Evening star., 1944-09-26
LETTERS Denounces
pAC as a Pernicious
innovation in Politics
BY the Associated Press.

IIIItVvUIuVu Ill ] VuuIuVS
BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, Sept. 26.-President
William NJ Jeffers OF the Union
Pacific Railroad declared today that
the CLOS Political Action Commit
tee is "a pernicious innovation that
has literally snaked its way into
American politics, and in its active
malignance eats the very vital life
of our freedom"
In an address before the Ameri-
can Bankers Association second war
service meeting, Mr.. Jeffers asserted
that the PAC proposes Ito force
American union labor to contribute
from its wages to a political cam
paign it not only opposes, but is
then coerced into voting for princl-
pies and candidates to which 1t is
opposed.
Union Attitude Cited.
It resent this first and foremost
as an American citizen and next as
a man who has carried a union card
all his working life-and still does.
L was a union man before the un-
American element, now dominating
segments of American labor, was
born. The railroad brotherhoods
know how and where stand"
The former Federal rubber ad-
ministrator told the bankers Il al
ways have been strong for labor
unions headed by right thinking
American leaders-leaders who were
interested in the men they repre-
sented rather than in some Euro
pean ideology.
--Disintegration Of Labor Predicted.
But l say to you and to the peo-
pie of this country that no Political
Action Committee or any group or
individual is going to tell me or any
.upheaded American how he is 60
ing to vote or what he is going to
think. If the sorry day should ever
come when nefarious schemes like
this succeed, then on that day the
disintegration of American labor
Unions starts and democracy begins
Ito crumble.
4se There is not enough money in
the world to compensate for regi-
mentation of Americans. loss of
freedom and opportunity, class
hatred. prejudice or intolerance"
. Government Economy Urged.
A, L. M. Virgins, president of
the Bankers Associat ton, earlier to-
day said that when the Nation lis
back on the track of peacetime
economy, the people will expect and
demand that Government policies
and programs be directed to the
end of servicing and paying the debt
instead of enlarging it."
Urging against adoption of the
concept of an unbalanced budget
as a normal peacetime procedure
In governmental finance, Mr.. Wig
gins said that with a prospective
national debt of 300 billion dollars
at the wars end, the Nation will
be confronted with a budget of
about 18 billion and debt service
Of about billion.
Is Per Cent of Income Needed.
These figures mean that about
Is per cent of national income will
be required.
We can and will service this debt
and will take care of the necessary
expenses of maintaining Govern
ment. I have no fear on this score.
but the fear l do have is the atti-
tude of large numbers of people that
We can continue to pile on this debt
many billions more and accept con-
tinuing peacetime deficits as a nor
NAL procedure in governmental
finance
Mr. Virgins. who is president OF
the Bank of Hartsville. S. c.. as
serted that If they Uhe people,
should once get the idea that the
peacetime pattern of Government
finance is to continue a program of
deficit financing. we need not be
surprised to see the beginning OF
loss of confidence"
Substitute for Freedom.
Referring to various Government
policies and programs. Mr.. Virgins
said they apparently were designed
for the common good. but in effect
have represented the substitution
of the mandates of Government
through laws and regulations, in
place of the freedoms of voluntary
cooperative effort.
The question before this Nation
Is to find a proper balance between
freedom of action and Government
dictate. There must of necessity be
certain amount of regulate by
Government, rules of fair play and
protection in the interest of the
common welfare, but, on the other
hand such Government control
should leave a maximum of freedom
for voluntary cooperative effort"