The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1945-06-21
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THE GREAT
GAME OF
POLITICS .
By FRANK r. KENT.

By FRANK r. KENT.
Copyright by The Baltimore Sun and
reprinted in The Republican by per-
mission.
Washington, June Is.
THE Magma Carta" boys seem to be
overriding it just a little. For one
thing, they are becoming so numerous
that confusion is spreading among
them and the need for coordination
is apparent. For another, they are be
coming so shrill that listening to them
is not easy-is even slightly painful.
AT THE MOMENT, there are at least
three distinct Magma Carta groups
and proposals. Mr.. Henry Wallace re-
Gently burst forth with what he
labeled Magma Carta for Little
Business" Much of the substance of
the Wallace proposals, it is claimed
had been previously prepared by and
under his predecessor. Mr.. Jesse Jones.
The chief difference, so it is said, is
that Mr.. Jones had not thought about
calling these proposals Magma Carta
and had not cut loose all restraint up
on the loans of public funds.
THEN Senators WrarOn,. and NIu,ray
have Magma Carta $50 labeled by
their press agents. in the much advcr-
tiSed full employment" 60,000.000 job
bill. This is being vigorously promoted
by Mrs. Roosevelt in her daily column
strongly advocated by the radical
press of New York and pcrsuasivcly
presented by various Of the New Deal
propagandists. The wicked conserva-
tivcs, generally, regard the bill in its
pristine form as impracticablc and I'M
necessary, as opening the door for un-
limited governmental expenditures
and as advancing firmly in the social
istic direction.
ADVOCATES of the bill believe that.
following the wars end, there will be
a vast unemployment, to meet which
private industry will be wholly made
quatc. In consequence, the Govern
ment will have to step in, create Jobs
public works, advancing large
funds for business expansion. etc. Its
insist first, that there will
be no widespread unemployment; that
such unemployment as exists will be
sion but will not be prolonged; that it
will not exceed two and Onc-half mil
lion which is normal; that there is
sure to be from five to seven years Of
great prosperity following the war;
that there will be more Jobs than there
are men to fill them; that no legisla-
ton will be necessary. Proponents Of
this particular Magma Carta regard
those who oppose it as reactionary
tools Of Big Business. while the dis
sentcrs look upon its more belligercnt
hackers as composed mostly Of crack
pots and radicals.
BUT THESE are not all the Magnae
Cartae. A few days ago another was
announced. This time it is called "a
new economic Magma Carta for the
Common Man everywhere" 1t is said
to be labor's program for postwar en-
ployment and to have been drafted by
the National Planning Association.
But it develops that this really is a
CIO plan, drafted largely by Mr., Gin
ton Golden, who is chairman of the
NPA, and right hand man of Mr..
Philip Murray. Describing this Magma
Carta, one enthusiastic publication de-
clares that physically, it is fiscal
program comparable with tax plans
published last year by the Committee
for Economic Development and the
Messrs. Bcardsley Ruml and H. Chris
tian Some" But" it is added, "this
plan (thc Magma Carta) is far more
able and realistic than even these COM
parativcly liberal business plans"
THERE ARE several other minor
Magnac Cartac lurking around, but
the three above mentioned. are the
CONSPICUOUS ones. Concerning these it
is interesting to note, that while they
have been separately launched, sepa-
ratcly sponsored and separately pro-
noted they are nevertheless linked by
two things. One is the character of
their support, which is practically
identical. Each one of these Magma
Carta groups is for the other Magnac
Cartac. In other words, they are all
for one and one for all. They could. of
course, combine and save promotion
and publicity expense. But that is not