The Washington times., 1931-09-11
PLAN IS SEEN
AS ANT|DOTE
FOR DOLE
Many National Leaders Back
Proposal Outright; Others
Indicate Change in Views
BY WILLIAM c. MURPHY, JR.

Indicate Change in Views
By WILLIAM C. MURPHY, JR.
The growing volume of approval
for the $5,00O,o0O0O0 prosperity
loan proposed by William Ran
- dolph Hearst is becoming a seri-
Gus factor in the plans which
the Hoover administration is un'
derstood to be making for legis-
lation to combat the economic
depression.
While President Hoover has
given no public indication of any
change in his reported oppoSi-
ton to direct Federal relief meas
ures on such a vast scale, there
has been a noticeable Softening
y an the utterances of Administra-
tion leaders on this subject.
Shift In Sentiment
Men like Senator FeSs (RO
Ohio, chairman of the Republi.
can national committee, and Sen
ator Smoot (RD, Utah, chairman
OF the powerful Finance Commit
tee, in their most recent state
ments have taken the attitude
that the Government cannot per-
init its citizens to go hungry.
!. Last year they were among Mr.
Hoovers most loyal supporters
in combating Federal relief &C.
tion.
Walter S. Clifford, chairman of
the Presidents new commission
ON unemployment relief, has been
careful to avoid closing the door
against direct Federal action
though concentrating for the pres
ent on a stimulation of local
charity.
It has been a matter of some
) comment that this apparent slack
ening of Administration enthusi-
asm substatial endeavors by the
Federal Government has been
simultaneous with the growth of
sentiment for the prosperity loan
proposal.
Ready Market for Bonds
Aside from other considerations,
the heavy over-SubscriptionS of re-
cent Government bond issues
have demonstrated that there is a
ready market for long-term Gov
ernment securities. re- .'-.
A substantial bloc in Congress
has given public approval to the
prosperity loan plan and many
others are known to be Sympathe-
tic.
Senators Capper of Kansas,
Davis of Pennsylvania, and Brook
hart of Iowa, all Republicans,
have Endorsed the Hearst plan.
In the House, the list of Re-
publican proponents includes Rep
resentatives Grail of California,
Swing of California, Erik of Penn
sylvania, White of Ohio, CARRIER of
Oklahoma, johnson of Washing.
ton, Kelly of Pennsylvania, and
WEIGH of California.
Democratic Members
Democratic House members who
have indorsed the plan include:
Cochran of Missouri, Connery Of
Massachusetts, Sabbath and Kelly
of Illinois, Lea of California, and
Collins of Mississippi. The wide
geographic distribution OF this
congressional support is considered
indicative of a nationwide in
terest.
other political leaders who
y have expressed approval include
Michael Igoe, Democratic ma
tional committeeman from 1lli-
nois, and Mayor Frank Murphy
of Detroit. In such widely sepa-
rated States as Washington and
New York, the plan has drawn
the approval of members of the
State legislatures and group OF
LEGISLATORS from the former State
have petitioned President Hoover
to call an extra session of Con-
gress to permit early action on
> the proposal.
Unions Favor Plan
Industrial leaders and labor
unions have Joined in the de-
mand for a comprehensive pro
gram of public works such as
envisiOned by the Hearst pro-
poSal.
Oscar Rosenthal, president of
the Builders Association of Chi
cago, has praised the prosperity
loan idea and the Chicago Fed
Grafton Of Labor voted unani-
; mously in favor of a resolution
demanding prompt action by
Congress.
Numerous units of the Ameri-
can Legion, Disabled American
Veterans, and the Veterans Of
Foreign Wars have also gone on
record for the prosperity loan.
In most instances the indOrSers
have argued that it would be
better for the Government to
stimulate a return to normal
business conditions by taking ad.
vantage of prevailing low in.
tereSt rates to undertake needed
construction than to rely on the
temporary palliative of grudg.
ingly granted appropriations for