Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-08
TRUMAN HIGHLIGHTS
Calls for Explanatory
Chapters on @. 0. P.

III ". ~.
are responsible for the affairs
of the executive branch.
New Concept
This is a new concept to me.
The Constitution doesn't say
anything about it. The Con-
stiution simply says that "the
executive power shall be vested
in a President" But all things
change. Perhaps the Constitu-
ton should be amended to read,
THE executive power should be
invested in the Presidents as
sistants, and he shall not be
held responsible for anything
they do unless it turns out to
be successful.
The modern techniques result
in certain perculiar situations.
For instance, when the Salk vac
cine is messed up, that is the
responsibility only of the Secre-
tary of Health, Education and
Welfare. When one cabinet Off
Ger fires man as a security risk,
and another cabinet officer
promptly hires the same man,
each of them is to stand re-
sponsible" for the consequences
of his action. Attacks by Nc
earthly on the Secretary of the
Army are the business only of
the Secretary of the Army, and
political smears by the Vice
President are to be completely
ignored until the time comes to
congratulate him for their effec-
tiveness. I could prolong the
list, but I'm sure that each of
you can think of many illustra-
tions of what happens when the
Madison Avenue technique is
combined with the Old Army
Game.
The principal characteristic
of the national Republican
Party, historically, is that it's
dominated by big business and
that it operate the Govern
ment in the interest of the privi-
legged few at the expense of the
many. This has not changed.
This was made clear at the be-
ginning of 1853 with the appoint
ment of the millionaire cabinet.
1t has been getting clearer ever
since.
The tight money policy-the
tax cuts for the rich-the give
away Of our natural resources
the Dixon-Yates scandal-the
strange affinity for the private
utility companies-the last-ditch
fight over Hell's Canyon-the
undermining of the National
Labor Relations Board-the veto
Of 80 per cent price supports for
farmers-all these and countless
other actions show that no mat
ter how much the old elephants
eyes may twinkle, his heart still
belongs to the same Old Guard. |
Tight Money Policy
The tight money policy is an
thing, and it has been
camoufiaged by a presentation in
the best Madison avenue manner
Then, we have all this Madi-
son avenue propaganda about
farm subsidies!
The result Of the tight money
policy are apparent in smaller
profits and increasing failures
among small business concerns.
failures are up as per
cent over 1852 and the profits of
small business are down So per
cent. Does that sound like pros
perity? One Of the greatest BUSH
ness increases is the business of
the bankruptcy courts! !.
Now. my friends, perhaps you
can see how / become engrossed
IN the subject when l turn to
the study of political science But
there is one aspect Of the pres
ent trend Of events which not
only disturbs me, but also
frightens me as well. This is the
conduct Of our foreign affairs.
Parallel Seen
I fear that there is an ominous
parallel between what is trans
piring now and the events Of
The 1925. when the world
drifted along and allowed the
forces to grow and the pressures
TO be built up which eventually
in World War II. We
are not going TO prevent a third
world war by looking for the easy
and expedient way out OF every
difficult situation. We are not
going to prevent a third world
war by putting personal popu-
Iarity above craftsmanship. We
are not going to prevent a third
world war by the kind Of selling /
you use to sell soap.
We are not going to prevent a !
.hird world war by talking one
way and acting another. u