Evening star., 1951-07-05
The Political Mil
A Let-Down in Defense
Might Lead to Disaster
Lawmakers Should Ponder
Warning of Gov. Dewey
By Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
A let-down in the national defense
program. if and when the fighting ends
in Korea, might easily spell future dis
aster for the United States. Yet such
let-down has followed the conclusion Of
every war in which this country has par
ticipated. Particularly was this true
after World War II.
BurdenSome taxeS-which are about
to be increased hugely-plus great Gov
ernment spending and high prices will
all play their part in the poSt-fighting
days In Korea. The Republicans in Con-
gress, as well as the Democrats. should
ponder well statement by Gov Dewey
of New York, now on visit to the Far
East, in which the New Yorker warned
that the Russian Soviet Union intends
to conquer the world. It should con-
tinue to be a deciding factor if and when
proposals are made to curtail the mill
tary program. And memories would be
short. indeed if Congress should forget
that this country sadly was unprepared
a little more than year ago when it
was plunged into the fighting in Korea
by Communist attack
Sufficient money must be appropriated
to continue building the fighting
strength of the country. The draft must
be continued until the Armed Forces
are strong enough, with the necessary
arms and equipment, to resist at q
moments notice if the aggressor at
tacks again. In the future, the burden
may be lightened considerably by put
ting into effect the Universal Military
Training System, for which Congress
has already declared its support.
Arms Aid Must Continue.
Nor must there be let-down in the
military aid which this country Is giving
the Western European nations. Already
important strides have been made in
the development of a North Atlantic
nations force under the direction Of
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. Congress
still has to act on the appropriations
for foreign aid, both military and eco-
nomic, during the fiscal year 1852.
The need for national defense ex-
penditures. however does not mean that
rigid economy should be cast aside.
There is all the more need for avoiding
waste and unnecessary expenditures. for
decreasing Government payrolls in agen-
cies not connected at all with the de-
fense.
With peace in Korea. the opposition
to Government controls over business
and labor-already strong-will be on
the increase Such controls. if main
tanned in time Of peace, may easily
become permanent. Big Government
threatens to stifie the Nation. Clearly
a majority of the Congress, represent
ing more than majority Of the people,
wants no part of such program-even
though it be dear to the hearts of the
Fair Dealers. What happened in the
Senate during the debate and voting on
the new controls bill is evidence enough.
Controls. in the opinion of majority Of
the Democrats as well as the Republic
cans. should be lessened. instead of in
creased, as proposed by President Tru-
man.
Maneuvering Goes On.
Several of the votes on items of the
new Senate controls bill (Which still has
to be acted on by the House, show that
legislators continue to pay attention to
the particular interests of their States
just as they did in the days Of the
battles over the tariff quarter and half
a century ago. On some of these items
particularly on the ban placed on roll
backs OF prices of beef and agricultural
products-both the Democratic leader
and the Democratic whip of the Senate.
MacFarland of Arizona and johnson Of
Texas. were found voting against the
administration desires. There has
been talk of the President touring the
country to blister Congress into more
favorable action on his programs. II
he does, he will break strongly with
many of the most important Democrats
in this Democrat-controlled Congress.
Senators who wished to avoid voting
on bills before the upper house have
in the past conveniently absented them
selves. 1t was novelty when two Fair
Dealers, Lehman of New York and Ben
ton of Connecticut, undertook to side
step the vote on the passage of the
controls bill by answering present"
The Senate cracked down on them, re-
fusing to permit them to avoid their
responsibilities. Both had attacked the
bill as far too limited. When the Senate
said they had to vote-they both cast
their votes for the measure, probably on
the ground that some controls were bet
ter than none. The Senate was right.
under its rules, to compel their votes.
Their maneuvering, their effort to get
themselves of hook, was childish for
members of the Senate Of the United
States.