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tup: maroon tiger
By Preston R. Shaw
All ihe eyes of America and the world are focused
on the White House. The momentous question of the
day in America is: “Can the 31st official President,
Franklin 1). Roosevelt, lift the country out of its chaotic
condition?” The skeptic shakes his head; the optimist
nods. The European Satesmen are seeking an answer
to their question: “Is Roosevelt the link to the chain of
prosperity?” This que iion is unanswered, and will re
main so for the present. However, the world is hoping
and praying that in Roosevelt it has found the key lead
ing to the door of prosperity. Some of us advocate the
Washington and Monroe Doctrine: “America for Ameri
can, buy American products.” That is all very good,
but can we think in terms of Washington and Monroe,
yet, expect to function and retain our integrity? As a
world power, we have automatically become a member
of the great family of nations. Accordingly, it is entire
ly out of th3 question in our time for a first-class pow
er to function independently. We must have markets
for our prot ects in foreign countries. The World War
was fought o l that issue. Let us take in question the
situation in C ina. In opposing Japan, the nations are
not so much concerned about the integrity of China,
as they are ti/ing to convince the world. China has
been a land of exploitation, a dumping ground for
European products; hence, their reason for siding with
China. However, what we Americans are most concerned
about at this junction is the solidarity of our economic,
political, and industrial situation. For this gigantic
task, we have elected a man, who has promised us a
“new deal.” Crime has undermined the high moral
standard of this country; our social statutes are disor
ganized. In order to master and readjust these problems,
the President has received despotic power. The Na
tion has willingly resigned itself to await the promised
“new deal” which may mean months before its realiza
tion.
Foreign relationship, war debt, agriculture, commerce,
finance and prohibition are some of the prominent fac
tors that need Roosevelt’s immediate attention. What
questions should be attacked first? I feel that the war debt
and prohibition questions should receive his first atten
tion. Let us consider first the question of war debt. De
spite the fact that we have 20,000,000 unemployed.
America is still one of the two richest countries. But
where is the money, may be the question. The answer
is: in the government hanks. If this statement holds
true you will perceive the consequence when the bulk of
the money is not in the hands of the people. Hoover
and his administration were put out of office because
of the depression and unemployment situation. If Roose
velt should distribute millions of dollars among the
armers, and commercial people in order to place agri-
( dture and industry on its foot, it will mean the em-
p. yment of 20,000,000 men and women. But what
will be the reaction to such a policy? America cannot
absorb all her output. We must have foreign markets.
The fact cannot be disputed that the European coun
tries, as well as the Asiatics, are suffering under the
same depression and subsequently, cannot buy from us.
This means that we find ourselves in the same quandary.
I feel that to circumvent this issue, the war debt must
he wiped out. Thus, the monies paid by foreign citi
zens through their respective governments for our gov
ernment will remain with them. This will result in a
market for our products.
Is prohibition a blessing to the country? Some hold
that it is a curse, so do I. So much has been said for
and against prohibition during the last presidential
election, that I shall not venture to expatiate on it. Let
it suffice to say, that those who are in favor of pro
hibition, after having it should first visit some of the
homes in the larger cities as well as colleges, then
visit Europe and contrast prohibition with non-prohibi
tion. The 18th Amendment has closed public bars,
and in its place created private bars. It has transferred
liquor from the bar to man’s most private sanc
tuary, his home. It has demoralized the country since
its inauguration more than any amendment on our sta
tute hook. Were there at any time, characters in our
country, or in any other country for that matter, who
had dared to do what A1 Capone and his associates
did and are still doing? Sections of our country fear
the Capone organization more than they do the Federal
Government. Our laws are disregarded, our government
ridiculed. In our country, in Congress, in the Senate,
the influence of Capone is felt. Prohibition has deter
mined the organization of this under world government
whose influence prevails over certain law abiding citi
zens in business. In various manners are they being
forced to pay tribute under penalty of death or complete
ostracism from business. Under such unhealthy con
ditions, I feel that the prohibition question must be set
tled among the first. To do so, is to deprive this no
torious organization of its principal sustenance, liquor.
Their complete destruction is sure to follow, if they
are attacked by the full force of our Federal Government.
While speaking of phenomenal deeds one thinks of
Lincoln who gave birth to a nation with one stroke of
his pen; of Booker T. Washington who while soaring
to the heights of oratory found means to lift the veil of
ignorance from the brow of his people and of other
great characters. But people speaking of such from
now on might add to iheir collection, the deed of Frank
lin D. Roosevelt. The President, with one stroke of his
pen, did what municipalities from the size of Chicago
to the village of a measly few hundred have been trying
to do for years. In that stroke he stopped the flow of
innumerable amounts of blood money into the greedy
hands of racketeers. With the closing of the banks
went the number racket, to a large degree, thereby sav
ing the small change of the masses who play that they
might use it for better purposes; such as, feeding their
own hungry children.
G. Cletus Birchette.
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