The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-06-14
Roosevelt Has Done
Practically All He
Promised Public
Pledge Has Been Carried Into Execution = He
Gave World Lesson i'm Modern Politics

novelty to have such q thing hap
pen, at all since politicians gener-
ally have regarded platforms as be-
ing made to run on, not to stand
on.
At the same time, some doubt
has been raised whether the ad-
ministration, due to unavoidable
circumstances or for other reasons.
has followed the party policy in
several matters - especially as to
platform declarations for sound
money, stricter antitrust low en-
forcement, justice to war veterans
and now cancellation of war debts.
A check on the fate of demo-
cratic platform pledges adopted q
year ago at the Chicago convention
shows action has been taken to-
ward execution of promises on the
following:
1. Government economy.
q. Balancing the budget.
3. Reduction Of tariffs by nego-
tiation.
4. Unemployment relief and re-
employment.
8. Farm and mortgage relief.
6. Waterpower development In
the public interest.
z. Securities control.
s. Correction of banking weak
nesses.
0. Pursuance of a foreign policy
which would include a
pledge to consult with other
nations in carrying out the
Kellogg anti-war pact.
10. Repeal Of prohibition and
restoration of beer.
Tn edi6fion President Roosevelt
put through congress a railroad
control bill which was not in the
platform program.
No action has been taken toward
carrying out the platform pledges
calling for:
1. Regulation Of holding com
panies, interstate utility rates and
commodity and stock exchanges.
2. Strengthening Of the corrupt
practices act.
other miscellaneous pledges such
as simplication Of legal pro-
cedure, and granting of ultimate
statehood to Puerto Rico are not
deemed pressing. With the ex-
ceptions mentioned, every major
question raised in the platform has
been tackled.
In the past party platforms have
been practically forgotten after
Election day, often before. Candi-
dates usually revamp the platform
in their acceptance speeches. They
forget planks in which they are not
Interested. But Mr. Roosevelt has
repeatedly shown that he is con-
stantly aware Of the program laid
down at the Chicago convention.
It was, on the whole, his pro-
gram. His friends drafted 1t. He
endorsed it all when he appeared
before the convention.
The high percentage of action on
democratic pledges Is regarded by
administration supporters as espe-
cialfy noteworthy because of the
rapid changes which took place in
the economic situation between
last summer and Inauguration day.
For instance, few believe Presi-
dent Roosevelt expected, when he
was nominated, to tamper with the
gold standard. But by the time he
had become president practically
every bank in the country was
closed and preconceived notions
had to be reshaped to fit the emer-
gency, resulting in initiation legis-
lation which, has been sparingly
used SO far. Senator Carter Glass
of Virginia, stamped this action as
a violation of the sound currency
campaign pledge.
The pledge for stricter antitrust
enforcement was set aside in con-
nection with the industrial recov-
cry bill which valves antitrust
laws to permit Industries to enter
into agreements regarding hours,
wages, minimum prices and busi-
ness practices. This, as well as
the Muscle Shoals plan, runs con-
trary to the pledge for removal OF
the government from private en-
terprise. But the purpose is IN
fulfillment OF other parts of the
platform.
Likewise, drastic reduction OF
veterans payments made for econ
omy reasons is now branded IN
congress as contrary to the plat
form pledge of justice to service.
connected cases and a modified
restoration is being. worked out.
On war debts, the flat pledge
against cancellation has been
counteracted by the flat refusal OF
some of the debtors to pay. A
principle has ,collided with a con-
dition, the administration Is try
ing to salvage what 1t can.