Evening star., 1955-11-20

|for the farmer. and especially
between elections.
In our natural resources policy
there has also been . chance
a determined attempt to under
mine conservation and power
programs which are serving the
interests Of millions Of people
particularly small consumers.
Today's fast dollar is being put
above tomorrow's needs-Hell's
Canyon goes to q private COM
|pany for only partial Develop
ment Of its power: an effort is
made to sabotage the preference
clause in our public power con-
tracts. and to cripple the great
rural electrification program; the
dubious Dixon Yates deal is
contrived in secrecy and the
iva attacked publicly.
This Republican inability to
make a proper distinction be-
tween public and private busi-
ness shows up elsewhere. We
hear now about waste and
privilege in the housekeeping de-
partment. And the Secretary Of
the Air Force is decorated for
his services after getting his
public and private business af-
fairs embarrassingly mixed up
while at the same time thousands
OF honest and conscientious gov
ernment workers, littler people,
have been coldly pushed around
so that the crusaders could
boast about cleaning up some
thing.
Only ON the Lunch Hour
And surely one Of the most re-
markahle alibis In years was
offered last week by another high
level administrator who found It
convenient to resign: admitted
~ he pressed his company1
claims against the government
but only, he insists. on his lunch
hour!
AS Democrats we deny the
soundness Of helping only the
large corporations with the pious
hope that something will trickle
down to the rest Of US. We op-
pose special tax advantages to
anyone. let alone q favored few.
We oppose the policy Of giving
the lions share of defense con-
tracts to the large companies.
Twenty years Of Democratic
leadership went into making
America economically strong by
increasing and broadening and
stabilizing consumer buying
power. And we still claim that
the best things for any business
is people coming In the door
with money In their pockets.
I suggest that this whole pat
tern is a rejecting Of the basic
philosophy our new managers
brought to Washington in 1858.
we are here in the saddle, ? the
Secretary Of the Interior Said.
"as an administration represent
ing business and industry" Well
after two or three years I'm con-
yinced he knew what he was
talking abouti
Big Business Ties Cited
Let Us be quite clear about
this. There Is no conflict be-
tween the Democratic Party and
business. What we criticize Isl
not business, but the virtual ex-|
clusion Of everyone else. Eight
of the 10 members Of the cabinet
and almost three-quarters Of the
men appointed to high executive
ONCE in the past three years
come from the same segment of
the community. big business. Is
this q good thing? ] doubt 1t,
and I suspect businessmen by
and large doubt 1t too.
We do not question the
honesty Of these men. or their
good intentions, or their right
TO hold ONCE. But We do ques-
tion the breadth and variety Of
their collective vision; We say
that this republic is imperiledI
when Government. which be-
longs to all the people, falls
into the hands Of any single
group.
What do we Democrats mean
to do about this when we take
up the reins OF Government once
again? ! think you could sum
up our aim very simply--weI
mean to return the public in
terest to the center Of public
policy and to restore the sense
that Government is the concern
not Of q single dominant eco
nonnic interest but Of all the
American people.
But there are those who say,
let well enough alone, /all is
well, don't rock the boat. And
! agree that this is an age Of
abundance, as well as an age Of
anxiety. I agree that 1t Is aI
time for catching our breath; II
agree that moderation Is the
spirit Of the times. But we best
take care lest we confuse mod
Grafton with mediocrity. or settle
for half answers to hard prob
lens. A Democratic society