Gaspar Bacon, Candidate for Governor, Deplores Federal Bureaucracy Based on State Bankruptcy

"The present abnormal Federal bureaucracy, and unavoidable corollary of the breakdown of local governments incidental to the breakdown of local finances, must be wiped out through a drastic revision of the national system of taxation," said Gaspar G. Bacon '05, Republican candidate for Governor, in an interview with the CRIMSON yesterday.

"In the present emergency, the National Government has taken over duties and powers heretofore reserved to the states. Many states, happily not our own, found themselves helpless to hope with their relief needs. For this season, they cried out in desperation or federal assistance. Were all the takes like Massachusetts, I venture to assert that no such abnormal bureaucracy as now exists in Washington would have been necessary. But many states are virtually bankrupt, and the funds now being dispensed by the National Government for the rehabilitation of other parts of the country come largely from the pocket-books of the taxpayers and wage-earners of Massachusetts and the other states of the Industrial East.

"But the lessons of these difficult times have taught us many things. Among these is the incontrovertible fact that unemployment, with all its attendant distress, is a problem which is the direct concern of government. The machine age has permanently changed our obligations. There can now be no doubt that those who find themselves, through no fault of their own, displaced in recurring periods of depression must be provided for by Government, with funds raised from the taxpayers. If no better method can be thought of, we are constrained to resort to the dole. But should not every effort be made to avoid this demoralizing form of public charity? The people of Massachusetts are willing to contribute to any stricken section of the country; but is there no limit?

"The alternative is some form of Unemployment Insurance or Unemployment Reserves. In good times, a fund could and should be raised to tide us over the lean days which will inevitably follow. Surely the principle is sound; the details are less important. Repeatedly in public speech for many months have I advocated this, May I not hope that the Republican party will adopt in its platform some workable Unemployment Insurance Plan?"