Evening star., 1947-09-30
The Political Mill
Taft Won't Turn bock
Clock Speeches Show
Hopes to Stabilize Prices and Wases
Through Increased Production
By Gould Lincoln

ROPES 10 otaoiilze frlces and Wages
Through Increased Production
By Gould Lincoln
PORTLAND, Greg, Sept 30-Senator Robert
A.Taft Of Ohio, who In his present Western
swing has laid down Republican programs
and policies on the vital issues Of the day.
has apparently abandoned any idea of turn
ing the clock back, If he ever had such an
ldea He put the capstone on the thesis that
the country cannot return to prewar levels
when, in his Gearhart, Oreg, address on pub
lie welfare legislation, he recognized "perma-
nent total budget (for the Federal Govern
men) of. say, $4,000, 10000
In his San Francisco address on high nrices
and imitation, the Ohio senator not only nade
1t clear that wages-the greatest element in
production coStS-are to be permanently
higher but also advocated so or so per cent
increase In wages and salaries for those en-
ployes whose present wages and salares are
"subnormaf' compared to the levels of 1899.
And finally in his Tacoma, Wash, discussion
OF foreign policy, Mr.. Taft pointed out that
our budget for the current fiscal year con-
talned $4,000, 600 600 for financing foreign ship
ments to war distressed nations. He added
that he hoped that this annual contribution
might be gradually lessened until it is entirely
eliminated in period of about four years. OF
this, however, there is no positive assurance,
and many estimates Of what this country will
have to contribute for the next 10 years to
help put tottering world on its feet econom-
1cauy-for our sake and the sake Of world
peace-have run billions Of dollars higher.
High Output Must Go On.
Coming from Republican leader and an
aspirant for the presidential Office who has
hoon 1rO<a <ad f1A
them all, these admissions hold great sig
nihcance. They clearly indicate that tax
levels and production in this country must
continue on high planes If the whole ma
chinery is not to collapse Particularly produc-
ton, the real source of wealth, which alone
may give hope for at least a gradual reduction
Of the high tax burdens now imposed on the
American people.
Mr.. 1aftS hope and aim is to stabilize prices
and wages He has proposed the country recog-
nize that prices are permanently above pre-
war prices; that since wages and prices have
both risen-Wages on the whole more than
prices-"We had better work toward stabiliZa-
ton of wages and prices at some new level,
perhaps so or so per cent over 1885," This is
less than the 80 to 100 per cent increases in
prices. But Mr.. Taft believes that increase
in supply and some decrease in abnormal de-
mand should work to bring prices back to the
level he suggests. He is not clear that wages
can be brought back to such stabilized level
as he proposes, but the excess increase in
wages over so or so per cent can probably be
compensated in numerous industries by in
crease in productivity
The Republican leader Of the Senate in his
program for public welfare has also recognized
a vast change in public thinking from which
there is apparently no turning back. This pro-
gram calls for an annual expenditure by the
Federal Government of at least another billion
dollars for public health, education, public
housing and improvements in the social security
system already set up. covering old age benefits,
unemployment insurance and emergency relief.
Faces Some Criticism.
This is a long way from conservative thinking
in America a few years ago. when all the
emphasis was on self-help and individual
initiative and private and State charity for the
less fortunate and the poor.
Indeed the Ohio Senator in some quarters
will be criticized for crossing over to the New
Deal policies Of the Roosevelt regime. How
ever. there is great difference In the Taft
program from that of the New Dealers. The
Taft program looks to total administration Of
the various funds for aid by the States and
local governments The New Dealers program
centered control and administration in WASH
ington, with the Federal Government entering
into every phase of American life.
Senator Taft's advocacy Of his program Of
public welfare is based on the theory that only
by such aid will 1t be possible to give every
child born in this country equal opportunity.
He is utterly averse, however. to providing these
social services free for any citizens who can
fully pay for them. He figures that 20 per cent
of the people will require aid of one kind or
another