The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-11-01

uOIIlhg 10 II, nave every interest,"
in destroying it, and no interest in
compromising with it.
THAT is all the issue 7 can dis
l. cover in the New York cam
paign.
There are, however, fictitious is
sues dragged in for no purpose but
to confuse voters. One of these ficti-
tious issues turns on the claim that
Mckee is the administration candi-
date; the other on the assertion
that La Guardia is the advance
agent for the revival of the Repub-
lican party in 1886; still another,
that La Guardia is disguised Com
muniSt.
Let us look first at the more pre-
posterous of these issues. According
to Mr.. McKee's argument, Mr.. La
Guardia has accomplished the really
extraordinary feat of being at one
and the same time the representa-
tive of Mr.. Hoover and of Mr..
Stain, of the G.. o. P, and of the
Third International. At one moment
Mr.. Mckee declares that La
Guardia'S election in New York will
lead to Republican triumph in
1886; the next moment he declares
that it will lead to Communism.
You pay your money and you
take your choice. If you are afraid
of the Republicans, vote for Mckee.
If you are afraid of the reds, vote
for Mckee. Of all the Stiffness ever
brought out in political campaign,
this attempt to portray Major La
Guardia as the emiSSary both of
Moscow and of Palo Alta deserves
the prize.
The other alleged issue is little
more plausible-namely, the claim
that Mr.. Mckee is the administra-
ton candidate. For Mr.. Farley did
intervene in New York politics
enough to justify the claim or
charge that the Mckee candidacy is
connected with administration poll
tics.
But Mr.. Farley has displayed many
evidences of wishing he had not
interviewed, and, after the first stage
of the affair, has been enormously
busy almost everywhere except in
New York City. 1t is a fair infer
ence that he wishes he had kept
away from New York City.
DUT even if Mr.. Mckee had the
- party political backing of the
administration, which obviously he
has not, the question for supporters
of the President would still be:
Would the Presidents program be
affected for good or evil by the vic
tory of either Mckee or of La Guar
ola? To answer that question real
istically we must ask ourselves an
other question: What part does the
government of New York city, or of
any other city, play in the carrying
out Of the national program?
A very important part. An es-
sential part of the national pro-
gram is the restoration of credit
and property values. The bank
ruptcy Of a city like New York
would be a serious matter. There
fore, the first thing that Washing
ton must desire is that the cities
should do what they can to make
themselves solvent.
Another essential part of the ma
tlonal program is the relief of the
unemployed. The cities are the
primary agencies in this field. Eff
tlclent and honestly governed cities
are, therefore, of great importance
Another essential part of the ma
tlonal program calls for the expen-
dlture of money on public works.
Inc cities are among the agencies
which must be used, especially IN
the development of housing, if a
large public works program is TO
be executed. Corrupt, Wasteful and
inefficient city government is an al
most lnsuperable obstacle.
In short, what the administration
needs in New York City is a gov
eminent that is able to cooperate
with 1t. It needs an honest. a SOL
vent, an efficient and an enlight-
ened government. 1t does not par
ticularly need to be patted on the
back. AS between Mckee and La
Guardia, the one who will help
Washington most is the one who
is most likely to get rid of the ma
chine that has bankrupted and pa
ralyzed New York City.
The question is not which candi-
date can declare the more loudly
his undying devotion to Franklin D
Roosevelt, but which candidate can
organize an administration that is
able to straighten out New York
finance, to administer relief and
undertake, without tribute to the
political machine, large projects of
public works