Evening star., 1951-06-09
Democrats Move to Pin
lnfIotion Tag on 6. O.P.
But Republicans Won't Tuks
The Charge Lying Down
The Political Mil
By Gould Lincoln

0VuIu AW(OIN
The Democratic National Committee,
through Chairman William Boyle, IT,,
is out to pin the badge of imitation
from which the country is suffering-on
the Republican Party. In a letter sent
to party workers throughout the coun-
try today Chairman Boyle declared "the
Republican Party is still the imitation
party" The hearings before the Senate
and House Banking and Currency Com
mltteeS prove it, he said. This might
be good party politics if Mr.. Boyle can
make the charge stick.
The Republicans. however, will not
take the charge lying down. Their i'm
mediate reaction is that the increases
III prices and the cost of living since
January, 1949, have occurred during
Democratic control of both the executive
and legislative branches of the Govern
ment. To call the imitation a Repub-
lican initiation is absurd Further, the
present controls act, under which there
has, in recent weeks, been check of
the price Increases. was enacted into
law in September. 1850. Although the
President had the powers granted by
Congress, it was months before any,
thing was done with them. The charge
was made by Republican speakers dur
ing the 1850 congressional campaign
that the administration was deliberately
avoiding the use of controls because
it was afraid that by clamping on the
controls the Democratic Party would
lose votes.
Big Issue in '52 Campaign.
Whatever the reason, it was some six
months after the enactment of the con-
trolls law before anything effective was
attempted. Prices and wages continued
during all that time on the way I'D, the
Republicans contend. Now, they say,
the Democratic high command is seek
ing to blame the Republican Party
because the high-price horse escaped
from tbs stable.
High prices, like high taxes, promise
to be an issue in the campaign of 1852.
1t is quite natural, therefore, that the
Democrats should seek to escape the
blame and place it on the opposite party.
Mr.. Boyle. in his letter. said that II
found the leaders of the Democratic
Party Che was referring to the members
OF the Democratic National Committee
which recently held meeting in Den
yer, Colo), rejecting the viewpoint of
the people they have talked with in
every State. want strong program to
curb imitation" He added he was con-
vlnced the people are back of President
Truman in his demand for controls. So
Mr.. Boyle is asking the party leaders
and workers to get the people to work
on members of Congress to bring about
the passage of the administration con-
trolls program.
Controls are popular or not popular
with various groups. depending on who
is controlled. 1t seems clear, however,
that the increase in prices, for whatever
cause, is playing havoc today, and that
some measure of control is vitally neces-
sary. Chairman Boyle called attention
to the testimony of Secretary of Defense
Marshall that increased prices have
added 81 billion to the cost of the
national defense program. It hap
pens that 81 billion is the very sum
which the new tax bill, soon to be laid
before the House. will take from the
pockets of the American taxpayers. How
is that going to make the men and
women who have to shell out their dol
lars in these increased taxes feel? No
wonder Mr. Boyle is trying to pin the
blame on the Republicans.
1aXeS 10 flay Full Paft.
When it comes to campaign issues, too,
these new taxes are likely to play their
full part. They will be taken in the
name of national defense and to help
prevent further imitation. The men and
women who will be compelled to add
l212 per cent to their personal income
tax bills are not going to scream with
joy-although they may scream. They
will want to know just why this addi-
tional tax burden is necessary, and
whether it might not have been avoided
had there been better management
It will mean that taxpayer who is
already contributing $100 in Federal in
come taxes will have to pay $112.50, and
a taxpayer who is contributing 5000 will
in the future pay 1925. For each 500
a taxpayer contributes. he must con-
tribute an additional $12.50. There will
be further excise taxes, too. which in
effect are sales taxes.
Mr.. Boyle is quite right-controls are
necessary to prevent further imitation.
which is another name for increased
cost of living. The unfortunate part
is that the country was so late in getting
around to them. Prices have gone up on
many articles unconscionably-and lot
of people have made tremendous profits.
Those who have prof1ted fight controls,
in the name of free enterprise. This
country is in the grip of emergency, due
to the Korean war and need for in
creased defense, and greed-unlimited
should not be permitted to flourish.