Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-01-13
The Budget And Your Future
TyHE PRESIDENTS Budget Message

Inc puOQCT AH0 our FuTuFG
TNHE PRESIDENTS Budget Message,
n submitted to the Congress few days
ago and calling for an expenditure by our
government of $4212 billion in the coming
fiscal year, is certainly something to pom
der over Not only because this enormous
sum will eventually come out of our own
pockets, but more so because as is the
case with all governmental budgets -
these outlays map the future course of
our own country and that of the rest of
the world.
According TO the Presidents own
words, fully 7196 of this huge amount is
required 'to pay the costs of past wars and
to achieve a peaceful world. Thus, in
this peaceful year - six years after the
close of World War II - we are still re-
quired to pay nearly $50 billion in one
single year for military purposes. When
we consider that the entire net cost of our
military effort in World War was $24,-
625 ,843 - nearly $5.5 billion less than
our proposed expenditure for the same
purpose in the coming fiscal year - we
most certainly have plenty to think about.
And, of course, we must not forget for
a single moment that it isn't our country
alone that is making such tremendous in
vestments in military expenditures. The
entire world is doing the same thing If we
were to add the military budgets of all ma
tions including the Soviet bloc of pow
ers the figures would surely stagger
the imagination. All this at time when
the entire world is so much in need of
peaceful construction so much in need
of manufactured goods not for purposes
of destruction, but for the things that
would make life happier, more plentiful
for all peoples wherever they live.
h X
.THROUGHOUT HISTORY whenever
Il nations engaged in a race for bigger
and better ornaments, wars proved newt
able So it will be this time, unless some
how the leaders of governments are able
to terminate this mad race towards the
suicide Of modern civilization. Because
most asuredly that is what will happen If
World War III should descend upon us.
This is plainly obvious to anyone who
cares to study the results of the past two
great wars during the first half of the 10th
century.
Even today, but for the fact that the
United States - despite its enormous ex-
penditures and unquestionably sizeable
casualty lists during World War II - is
in such an excellent position to render
aid to the peoples of the world, we might
have experienced far greater chaos and
misery throughout the world. Precisely
because the United States is so powerful
.. because it possesses such a magnificent
industrial plant and, therefore, is able to
render assistance to people all over the
world for their peaceful rehabilitation that
II should use this enormous power for that
purpose.
Yes, while the United States should
certainly do everything necessary to pro-
tect its interests --militarily and other
wise it should nevertheless seek with
all its might to fight for peace in this
world before it is destroyed by the very
instruments we create for its protection
A victory for the United States in
World War III would be the absolute of
all pyrrhic victories in the history of man
kind Such victory would be synony-
nous with the death of our civilization.
And its only monument would be the
smoldering ruins of our greatest cities
inhabited by the ghosts of our people.
Nor would we find any consolation in
the fact that similar ruins and dessolation
would cover the face of the earth.
HUMAN BEINGS everywhere - in
IA cluding those teeming millions who
are living behind the So-called Iron cur
tain" ARE desperately seeking security,
peace and happiness. They are looking for
leaders who will lead them if not to the
promised land" at least to more sane,
more secure world. The leaders of our
own government . the leaders of our