The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-10-20
National Topics Interpreted


period in which
MIRA Pro- things seem to sag.
duces Results Sometimes 1t lasts
only few days, and
again 1t has gone week or longer.
It has happened even under the new
deal" Time is allowed, as it has been
consistently heretofore by these lulls,
during which lot of thoughts crystal
lie, and many persons gain different
perspective, If not true one, at least
a changed one.
Senator Pat Harrison of Mississippi,
one of the Democratic wheel horses,
felt the situation the other day when
he announced boldly and as though no
one else had noted the phenomenon
that 1--WE must do something more than
we have been doing" Senator Har-
rison's weather eye was on the con-
gressional elections of next fall, but
in the meantime throughout the gov
eminent where somewhat less atten-
ton was and is paid to pure politics,
there were expressions in the last few
days of similar import. Among that
cynical lot of observers, variously de-
scribed newspaper correspondents, the
press, journalists, etc, the result of
the sag of the last ten days was con.
viction that some of the high-pOwered
recovery machinery had been seized
with sleeping sickness or pefnicious
anemia.
The point / am seeking to develop
is that both the national recovery
administration and the agricultural
adjustment administration appear to
have passed into that stage from
which we can look back and see the
crest of the wave. The public works ad-
ministration is just getting up steam,
and the federal relief administration
has its machinery whirring away in
anticipation of the hardest winter
from the standpoint of relief that the
depression has brought. have not
seen the signs or portents yet that will
tell whether the public works job is
going to be worthwhile, but as to Cen
eral Johnsons MIRA and Secretary
Wallace's AAA, have gathered much
opinion from keen students to the eff
feet that if they add much more to the
recovery movement it will have to
come from the adoption of new tactics.
During the sag, it seemed all at once
that MIRA could no longer muster the
enthusiasm within its own corps to
shout about it's progress. 1t appar-
emily had struck snag. The reac-
ton from the lull was immediate.
When the ballyhoo ceased, the mo-
mentum of the effect through the coun-
try was checked.
AS to the AAA, the period of COM
parative quiet in government affairs
permitted an examination of how
many directions Secretary Wallace's
corps had gone all at the same time.
This evident lack Of continuity in pol
icy is looked upon among the observ-
ers as having begun almost with the
creation of the adjustment admins
tration, but there was plenty of spirit
and hope and brains to keep all of the
lines moving some months. Now, the
consensus is that some of the lines will
have to be abandoned because they
have been pulling in opposite direc-
lions.
In attempting to depict the situation
as it exists at this time, / intend no
criticism. On the contrary, / believe
/ should reverse the words of the no.
BILE Roman and say that Il came to
praise Caesar and not to bury him."
For there is no doubt and can be no
doubt that NRA has done a deal of
good in awakening the country. 1t is
/ equally apparent that the agricul-
tural administration has done some
good. 1t has heartened thousands of
farmers by providing some assistance,
though ! believe it is sound state
ment to say that it has not done any
thing like as much as was expected
Whether one views NRA, in prin-
ciple, as the right course, it remains
as fact that some.
Authorities thing had to be done.
Aoree and apparently it
had to be something
Of the sort of the NRA. have
heard much discussion of the prin-
ciple of MIRA in the recent weeks
since 1t has appeared to be on the
decline, and it was noteworthy
that none of the authorities were in
disagreement as to the necessity for
something. some action, that would
stake the peoples minds off of them
selves" If NRA has caused business
men to make even a small start to-
wards increasing their operations. if
1t has caused employers to add the
million or million and half workers
to the pay rolls that is claimed for it,
or If it has done any of the various
things about which so much propa-
ganda was spread. then it ought to be
admitted that MIRA has made a con-
tribution towards recovery. But 1t
does appear to most observers here
that its value is waning.
One of the reasons why MIRA has
reached the stage in which we now
find it, is because of congressional