The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1949-01-27


| There was nothing that was un-
expected and little that was new in
the Presidents State of the Union
message. He had covered practical
ly all Of his points before, during
and after the campaign. Yet the
speech came as something Of d
shock to good many people
mainly for the reason that this
marked the first time that the en-
tire Truman program was summed
up in capsule form. The message
ran to only $500 words or so-but
it covered an enormous amount OF
territory.
Furthermore, this speech, along
with other formal and informal
statements made by the President
since his election, takes the wind
out Of the sails Of those who be-
lieved that many Of the things he
said during the campaign were foI
vote-getting purposes only, and he
didn't really mean them. Regard
less Of what one may think Of the
program, that belief did the Pres
ident an injustice Even his polite
al opponents are convinced that he
means exactly what he says. Thus,
so far as he is able, he will put
into full effect every campaign
promise he made.
1t is clear that the Truman "Fair
Deal" program outdOes the New
Deal" in almost every particular
1t has its roots in principles which
were initially laid down by Frank
lin Roosevelt. But it goes a great
deal farther-and, if if is adopted
in large part by Congress, it will
have far greater influence on
American life and custom, and also
be immeasurably more costly. That
is an obvious fact, whether one
likes the program or not.
1t is also obvious that there are
points of striking similarity be-
tween Mr.. Truman's proposed maj
or policies and those Of England's
socialist Labor Government. A
vastly expanded social security
program is one Of these points. So
is the development Of government
power projects. So is compulsory
government medical insurance. So
is government housing. And so is
the proposal that government go
into the business Of producing
basic materials in short supply,
such as steel, if private enterprise
does not meet "A quota which the
Administration considers satisfac-
tory.
Bills which would make most of
Mr.. Truman's proposals laws, are
now in the hopper of Congress.
But the going will not be easy by
any means. The Democratic Party
has a wide majority in both
branches; the Truman administra-
tion has not. The Democratic chair
men of some of the most important
committees belong to the conserva-
tive wing Of the party. The Sena-
tors and Representative from the
South are, for the most part, out
of sympathy with a majority of
their constituents. The Republican:
are opposed to most of it. So, in
all probability, the President will
have to be satisfied with half g
loaf. He will get modified versions
of most of what he is asking for.
For example, Congress does not
view with enthusiasm that addi-
tional S4,000,000,0O0 be raised by
new taxes, to be levied mainly or
business. Never in history has our
economy been so geared to high |
and maximum indus
trial production. Even a moderate
would have devastating
effects on government revenues,
and on our ability to finance Euro
pean aid, huge defense program. |
and similar costly measures. 1t is
clearly in the interest of the gov
ernment itself to keep the business
world in as high a state of confd-
ence as possible. AS many econom-
sts have been pointing out, in
testimony before government agen-
lies, profits are nowhere near as
great as mere dollar figures may
Indicate when present day costs of
maintaining and expanding indus
ry are taken into consideration.
SO, if more taxes are levied, it is
'ery likely that the individual, as
veil as business, will have to bear
! part of the burden.
In any event, it should be realiz-
d, on both sides of the fence, that ,
he Truman program envisions ;
-reat and fundamental changes in ]
American life. 1t is a program
which sanctions a more powerful c
entralized government than we I
ave ever accepted in peacetime-