The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-06-20

and often disagree with them much as many Of
making people think.
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER -.
NEW YORK; have been studying Wen
dell Wilkes series of earnest if somewhat
tedious and plaintive exhortatons to the Re-
publican party to get in step with him and
the New Deal which he condemns only for
its personnel and the manners of its person
alities, deeming himself more likeable, trust
worthy and kind, as he naturally would, and
therefore. preferable. Mr.. Willkie Repudiates
states rights in large looping terms as an
obsolete, issue, calling it relic in nation
which, in that brave new world of the future,
will have to compete and get along with other
peoples who have granted their governments
! the power and authority to act for them.
This argument contends that, because the
European continent is going totalitarian and
Britain's old, aristocratic system has finally
exhausted ITSELF the United States must make
adjustments I think most Republicans will
|. agree with Mr.. Willkie in this, but can't
see what it has to do with states rights at
home because the states, individually, have
neither the apparatus nor the desire to con-
h duct 48 separate sets Of foreign relations,
. either political or commercial, although the
new Russian states might attempt to do So
as their character reveals ITSELF for the stur-
dy old communistic purpose Of causing tur-
MOL, confusion and annoyance among h e
neghbors
But we needn't abandon any Of our domes-
tic advantage over the totalitarian system in
comforting on our national government the
1power to protect American interests in com
petition with the interests of other nations
We can rely better on the national govern
ment to make treaties and observe and en-
force them than we can on Standard Oil, fol
example. In case Of trouble then woulc
know at least that our country, not private
and unofficial interest, was our agent. Mr.
Willkie would have said it better had he
said that in the postwar world, American bust
ness interests otherwise might find Themselves
conducting their foreign relations anc
committing us to their transactions, as they
did in the past, and, occasionally calling or
our Smedley Buffers and lesser warriors t.
: get them out of trouble with foreign power:
and political adventures.
, But, internally, states rights will be ar
issue until the states are finally abolished
for they are a sisterhood of republics, some
l. richer than others and some better, bu
a all useful in maintaining the characte
;. of the nation 1t is true that, mostly unde
democratic governors, many Of them joyous
ly defaulted their obligations during the lonl
n panic and hooked their integrity to Washing
e ton in return for handouts from the New
Deal. But the result of this sordid failure ha
been the spread of agencies of the nationa
government and intrusions and Commissions t.
the extent that now, literally, according t.
? one of the orders of the OPA. any citizel
, found guilty of any violations of any regula
ton, may be denied not merely the right t.
buy shoes but to them.
Federal taxation has reached point a
which the states now must take a second Gu
at incomes which already have been taxet
to the limit and the states are beginning t.
realize that there is no field of taxation whicl
they may regard as exclusively or even pr
t marily their own By Interpretation and ex
tention, the Federal authority at present hold
that man who sells hot dogs to individual
l. workers in war plant under license. or con
!, cession from the plant management, is sub
contractor and therefore is subject to govern
l. ment control. BY further, but consistent eS
tension, the man who sells the hot-dog ma
his dogs, mustard and rolls is a sub sub
J. contractor operating ''plant facility use
o. full in the effort and therefore subject
election by the Army should he violate an
IS order of the War Labor Board, the OPA, tn
). Labor Relations Board the theories OF TAI
employment practice. This mans bushes
s. may not extend mile from his shop but
although he pays state and local taxes n
. can't even command the services OF tn
town cops or the local grand jury to protec
i his rights
J. It is the intimacy of federal government
~
- and arrogant inspector or commssione
q threatening the citizen with punishment 10
sr possible violations OF a thousand laws rule
" and regulations that he never even hearo
N that has revived the interest OF many gov
- errors, mostly Republicans, in the duty an IN
u integrity of the states and even aroused "a
OF interest OF individuals who didn't know s.at a
rights existed until they began to feel tn
:. painful effects of their unannounced and Greer
ing abrogation.
is Brother Willkie would make this extenslo
Of the federal power less onerous, II no. 81 =.
i'll joyable, by assuring the proper use ol u.
!. power we have deemed wise and necessary
- grant to the Federal government. =,
ed AIT. dammit man. many Of these powers W
We never deemed it wise and necessary to gran !;
= and we don't know yet when or how we a.
;, grant them! And if one set OF nagglng spr ~.
u and political smatists will take it upon .ne =.
ol selves to paddock widows belongings =