Evening star., 1946-01-30

We do not
want to change, ''&
but certainly we Frank R. Kent.
should not boast about it. On the
contrary, we should as a people feel
profoundly mortified. For the spec
tacle of impotent confusion which
we now present to the world is un-
paralleled in history, and the ex-
traordinary demonstration of our
complete inability to manage our
own affairs is the most impressive
thing about us.
Under such conditions our preten-
sions to world leadership become
preposterous. We cannot run the
world If we cannot run ourselves.
The first qualification for world
leadership is to put our own house
in order.
That seems a strong indictment,
but those who think it too strong
might take look at the house.
Here we are the greatest of all the
countries engaged in the war (and
the one that suffered least) in a
condition that must alarm every
citizen.
Not Far From Chaos.
Our internal disorder is not far
from chaos. Neither the judicial,
the executive nor the legislative
branch of our Government is func-
tioning satisfactorily and not one of
the three is in harmony with an
other. The Supreme Court, split
in two sharply separated factions,
Is further handicapped by the in
sistent political propaganda that
centers around one of it's members
Justice Douglas-and the pro-
longed absence of another-Justice
Jackson-upon an assignment not
remotely connected with the court.
The Democratic President, un-
able to get even a small part of
his large domestic program through
a Democratic Congress and, in the
main surrounded by obviously in
adequate men, in the great indus
trial-labor struggle now going on
has thrown his weight on the side
of the union faction in which the
subversive elements which seek to
undermine our institutions are most
inf1uenJial-to wit, the CLIO. In this
he follows the example of his pred
ecessor who formed a political alli-
ance with the CIO and its PAC
which the Truman political man.
ayers apparently are anxious to con-
tinue.
And Congress, faced with a ma
tional crisis and a call for action, is
unable to act. With important
measures waiting consideration, a
fllibustering Senate minority has
tied itself into tight knot over the
so-called Fair Employment Practices
Act, originally sponsored by the
Communists, now Endorsed by both
Republican and Democratic parties,
but really pressed by the CIO.
That isn't all by any means.
Badgered by the political dema-
gogues, the Army has been forced
to demobilize at dangerous speed and
is nearing the mark where its size
will be inadequate to carry out our
commitments abroad. At the same
time Congress thus far has refused
to tighten up or extend the draft
and, so far, has sidetracked the
universal military training bill
recommended by the President and
the Army as the least we can do if
we are not to descend from the
mightiest power in the world to one
of the feeblest. It's passage, as has
been pointed out again and again,
is vital.
Nor is that all. With a long
period of great prosperity in pros
pect, provided our production can
,measurably meet the tremendous
demand for our products, we appear
deliberately intent upon killing
the prospect.
More Than Million Idle.
More than million men have been
thrown into idleness by the great
stri' eS in the steel and automobile
fields. Others, such as the meat
strike, have forced the Government
to seize plants to protect the food
supply. In New York City the rad
ical union leader, Michael Quill,
compelled the Mayor of New York
humiliatingly to surrender to his
purely political demands to avoid
what would have been a calamitous
tieup in the transit system. Other
strikes are bursting out all over the
place and the administration has no
labor policy worthy of the name and
no restraining law on the books to
protect the peoples interests.
Add to all this the fact that Fed
eral finances are still out of control.
We preach economy, but practice
extravaganza. We call for reduc-
ton in the swollen Federal payroll |
and for decrease in waste. Yet, as
Senator Byrd points out, instead of
reducing the civilian personnel
since peace came, it has been in
creased. The payroll instead of
going down has gone up. The only
big reductions have been in the
Army and Navy, and these were in
evitable when the shooting stopped.
With the national debt close to
300 billions we deliberately reduced
taxes by more than 7 billions and
we lend abroad billions which we
do not really have. More could be
put in the picture, but this seems
enough to make the point that our
cherished system has begged down
pretty badly. There will be those to
say that this is too black a picture,
that things eventually will straight
en- out and. as usual, we will pull
through. And, of course, that is
so this time. But the cost of the
struggle will be terrific and the
AnVERTTCENFrNyr