Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 October 1944 — Page 18

Price in Marion Coun=ty, 4 cents 8 copy; delivered by carrier, 18 cents a . EE Mail rates ‘in Indie ana, $5 a year; adjoining states, 75 cents a month; others, $1 monthly.

‘Circulations. RILEY 5551 Give Light end the Pespie Will Find Their Own Way i

MR. DEWEY ON TAXES sa GENATOR LAFOLLETTE of Wisconsin, discussing shiftJ ‘New Deal policies, once remarked that the business

of the country could adjust itself to progressiye legislation, bat could never adjust to uncertainty. ; "As Governor Dewey spelled out Tuesday night, uncertainty has been the only constant in New Deal taxation. The tax laws have been changed 15 times in 12 years, and the changes have not been merely in rates but also in -philosophies of taxation, so that no man could plan ahead with any idea as to where or when his enterprise, would run head-on into some new tax scheme. Mr. Dewey proposes that we get away from these interminable changes, that we create a basic tax law which is simple and generally stable, one under which enly the rates would be adjusted up or down from time to time, to get more or less revenue. . Mr. Dewey seems to have the old-fashioned idea that revenue should be the primary aim of taxation. The New Dealers have preferred to look primarily to borrowing for their spending money, and to use taxation to punish and reform, with a new batch of punishments and reforms for each new tax bill. ss = = a THERE ARE some points in Mr. Dewey's tax program where we think he should have been more explicit. He says he would change and lower the tax on incorporated businesses. The best way to do that was pointed out by the committee for economic development—abolish the double taxation to corporate income. He promises to eliminate all excise taxes—except those on liquor, tobacco and gasoline. That can and should be done, provided enough revenue is obtained elsewhere. If business taxes are pared to the point where they will no longer seriously restrain job-making, and if sales taxes are knocked out, the government's principal reliance for revenue must rest with the personal income tax. But here also Mr. Dewey promises reductions. Some reduchions will be possible. Mr. Dewey says persons making $11 a week should not pay income taxes. That revenue could be spared. But how far up would Mr. Dewey go? Would he exempt $12 a week, $15, $20? To the extent exemptions are granted, the present broad base of the income tax will be narrowed—and that will not be good, even for those who get low incomes. Everybody has to pay taxes, and taxes that are not laid directly will have to be collected indirectly. . - . » » ON HIS main theme—that we must build a post-war prosperity from which to skim revenues—Mr. Dewey is talking sense and making political hay. “It is far better,” he said, “to have a low tax rate with a national income of 150 billion dollars, rather than a high tax rate with a national income of 76 billion dollars, as we had under the New Deal at its peace-time best. What we want is a thriving, progressive country with jobs for all.

We want our tax laws to be stable and understandable so |}

they will no longer be a road block in the way of progress. We want them to be levied sensibly, with understanding for the human needs of our people. : “That kind of tax policy we are going to have. We are going to have the kind. of tax laws under which America may once more live and grow. We will have a government which wants to see every American get ahead.”

STRONG-ARM POLITICS

We hope the two young navy officers who were beaten up by that gang of hoodlums from the Tobin-Roose-velt campaign banquet are not going to hold it against the members of the Teamsters’ union, in whose name the party was held. That isn’t where the blame belongs. Nearly all the 400,000 rank and file members of the Teamsters’ union are honest, decent, hardworking truck drivers and warehouse workers. They are not the kind of men who would start slugging a couple of sick or wounded sailors, barely out of hospitals, over a political, or any other, question. Of course, they were not at the Tobin-Roosevelt banquet. Only top-rank big shots from the upper crust of professional “labor leaders” could get in to anything as fancy as a de luxe banquet addressed by the President of the United States. Those are the men, not only from the Teamsters, but from other unions, who attended the party —some of them young enough to be in uniform themselves, but exempt from service because of their military value as union organizers. Those are the men—eight or ten of them—who slugged the two sailors. Not union working men. Professional “labor leaders” ~—some of them big enough shots to claim to be close personal friends of President Roosevelt. i” . . . ” » n THE FACT most likely to escape attention is that these labor politicians are a very long way removed from the men they pretend to represent, and whose money and whose ballots they have pledged so freely to keep themselves in political power. Of all the working union men we know, we can't think of a single one who would approve of what these union leaders did in the corridors of the Statler hotel in Washington after President Roosevelt's speech. We wonder, sometimes, how many of them approve of the whole deep, strong-arm political game these self-chosen leaders of their unions are playing. But it is reasonably apparent that the two navy men are not convinced. We don’t believe they feel they've been fighting for a post-war America in which the ultimate in political persuasion is a right hook to the jaw, and where you don't talk back to a union organizer if you hope to keep ~ your front teeth. LE,

MR. ROUSEVELR SAID— :

"government of all kinds, big and little, be made solvent

Reflections By Joe Willams

NEW YORK, Oct. 5.~Thenum-1{ -

in New York. cago and Detroit. The ramifications are so extensive ‘it is almost impossible to eliminate the racket in a large down; even where an effort to apply the law is performed with energy the results discouragin the officials, And this energy,

operators merely set up shop elsewhere, made new

“ PROPOSE to you, my friends, and. through you, that |

bers racket is the poor man's mus * tuels. For 5 cents you may win $100 or better. No investor is saj- | isfied to play only one number; he'll go for 5, 10 or even 20. Whatever hif investment, it isn’t big, or doesn’t seem so. For that reason the racket flourishes and attracts ‘thousands of players, millions on the national scale, It may pain Governor Dewey to "know. the numbers still do all right They do even better in towns like Chi-

are g deplorably, is not

’ %

drive yielded the customary consequences; the

contacts, political and otherwise, and business continued as usual,

Touchy Part of Accusation

WELL, NOT EXACTLY as usual because Prosecutor Dowling of Detroit charges that the racket has moved into the war plants and that “80 per cent of the numbers are written at the production lines.” He mentions such plants as Ford, Packard, Chrysler and General Motors. And he inakes the added charge that owners refuse to permit his inspectors to enter the plants because of fears of retaliatory strikes. This was the touchy part of the prosecutor's accusation and evoked speedy, formal denials, as was to be expected. The only strikes plant owners care to discuss are the kind Newhouser and Trout threw in the Tigers’ desperate bid for the pennant. It would be something less than surprising if the war workers, lottery minded by training and environmen, didn't subscribe to the get-rich-quick promise of the racket and it would be equally inconceivable that the operators could not devise a systematic means for the exercise of their pleasure, even “at the production lines.” How much this might contribute to absenteeism, which should be the main concern of the plant owners, is something else.

'No Time for Us to Get Prudish’

1 CHECKED with a friend of mine now in labor | relations in one of the bigger plants and he did not deny the prosecutor’s charge. “But what the hell,” | he sa everybody in Detroit plays the numbers and certainly this is no time for us to get prudish with the men in the shops and, besides, our production figures are running to schedule.” Before hanging up my friend asked the the number of my hotel room, which happened to be 775. “Might be a winning combination,” he commented. “I'll play that for us today.” To keep the record straight, Prosecutor Dowling was defeated for Democratic renomination. The United Automobile Workers (C. I. OJ) opposed him. They point to this fact as an explanation of his charges. / P. 8S. 715 didn’t come up that day. My mistake was in not asking for a lucky room.

World Affairs

By William, Philip Simms

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5. — The situation inside China is becoming so critical that unless Hitler is crushed in the next few weeks, the Chinese army may be washed up as a fighting force and the war in the Pacific prolonged indefinitely. : As long as the European war drags. on, the full weight of the United States and Great Britain cannot be brought to bear in the Far East. The Japs will have time to dig in so deeply that it may take two or three years to blast them out. ” Cut off from the outside world, the only means China has of receiving aid is by air, over the dangerous Himalayan hump, from India and Burma. Even that help is so slender, said a Chungking spokesman this week, that “it would hardly be credited if it could be disclosed.”

Planes Aren't Enough

IT IS NO GOOD sending large fleets of planes to China because there isn't enough gas to keep them in the air after they arrive. They would simply become ground targets for the Japs. Gas, of course, is flown in. But it takes almost as much to fly the big transports in and out again as they can carry across the world’s highest mountains. Moreover, every spare part, every soldier, every round of ammunition and materiel required for these planes must also travel into China by the same route, The Japs have China in a vise. are fighting Hitler in Europe, they are feverishly preparing for a long siege in Asia. Not only have they sitrounded China, but they are cutting her into segments and isolating the pieces. President Roosevelt recently sent Donald Nelson and Maj. Gen. Patrick Hurley to China presumably to study her military requirements. But unless sufficient tangible aid reaches her soon, it may arrive too late. The Japs are even driving us out of the few Chinese airfields we have set up. The cry: almost of despair raised in Chungking is well understood here. Tt is conceded that only a comparative dribble of help has reached China, but informed persons here and in the Far East, also are aware that it took almost a miracle to deliver even that little.

Russia Holds the Real Key

CHINA'S SALVATION now depends on (1) the destruction of the Japanese fleet and, (2) a successful large-scale landing on her east coast like that in France last June. Or, (3) Russia’s entry into the war against Japan, : Russia holds the real key. There are several over-

able Soviet aid. And from Siberia, not only could Manchuria be invaded by land, but Japan proper could be bombed around the clock. . Japan's defeat is vital to the Soviet Union. -Japan blocks her outlet to the Pacific. Japan menaces the

Russia what our Far West was to us in 1850, Russia wants at least the use of the old Chinese Eastern ; railway—which she built and once owned—across Arthur from which Japan drove her in:1905. And lastly, she would like to have a voice in the future of Korea.

rangement with China regarding these associated problems were she to lend a hand against Nippon.

To. The Point— — Er the rao, mind i th

for a man that only promises a lot

And while we

land routes-via which China could receive consider- |

whole treasure-house of eastern Siberia which is to |’ Manchuria, plus the warm-water outlet at Port

Russia might be able to make a satisfactory ar- |

ey rationed the

* “AFTER FINISHING the comic strips, if you want another laugh turn to Page One and read how mobile |

AND SINATRA

100!

——

1 wholly disagree with what you say,

The Hoosier Forum

defend to the death your right to say it.—Voltaire.

but will

“WE HEARD THAT BEFORE” By Albert Perry, 1348 8. Chester st. In regard to Dewey's speech I would like to get in a few words. Mr. Dewey made a lot of chocolatecoated promises, he would do this and he would do that. We heard that before from Mr. Hoover. We had 13,000,000 men out of work who had to take what they could off charity. American people don’t want charity. When our President took office these same men went to work at $50 an hour. Now lets give P. D. R. credit for what he has done. A short time after F. D, R. got at the wheel the people had a car in their long deserted garage and plenty in their pots. Now don’t get confused, this happened after Hoover went out of office. Just another Hoover promise that our faithful F. D. R. fulfilled. I hear people say I couldn't vote for Roosevelt because he said our boys would never be sent overseas. Now they forget this part “unless we be attacked” and we weré.. I have two sons serving overseas and it was not our President who put them there, and there is no doubt in my mind that Roosevelt will keep them any longer than necessary. | » I, myself, think F. D. R. -is.an indispensable man at this time. He must have what it takes or this nation would not have kept him in office all these years. So why change a man that knows all-the answers and is doing a good job

(Times readers are invited to express their views in these columns, religious controversies excluded. Because of the volume received, let ters should be limited to 250 words. Letters must be signed. Opinions set forth here are those of the writers, and: publication in no way implies agreement with those opinions by The Times. The Times assumes no responsi bility for the return of manuscripts and cannot enter correspondence regarding them.)

tion and a grudging admiration in the hearts of the opposition, and worst of all, a spirit of defeatism. Without mercy, he strikes at their weakest points, above or below the | pelt, and leaves them stunned and momentarily helpless, Mr. Dewey, for instance, finds it easier to answer charges Mr. Roosevelt did not make rather than those he did make, He spends many paragraphs attempting to prove what everybody, including Mr. Roosevelt, already knows—that we were not ready for war at Pearl Harbor. .He devotes not one paragraph to Mr. Roosevelt's charge that nearly every attempt he made to warn and arm this country was opposed by Republicans “in and out of congress.” And that is but natural, dénce it

of Sl. x would probably take even longer to ‘ frame a reply to this than to name ‘STRIKES AT THEIR a single New Deal law or bureau he

WEAKEST POINTS” By Percy Vere; Indianapolis. I have already, as you know, predicted the defeat of Mr. Roosevelt on Nov. 7 next. I am not ready yet to change that prediction. It is clearly evident, however, that the Republican party has not yet produced a man who can match Mr. Roosevelt-on the stump, or even come near him. Perhaps no other party could duplicate him. Perhaps we shall never see hif like again. I wouldn't know. Here is a man who, with a single address, strikes fear and consterna-

Side Glances—By Galbraith

would like to see eliminated,. That, he said, would take all afternoon. The complaint, too, that Mr. Roosevelt rakes up the “remote past.” Hoover, they say, is not running now. They seem to have forgotten, conveniently, that Grover Cleveland and his so-called panic ran frem 1888 to 1928, or until Herbert Hoover eclipsed him with a bigger and better panic. { Mr. Roosevelt may not be indispensable, but it is beginning to look to some of us as if he were indestructable. We shall learn about that on Nov. 7.

pre—

where who is calling whom a liar, .|course, it might be worthwhile for

“Ito me to be the biggest and most

“BIGGEST AND MOST UNCALLED FOR LIE” By A. J. Schneider, Indianapolis, Now that the presidential campaign has arrived at that stage

in drawing room language, of

us all to look back at what seems

uncalled ‘or lie to date. I refer to the controversy Over “whether or not the Seattle speech was a political speech by Mr. Roosevelt. First, the federal communications commission, backed by the military, ruled it a campaign speech. Then Mr. Roosevelt denied that it was. And so it remains a non= political speech, so ruled by the all-powerful, indispensable (to him-~ self) man, However, Mr. Roosevelt has been told by his followers so often that he has begun to believe it, that he

Talked Small Taxpayer's Language

who makes as

is the. greatest politician in all!

fifi

iF oI

FER ti

AND, ALTHOUGH he urged the need to reform

the No. 1 point in his program of tax reforms:

“Revise the personal exemptions 0 that the min little as $11 a week no longer has in.

bookkeeper. The first has to be an accountant, a statistician, a lawyer and a tax expert all in one.” :

THE REPUBLICAN nominee showed he can

in which Harry Hopking suggests certain tax ree ductions,

that immediately became fodder for Mr, De

wey. “The highest New Dealers at last admit,” he said, “that this administration has created an impossible condition which urgently needs repair.” In the same vein, he sought to turn to his own advantage Vice President Wallace's speech ‘urging relief from

5 gE

In Washington

By Peter Edson

times. And if he has any political sense at all, he knows that once &/ candidate for office, every move is political. Not because he wills it, | or because he says so, but because | the voting public so recognizes it.| And in this instance, his own followers have made him out a liar— some say it’ was the shrewdest move | up to that time. And if there is) anything American ‘about him he! should permit American sportsmanship to guide his conscience on such an insignificant matter. American sportsmanship can condone big mistakes; but never the small uncalled for slips. » “GREAT MANY UNNECESSARY THINGS” By A Parent, Indianapolis. I'm just another parent who disapproves of the way the schools high-pressure the pupils to buy war stamps. Even going so far as to stop the children on the street and scold for buying a few cents worth of candy. Some day I hope we can have more good teachers in our schools. My children have had a few very good ones, When a mother has iliness in the home and can’t attend P.-T. A they take the attitude that we don't care about it and they are inconsiderate of our children, ° I know the teachers, too, have much to contend with, but there is a great many unnecessary ‘things taking place. s

- “WHAT WE NEED IS HONESTY” : By J. B. P.,, Indianapolis. What has Franklin D. Roosevelt

work in order to bolster a gang of

ever done beside tax the tar out of the decent people who would

» partment which has carrying out the farm policies laid down congress, In trying to explain all this political peace on the agricultural front, it won't do to jump the agri. cultural cow over the moon while holding onto the tail of a conclusion that the Roosevelt administration has at last found the perfect farm policy. Nor will it do to assume that farmers are unie versally happy. Farmers sre pever without come plaints, and the Midwestern farm states are generally conceded by the polls as tending toward Dewey.

Another Kind of Rotation [a

IP THE POLLS are right, this will amount to a repudiation of the Roosevelt farm policy, even though farmers are now making more money than they ever made in their lives and should be singing to beat that lark in the south 40. Political dopesters, however, explain that farmers are normally Republie can when prosperous, : : Grateful creatures that they are, they must be fixing to vote out of office the Democrats under whose ministrations they have become prosperous, It's a vicious circle. Farmers having been sold on the benefits of crop rotation, they carry out the theory to political rotation. © Another factor which leaves the department of agriculture freer of political ‘criticism than in past

agencies available to catch the blame, Principally, there is OPA with its rationing restrictions on gaso line, tires, trucks and the other things which farmers buy; its price ceilings on grains, feeds, livestock and all the other things the farmers sell. This year, OPA is the goat and the whipping boy, rolled into one,

tary of Agriculture Claude Wickard have been con. tributing greatly to the department's peace of mind by a studied policy of not leading with the chin and of keeping out of the papers. Judge Jones in particular is one of the most adroit non-seekers of publicity in Washington, and his policy of keeping-his mouth shut has paid off in keeping WFA and the depart ment of agriculture out of this year’s political turmoil,

Purely Coincidental, of Course :

has, however, contributed its bit to the administrations need for keeping the voting clients conscious of

Fashions Speech to Current Developments. -

campaign years is that there are other government

* War Food Administrator Marvin Jones and Secres.

BY RELAXING controls wherever possible, WFA

i i cn bang EE

No Coat-tail FOLLOWING statements made

contemptible .slobs who can't make a living for themselves? The government pay rolls, charity and war plants are jammed with these birds —and the only requirement for admission 1s that they be heel enough to take money they don't éarn and tion is of course vote for the guy who made it pos-| sible for them to get it. nn What we need more than anything else ‘in these United States is honesty in government — and well never have it as long as Franklin D. Roosevelt - stays in office. xe ; ’

{ the limelight as

DAILY THOUGHTS BECAUSE thou sayest, I am ‘rich, and increased with goods, . and have need of nothing; and | knowest not that thou art wretched, ‘and miserable, and | poor, and blind, and naked. —Rev-

elation 3:17. 5

This trick of

necessarily. mes

the German army is.

machinery, except col strokes. That these d

department without that- many administrators

the fact that things have been worse and are getting | better. WFA's recent orders, releasing rationing controls on milk cans, pressure cookers and all farm pickers, are masterful political come just ‘before an elec

purely coincidental,

The new farm security administrator, ‘ex-Congress-man John M. Hancock, has likéwise been shunning able to liquidate some of the worst hangovers from & the Tugwell resettlement era, and the congressional = criticism of FSA has died down somewhat since the & former administrator, -C. B. Baldwin, jumped the "| government fence to range in the greener pastures of thls ‘the ©. I O. Political Action Committee; which he now serves ds assistant chairman under Sidney ]

much as possible,

Hillman, being able to operate a. government having. everything and everystate of turmoil is something © never learn. : Ti doesn’t 4

]