Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-12-16
Old Americans vs.. the New Order

Research Engineer
Old Americans vs.. the New Order
To the Editor Of The Star:
come from family that traces its origin in
America back to personal---very. times, and
I detest anything and everything that smells
Of communism or alien thought. don't be-
leve that any comparatively new arrival in
this country should have the right to foment
political trouble and unrest. I don't even be-
lieve that the right Of citizenship should be
granted an individual until he has been in our
country long enough-possibly ten years-to
establish conclusvely his right to such an
honor. We won our citizenship the hard way,
by pioneering here, by helping to build up our
country, by fighting for 1t when it was in dan
ger by taking part in its political cultural and
religious life.
Despite all this, 1t is matter OF deep regret
to me that the need for progressive social
reforms and overdue political housekeeping
has to be recognized and pushed by our
radicals. We refuse to see the handwriting
on the wall indicating that the old self
ish methods and ways have outlived their cruel
usefulness and new order has arrived. Why
can't we old-line Americans recognize this do
something about it and by doing so take the
wind out of the sails of the aliens. If they
didn't have such rock-ribbed conservatism to
feed upon, they would starve for want OF issues,
for am certain few Americans would pay the
slightest attention to them
We are today in the midst of very serious
food and housing situation. If you have plenty
of money the question is merely an academic
one. You have fine home or apartment, you
eat when, where and what you want and the
bills are just incidental. But there are mil
lions Of people today in this country of ours
who can't afford to buy homes at the utterly
ridiculous prices they are asking If you have
enough common sense not to pay such fantastic
prices, you may df you are very Fortunately Sc
cure two-room apartment for $125 per month
OF course, you must not have any children or
pets Sometimes they won't permit smoking.
And no drinking of course. And the wife must
be employed. If you can run that gauntlet all
you need is the $125 per month.
Heaven only knows what the veterans are
doing for housing under these dreadful condi-
lions. think it is an outrage that Real Es-
tate Board Hobbies can have so much Influence
on our Congress as to completely sti1e govern
ment housing projects. And may say-on this
subject-that would like to see not only low
cost housing for the poorer classes but quite
emphatically better-class Federal housing for
the much talked about white-colar workers or
the middle class of our citizens who are the
real backbone OF our country. They are the
ones who are taking it on the chin!
On the subject of food prices-what possibly
can be said that hasn't been said million times
said before. The food prices are mortal sin
against the people. Again let me say. that If
you don't have to get in line at chain stores.
super markets-f your food is all taken care of
for you or you can eat at the Statler the Occi-
dental or the Shoreham whenever YOU wish
all this is just academic. But believe me there
are multitudes of people who are getting fed
up with it ALL y
They especially are getting fed up with the
tactics OF both Truman and Taft. Each seems
to tie up his every word and action with next
November's election. And the purchasing pub
lie Is being made football for these two politi-
cal lightweights.
I certainly wouldn't like to see OPA revived
IN its old form and size and with any Of the
radical elements who infested its personnel
and expedited its death. But what SEN
sible person will say that we should continue
to follow the theory of the National Association
OF Manufacturers, and permit the law Of supply
and demand to exercise the only control on
prices?
The trouble with those who are wailing that
we are not people on whom controls can be
placed is that they ignore the fact the Ameri-
can people have more laws on the books re-
straining them from doing this that and the
other thing than possibly any country except
Soviet Russia However, they are not complain
ing against restrictions on freedom of action
but rather against loss of the license they
now circumstantially possess to gouge the
American people for all they are worth.
hope this Congress will exercise good judg-
ment in its consideration of the acute price
situation and that it will have the moral
courage to face the facts and enact liberal
minded legislation that will put stop to this
ruinous spiral Of imitation. If this be termed
'collectivism or communism" as the NAM
today referred to it, then we are indeed in q
tragic way! JOHN ALOYSIUS THORNTON,