A NEW MENACE

The rantings of Hearst and Coughlin together with Long and Townsend and the radical wing of the Democratic party do not seem to have pushed government legislation far enough to the left to satisfy the demands of certain groups among the electorate. For now introduced into Congress is the Lundeen Bill, a bill that its enthusiasts insist is the only compromise of the capitalistic system and the necessary antitoxin for depression.

Mr. Lundoen is no piker. He would provide an unemployment, old age, and social insurance for all--at the expense of the national government. He would give a "just compensation" of $10 a week, plus $3 for each dependent to all workers and farmers--some 15,000,000--above eighteen years of age, unemployed through no fault of their own. In case average local wages were higher than $10 a week--and in many communities this would certainly be true-- all unemployed would receive as dole an amount equal to average local wages. Taxation necessary to provide the $12,000,000,000 yearly to finance this Act would be raised by levying a higher tax on inheritance, gifts, individual and corporation incomes of $5,000 a year and over.

Congressman Lundeen's bill should not be underrated. Already it has been brought to the floor of the House by a favorable 7 to 1 vote by the congressional committee, and--unlike the Townsend Plan--Lundeen's bill has a very substantial following in Congress itself. There is excellent possibility that the bill will be panhandled through by radicals. Grave danger awaits the nation unless H. R. 2827 is squashed at once.