Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 21 July 1950 — Page 18

~PAGE 18 Friday, July 21, 1950

PEER SE FEE

Telephone RI ley 5551 @ive Light and the People Will Pind Thew Uwn Way

One Brave Senator

HATS off to Sen. Paul Douglas, Democrat, of Illinois. He is fighting a gallant battle—and, so far, a lonely, losing battle — for intelligent cuts in nondefense government spending. Never has there been greater need for victory in that cause. President Truman has called for 10 billion more defense dollars. He will call for other billions to help our Allies speed up their preparedness. And, barring a decided turn for ‘the better in the world situation, which there is no present reason to expect, he doubtless will have to ask still more for our own preparedness. . So the government may wind up its fiscal year next June with spending over $50 billion and a federal deficit of $16 billion or much more— Unless there is a huge and quick increase in taxes; And unless there is a sharp decrease of spending on ordinary and extraordinary government activities not absolutely essential to our national security and our hopes for peace. A deficit of the size that's threatened would be inflationary dynamite. Mr. Truman realizes that. He has promised to demand heavier taxes. "He has promised fo cut back nondefense programs “wherever feasible.” But Congress has the primary duty to control the purse. ; ” ~ » » - » : WELL, MANY men in Congress also see the danger in the huge threatened deficit. Even before Korea the House had voted to shave a little from many items in the President's budget, and to order further cuts of a flat 10 per cent in nondefense

bf spending pro by the mammoth omnibus appropria4 tions bill. | Now a group of Senators is planning to try, despite the

opposition of their powerful appropriations committee, to write a similar across-the-board cut into the Senate's version of the bill. But anguished cries are raised that this would be a reckless, “meat-ax” method—that only careful “selective” cutting, item by item, can be done without untold damage. And that's where Sen. Douglas comes in.

night oil for weeks, studying the bill, deciding for himself where safe savings can be made. Time after time he rises in the Senate to point to a

and by how | believes it should be reduced. ~~ ~ Time me his bored fi tors vote him down, usually without debate.

wants spared from cutting. And Senators know well how to help each other save their pets. ~ Sen. Douglas may accomplish nothing—except to prove his own courage and the impossibility of “selective” economies. If his fight fails, perhaps the Korean crisis will yet shock a Senate majority into realization that “meat-ax” cuts are infinitely safer than none just now. Perhaps. But chances are that the buck will be passed to the busy President. Possibly we shall see Mr. Truman, the man so often denounced as a profligate spendthrift, enforcing economy after Congress has failed. At least, let us live in hope.

France and Spain

IF CONGRESS votes additional money for European armament, it should be spent where it will do most good. We've been a soft touch long enough, We should begin to demand results, France, for example, was expected to provide most of the ground troops under the North Atlantic defense program, but is not fulfilling that obligation. Easily capable of organizing 15 or 20 divisions, France has just four in being, and three of them are committed to occupational duties in Germany and Austria. - No more money should be allocated to France until a better performance record is shown. The same yardstick should be applied to all other recipients of American assistance. We cannot defend Europe as well as Asia with American troops alone, It's time to get tough. 2

: ” ~ - ? " » MEANWHILE, what about Spain? With 23 active divisions and 16 more in reserve, Spain needs only modern equipment to bring them up to present-day standards. There is a place where our money could make a genuine contribution to European security. - Spain, of course, hasn't been invited to join the North Atlantic Pact. But politics should yield to military necessity in the present crisis. This decision should not be delayed. Troops must be trained in the use of new equipment, and if the equipment is withheld until Russia is on the march Spain cannot help us much. Air bases will be needed in Spain if the rest of Western Europe is overrun by the Communists. They should be under construction now. That is something else that can't safely ~The State Department has temporized too long with this situation. The joint chiefs of staff should be given a green light to go ahead and get ready. They will have to diret the fighting, if America is forced to fight Again.

~ Any ‘Given’ Amount J THIS state where liquor has been sold legally lo these ma years, we had almost forgotten about that prohibithe putin who votes ay and

THIS STATESMAN from Illinois has burned the mid“selected” item, to move that it be reduced and to tell why

. Almost every Senator has pet appropriations that he

SURPLUS MONEY

. By Earl Richert

Price Controls, Rationing Debated

WASHINGTON. July 21-—Are price controls and rationing inevitable as a result of the decision to pour $10 billion more for rearmament into our already booming economy? That question is being hotly debated. here today following President Truman's special message. T he White House answer is “no” The position there is that the curbs proposed by Mr, Truman should do the job without price control and rationing. The proposed priorities t o allocate defense materfals is 'a form of rationing. it was pointed out, The coming tax Increase program Is regarded by the White House as the No. 1 measure to check runaway prices by taking more money out of people’s pockets. “Much depends on the tax program and how fast it comes,” said a top White House official. (The President is to send his request for increased taxes to Congress as soon as the necessary studies ‘are completed.) But while government economists generally followed the White House line, private econo-

mists here were less optimistic over "checking =

inflation by the measures proposed. : “The $10 billion proposed means a suybstantial inflation,” said a private economist who held a high post in OPA throughout the last war,

Foster's Follies. LONDON, July 21 Baron Mountevans told the House of Lords religion is suffering from a lack of humor. Advocating “‘snappier prayers” he offered one in verse, May all our days be happier, And filled with endless mirth. And may these new prayers snappier, Bring joy to all the earth.

But in a voice that's quiverous

We add, “Don’t make things worse.” Oh. House of Lords, deliver us From Lord Mountevans' verse. %

SIDE GLANCES

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to tals 8 my Fisht

. ration it.” - problem.”

ote to oak. yesterda looks fore MS oi Kan Fd out she

“We're lighting a fire on’ something . that already has gasoline spread over it. It's just hogwash to say that the curbs proposed will keep prices from going sky high.”

Proposed Curbs

THE CURBS proposed by Mr. Truman included priorities and allocations for defense materials, limitation of the use of materials for nonessential purposes, higher taxes, controls to stop inventory hoarding and to restrain credit expansion. Housing credit already has been tightened. One well-known government economist compared the present situation to that immediately following the outbreak of World War II in September, 1939. Then, U. 8. civilians rushed to stock up on goods and prices soared. But the gcare buying was over in a couple of months and prices came back down and remained fairly low until early in 1941 when the effects of U. 8, and foreign arms spending began to be felt.

Scare Buying End Seen HE SAID he bélieved that scare buying

‘would end as soon as consumers find that there

are no_real shortages, except for some auto"mobiles. He said that with a national product of nearly $270 billion a year the extra $10 billion for arms spending shouldn't create any undue strain, Another government economist who has just returned from a trip around the country said he believed the President went as far as he could go in his request for war powers. “I don't think the people would take rationing and price ceilings now,” he said. “The war fever is abouf five times as great in Washington

..as it is any place else and the people just don't

think price controls are necessary.” The government economists took the view that wheat, cotton and corn prices would not get much out of line because of government holdings of surpluses accumulated in the past few years. Meat is different. There are no government surpluses of meat and rising demand can send prices higher even though supplies are higher this year than last.

Meat Rationing

“YOU CAN'T control meat prices unless you said one, “And that's one hell of a

In the pre-World War II period. it was recalled, the government in early 1941 started putting out maximum price ceilings on a few selected items, such as second-hand machine tools, aluminum and steel scrap, etc. But these had no legal force, being enforced only by publicity and the voluntary co-operation of industry. President Roosevelt asked Congress for price control powers in a special message on July 30, 1941. But it was not until the following Jan-

: & uary, after Pearl Harbor, that Congress passed

the price. control law which resulted in the blanket price ceiiing order of April, 1942.

By Galbraith ‘REPUBLICAN ADVANCE’ . Ives Cautious on GOP Progressive Move

WASHINGTON, July 21--Sen. Irving M. Ives of New York {ndorses with marked reservations the new “Republican Advance.” ‘No! No! No! This is the latest GOP progressive movement. It was organized by a group of New York Republicans and launched recently with a longish “Statement of Principles” at Philadelphia. So far the movement has had only a fair reception in Wash-

ington. Twenty members of the House have approved it and a dosen Senators are said to be * in sympathy. The old guard has brushed it off, © Sen. Ives has indorsed the fdea in principle, saying that it attempts to fill what is now a vacuum in the Republican Party. He makes clear, however, that the Republican Advance must not be any of three things: ONE: It must not be a mere Republican version of “Americans for Democratic Action,” the New Deal-Fair Deal wing of the Democratic Party. TWO: It must not create a split in the Republican Party. THREE: It must not be a

one candidate.

cref, Republican Advance has been accused of being all three of these things. Its prime movers were Henry Poor, lawyer and former head of the New York Young Republicans,

Red invasion would come.

Guy Adams, To me it struck a chord similar to the Gettysburg Address. The abstract manner in which it wis presented was wonderful. Any

. American who really read it should emerge a

better American. It showed the soldier's response fo duty even though the policymakers in high office may have figured wrong without any particular

blame or praise.

1 wish to thank Mr. Adams for his contribution. It may have made Jots of us think.

DEAR BOSS

By H.E M. : On. yes, Mets It comes. The “economy” boys are setting up the expected howl to cut domestic expenses in order to increase war expenditures, Previously, they were opposed to both. But to use one as an excuse to cut the other seems insincere under the circumNaturally, genuine economy should always be the rule, both in military and civilian spending, but this group usually classifies as extravagant any measure to use the people's money for their own benefit rather than that of special interests.

By Dan Kidney

Congressmen Skip State Parley

WASHINGTON, July 21—<Dear Boss—Democratic Cong etamen will not attend the candidates’ ‘mi at state headquarters in the Claypool Hotel next Monday. Instead their views about this fall’s campaign will be brought back from Washington by Bob Bloem, state committee publicity director. Mr. Bloem is leaving here tonight, after several days spent on Capitol Hill learning what the Congressmen want, and will report on how they think the state committee can help them get it. The six freshmen Democrats in Congress and the head of the Democratic: delegation, Rep. Ray Madden, Gary, are agony | on one thing-—all want to be re-elect- »... ed. Only possible exception is Rep. Andrew Jacobs. Indianapolis. He continues to carry = on, just as he has throughout his two years here, kicking pressure groups in the teeth and telling their lobbyists that} if he has to buy support by being for legislation that he} considers not beneficial to the country as a whole he doesn’t want it, That, of course, is not ac-Mr. Bleem . . . cording to.the ordinary pro- War Business cedures followed by Senators or Congressmen of either the Republican or Democratic parties. Usually they have at least a few pet pressure groups that can always count on them and vice versa. So far as Mr. Jacobs is concerned, they can only count on him when he thinks that what they are seeking is exactly right. So some

of his rule-following colleagues wonder whether

he really wants to be elected or not. He says he oes,

War Comes First

ALL THE DEMOCRATS told Mr. Bloem that they intend to put war business first and campaign on the home grounds only if a Congressional recess makes it possible. There is still talk about recessing, but also considerable argument against it, Most of the Democrats feel that what loomed as formiddble campaign issues appear now to be early war casualties-—namely the Brannan Plan and compulsory health insurance. The latter oftentimes has been labeled “the Ewing plan for socialized medicine.” "' Hoosier Democrats mentioned neither by name in their state platform, adopted at the Tndianapolts convention June 27. Most are

WHERE WILL SHOE FALL? .

breathing a sigh of relief that the war makes it unnecessary to, defend them. The doctors licked the plan to make Oscar R. (Jack) Ewing a Cabinet official in charge of a new Department of Health and Welfare twice-—once in the Senate and once in the House, So the political effect of being for anything called “the Ewing plan” seemed to favor the Republican opposition.

The powerful Indiana Farm Bureau is on .

record against the Brannan Plan. So what may become a “proxy campaign” for the Democratic Congress will probably be based on the premise “let sleeping dogs die,” so far as these two issues are concerned,

Direct-Mail Campaign? SHOULD THE Congresémen be tied down here, much of the campaigning may be direct-by-mail. The late Democratic Sen. Frederick Van Nuys got himself renominated for a seeond term by that method. It is “old hat” so far as the party is concerned. : \ Mr, Bloem talked to the delegation about radio time and billboards. They are equipped to cut platters without leaving the House office building and the state committee can take it from there. The billboards will carry the Congressman’s picture and message to the peopls of his district. Whether the smiling senatorial candidate Alex Campbell's picture will be paired with them remains optional, it is understood.

All Out for Truman

THE CONFIDENT Mr. Campbell, who will come from Ft. Wayne to Indianapolis for the candidates’ meeting, threw a cocktail party for the Congressmen on a trip here this week. He reminded reporters, at a special press party, that he was all out for President Truman and his program when he left here last January to seek the Democratic senatorial nomination. Mr. Campbell resigned as head of the criminal division of the Justice Department to make the race. He had taken that job in the summer of 1848, when the President's chances for re-elec-tion seemed very dim, The President hasn't forgotten that. The administration and. national party organization will give Mr. Campbell all possible help in an effort to defeat Republican Sen. Homer E. Capehart for a second term. His early backing of the President has been helped by the war, some believe. but Hoosier Democrats here generally admit that it is too early to tell what effect the war may have on the Indiana “sleciorats next November.

. By Ludwell Denny

U. S. Waits for Reds’ Next Move

WASHINGTON, July 21— There is a walting-for-the-other-shoe-to-drop alertness here, As the President warned Congress Wednesday, ‘We must therefore recognize the possibility that armed aggression may take place In other areas.” This feeling has been sharpened by a sudden turn in Soviet * propaganda, after three weeks of harping on the lie that the United States started the Korean War. Moscow yesterday moved on to a new one It charges that America, to cover up “failure” in Korea, is planning another “aggression” elsewhere. Moscow does not name the place. But its Cominform mouthpieces in Eastern Europe do. They say Washington is going to use the American trained and supplied Greek army to attack Red Albania

Mr. Vishinski Secret Meeting?

and Red Bulgaria. This business of charging the intended victim with the crime planned by the aggressor is, of course, an ancient device. It was perfected by Hitler and is a favorite of Stalin's. Nevertheless, it is not a sure sign of impending attack. Stalin also uses it in the war of nerves to throw the democracies off balance, and to divert attention from a much hotter spot elsewhere.

‘Doubts Greece Is Next

THE possibility of a Red move against Greece is emphasized by three other developments. The United Nations Balkan Committee, on the basis of its field reports from that area, warns against such an attack. There are unusual Bulgarian troop movements in the sector from which a And there are re-

idea.”

. . By Peter Edson

party has got to quit saying: to every new

In most of the northern and

ports of an emergency Balkan Cominform strategy meeting under Soviet Foreign Minister Vishinski. Neither Washington nor Athens, however, thinks Greece fs next on Stalin's list. The Soviet-supported Red rebellion there was finally put down by a patriotic Greek army, which today is in better military shape and in higher public favor: - Moreover, Stalin®now lacks the support of Yugoslavia, which was his best asset before. Under these uninviting conditions, another major satellite drive against Greece seems unUkely at the moment. If the next move is to be in the Balkans, the guess here is Yugoslavia. For both offensive and defensive reasons Stalin needs to get rid of the rebel Red, whose defiant Titoism is spreading to neighboring satellite states. Though Tito’s army is the largest in Europe outside Russia, the performance of North Korean satellite troops indicates that Soviet-officered and supplied Bulgarian, Romanian, Hungarian and Czech divisions combined might defeat Yugoslavia.

Tito Would Need Munitions

EVEN IF they did not, Tito would have te ask for allied munitions—which Stalin propa~

. ganda would use as proof that he is a “capie

talist tool” and thus undermine him at home. Many military men here guess Iran is the next place, because it is so vulnerable and the Middle Fast is such a rich prize. But that would mean direct Russian attack, and the foreign political experts still think Stalin is not ready for that. They think he will continue to use satellites for a while—as in Greece, China and Korea. If so, then Yugoslavia, Indo-China or Formosa would be higher on his list than Iran.

would Impose too much government control.” - td ” ON THE other hand, Sen. Ives wants no part of Georgia

faction built up to support any Organized pretty much in se- :

ing in Washington some ‘weeks ago at the home of Mrs. Virginia Bacon. At that time. the word got around that this was a disguised boom for ex-Gov. Harold Stassen. It threw some-

thing of a chill over the pro-

ceedings. Sen. Ives makes no bones about the fact he is not a Stassen man. He is lan Eisenhower supporter. But he says frankly that even if Republican Advance were committed to Gen. Eisenhower, it would be most SbATAMing and harmful to

_ his chances

Sen. Ives would like to see Gen. Eisenhower nominated without any strings tied to him,

. thing to offer. must have a constructive pro-

western states, the Senator be-.

lieves.' the Republicans can elect almost any candidate in normal times, if he has anyBut the party

gram of its own. For instance, Sen. Ives says the principle of Social Security is all right. The people want it. What's wrong with it is the idea that the government should run the whole thing. He applies the same reasoning to health insurance. Be-

ing in the insurance business

himself, he says he would like to see everyone buy . policies providing full medical protection. But since people won't do that, something else has to be provided. Where the Democratic proposal falls down, he says, is in its effort to have governmént regulate the whole

me a ye and labor legis-

Sen. Richard B. Russell's suggestion that the Republican party adopt a strong states’ rights platform in order to appeal to Southern conservatives, “The important point,” says Sen. Ives, “is to protect the rights of the individual-—not of the state or federal governments—in order to keep the

e people free.”

All these points are stressed

in the new Republican Ad-

vance Statement of Principles. Its goals include, “a reason-

able security for old age, ade- -

quate medical care available for all, Insurance against unemployment, year-foynd work, better education, better housing, protection of the rights of labor, aid to agriculture” and “. . . achieving these goals “without snslaving the people.”

Useing To Gel

War con stories from are using friendly An prayers to ge United States + Keyes Beec respondent w the fighting, to a story. “Every stc with prayer there no con Korea and 1 pilots headin From Tok; are radioed t There is no e Beech has el sorship. Three othe respondents tegically in Albert Raver mosa to Hq potential tro Korean invas Standing b anywhere th break out ar the Phillippi bard in Austr Mr. Beech, tioned in Tok just such a Korean putb: combat corre last war,

15 Win Festival

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