view of many writer's, is found on
Capitol Hill itself. Next November, all
of the members of the House and a
third of the members of the Senate
will be up for reelection. There are, of
course, congressman who are not sway
l.,I h,r, ., .I,, ,,.T,
doing their best, and who refuse to
Iplay old-fashioned politics-as-usual in
|attemptS to make certain of holding
their jobs. Unfortunately for the ma
tiOn, there are a good many congress
men, in both parties, who seem to be
thinking almost exclusively in terms of
votes. They don't want to step on the
toes of their constituents. They don't
want to awaken them to the unpleasant
realities that total war involves. They
don't want to vote for bills which will
make their constituents have to go
without things They are, in short,
seeking to please all groups and all
Iinterests-and that means thatthey are
doing their best 10 either dodge diff
cult issues, or to Straddle the fence.
Some of the election campaigns now
taking place are, in the view of men
Iwho grasp the world situation, almost
:. literally Sickenng. Political job-seei-
ers are flagrantly pandering to special
interests - to labor, agriculture, pen
sion seekers, etc. They treat the war
as a sort of side shown the face of
the obvious fact that we and our
Allies have as yet not taken back Il
ISingle inch of conquerer territory, and
the Axis is making tremendous prog
reSS on the most vital battlefrOntS.
Every authority is convinced that ii
I'VE lose this war, we will be subjected
Ito virtual slavery. Wen get precisely
the same treatment the people OF
France, Belgium, the Netherlands and
other beaten nations have been given.
THAT is the issue which some of the
most active seekers after high Office
lare busy lodging now.
| 1t can be argued that such things as
this will inevitably happen in "A demo
cratic country in a country where
lanyonc can advance himself as Il candi-
date for almost any Office he chooses.
: 1t can also be argued that these
\ |"democratic weaknesses" could conceiy-
Iably lead to our defeat i'm war. About
the only cure for This kind of politics
is public opinion. Next November, the
lpeople will elect Il Congress which, in
lall probability will run the country
until the war is over. This will be one
of the most fatcful elections in all our
= history.
X 4
Some United Nations disasters car
| be laid straight ut The door of the high
commands. Too many of the Generals
seem to think in terms of classic war
fare" That WAS relatively leiSurely