Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-07-28
Utilitys In Private) Admit Socialism
Issue Is Phony

furnished the framework not only for the
Declaration of independence but for the Bill
of Rights, adopted IA years later as the first
10 amendments to the US Constitution.
The Virginia declaration was drafted by
George Mason 1t said "all men are created
equally free and independent and have certain
inherent natural rights . among which are
the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the
means of acquiring and possessing property
and pursuing and obtaining happiness and
safety Of all the various modes and
forms of government that is best which is
capable of producing the greatest degree of
happiness and safety"
The Article of Confederation Sen. Douglas
pointed out said the purpose of the confedera-
ton was "for their common defense, the Sc
curity of their liberties and their mutual and
general welfare"
The Constitution of the United States, he
pointed out says it in the preamble that among
the five fundamental purposes in forming the
"more perfect union was ito promote the
general welfare" The first paragraph of Sec
ton g. Article /, of the Constitution itself says
"The Congress shall have power to lay and
collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises to
pay the debts and provide for the common
defense and general welfare of the United
States" In other words Congress is given
specific power to levy taxes in such way as
to provide not only for the common defense"
but also the general welfare"
More, as the debates in the Congress on
adoption of the Constitution showed, the in
tent of the language finally adopted was to
give Congress the power to spend for the
general welfare.
'"The welfare concept" declared Douglas,
''is in the forefront as an equal partner of
justice, domestic tranquility, defense n d
liberty. And in the first clause of Article r,
Section 8, there is provided and effective way
of promoting this general welfare, namely, to
spend for it."
Douglas pointed out the d OF tr in e was
stated by Mason, Jefferson and Madison, and
restated by Lincoln when he said government
was not only "of'' and "by" the people but
also 'for' the people; affirmed later by
Justice Hughes, Brandeis, Cardozo, and Stone,
Douglas added
Behind and beneath them, it has sprung
from the well-springs of the American people
themselves For with all their proper en-
phasis upon individualism and self-reliance,
the American people have always known that
there are some burdens too heavy to be borne
alone and some evils which can only be re-
moved by collective action. To help bear these
burdens and to help remove these evils, it is
proper for the government, as one of the
agencies for collective betterment, to act.
Because the state has concerned itself
with the troubles and difficulties of average
people who have little property and low in
comes, it has helped to win and retain their
loyalty and devotion to the democratic prin-
ciples, which, though under attack in most of
the world stand firm in America. They stand
firm here because they are rooted in the hearts
of the people who see in government not an
instrument of oppression, or an icy institution
Indifferent to their needs, but an agency which
Is carrying into effect at least some of the
principles Of human brotherhood"