Evening star., 1933-12-11

General debate has been aroused by
| the statement from former Gov. Alfred
E. Smith that the civil works program
was adopted by Washington to make up
| for what he described as the shortcom-
ings of the Public Works Administra-
| ton Most observers concede that the
newer agency has given speed to recov-
cry, but some find that criticism from
! the former New York Governor repre-
sents a cleavage in major parties be-
tween the conservatives and the lib
erals, the President being aligned with
| the latter.
There will be a breakup" thinks
the Topeka Daily Capital. but it is
Franklin D. Roosevelt and not Alfred
Smith who will emerge as the actual. as
we'll as titular head and chief Of the
party" The Capital says there is no
fundamental political difference be-
tween the parties" and that 'if party
realignme.lt should occur, it would in
volve the breakup, a great mutual shift
of individual membership from one to
| the other"
"The effect of the Smith statement"
according to the Roanoke Times, "un-
doubtedly will be to stimulate discussion
and doubtless it will cause more care
full and analytical examination of the
civil works program. We do not know
that this in itself is to be deplored or
that it constitutes cause for objection.
It is becoming more and more appar-
cnt that from now on Mr. Roosevelt's
policies are not going to be accepted
with 100 per cent acquiescence and an
utter absence of criticism. The coun-
try respects the Presidents integrity
Of purpose and 1t has nothing but ad-
miration for his courage and good in
tentions."
THE Smith criticism comes little
late, when the administration has just
he charges against it." rays the Abilene
Reporter The Reporter also comments:
Smiths is not the first criticism of the
Public Works Administration. For
weeks there has been impatience with
its failure to swing its program into
action to put men to work. But why
: quibble over alphabetical niceties? If
P. W. A. failed, its stepchild. c. w. A.,
certainly is succeeding in doing what
Smith says P. w. A. failed to dot
is putting men to work. About two
millions have been taken of the dole
and given paying jobs; two millions
more will be given jobs before the pro-
gram is complete. G. w. A. cannot
dement, the nedVy luuuSLrleS, oHllLIl
charges. It was not designed To benefit
heavy industries. 1t was intended to
put men to work, and this 1t Is doing
Surely Smith would not argue that it
is better to have men on the dole than
actually working at something, earning
their pay and in some degree at least
performing useful tasks"
The public works program cannot
be said to have failed" declares the
Rochester Times Union, "since it has
not yet been sufficiently under way to
be expected to produce any marked
stimulus to employment and business
activity" That paper concludes: "The
public works program, taken either as
a whole or with respect to the separate
communities, involves a very consider
able volume of construction and con-
sequent employment. We shall know
more about its stimulating effect when
this work gets into full swing"
Perhaps the public works program
has been moving slowly" states the
Omaha World Herald, because Secre-
tary Ickes chose to be painfully tight
fsted with the peoples money and re-