Evening star., 1933-11-26
|SM|TH'S ATTACK
| HELDUNPROvOKED
Roosevelt Democrats Inclined
to Minimize Political Ef.
feet Of Statement.
BY g. GOULD LINCOLN.

the AL Smith attack on President
Roosevelt's gold and monetary policies
simmer. And decidedly they were in
clined to minimize the political effect
Of this latest manifestation Of the
break between the two most widely
known Democrats in the country.
In the first place, Democrats close in
the confidence of the President assert
ed 1t was impossible for them to visual
i-e Mr.. Roosevelt as q wild infiationist.
The dollar is still the dollar to the
American people, and the President has
taken no step to decrease the conf
dence Of the people in their currency,
they insisted.
They have no idea that the admins
tration is going on a wild paper money
spree. To them, the Smith statement
appeared unprovoked. And in some
quarters, 1t was remarked that Mr..
Smith had gone out of his way to set
up a straw man, who did not resemble
Mr.. Roosevelt, in order to knock him
down.
Smith Has Following.
Nevertheless the former Governor OF
New York has wide following among
Democrats Of the East and North, and
many friends, too, In the West. II
many Of them take the same position as
Mr.. Smith, and the President continues
on his present course, the political i'm
plicationS and effects may be wide
spread when the congressional cam
paign gets under way next year. And
yet, II the Roosevelt program brings a
measure Of recovery and employment
and conditions Of business improve, the
Democratic party. headed by Mr..
by many of the voters.
The very savageness Of the attack
made by Mr.. Smith on the President,
his policies and his advisers may have
its reaction in the public mind. That
there has been no love lost between the
two men for the best part of two years
has been clear to the public. And
Roosevelt Democrats were quick to say
yesterday that Mr.. Smith had taken an
opportunity to vent his personal animos-
ity toward Mr.. Roosevelt. And they
added that the fact that Mr.. Smith has
not been called upon for advice by the
President made their criticism all the
more pertinent.
Republicans Intrigued.
Republican leaders in Washington
we're frankly intrigued. A falling out
between the Smith Democrats and the
Roosevelt Democrats over an issue which
they have visualized for months as one
on which the G. o. P. may ride back
into power is like money from home to
them. They have had to sing pretty
small for many months. However, the
Republicans, while admitting their
pleasure because Of the falling out
among the Democrats over the money
juncture to butt their heads into the
Democratic family row.
Senator Thomas, Democrat, Of Okla
homa, author Of the so-called imitation
amendment to the farm relief bill, un-
der which the President is now operat-
ing his gold policy. was defiant Of Smith
and the other opponents Of the admin
istration's monetary plans. He said last
night:
L welcome the attack made by Mr..
Smith on the monetary policy Of the
President As soon as the individuals
who are fighting the President come out
into the open, the better it will be. The
more the New York bankers and Al
Smith attack the President, the stronger
he will be with the people"
Thomas Scouts Split.
Senator Thomas secuted the idea that
Smiths attack on the President would
lead to wide split in the Democratic
ranks.
While the Smith attack was holding
the spotlight In political and govern
mental circles yesterday, Secretary of
Commerce Roper issued a statement
showing the foreign commerce Of the
United States had continued to expand
during october over and above the
trade for September which had been
the banner month since December,
1881.
Exports, the Secretary pointed out,
were valued at S194, 900 900 during De-
tober. 1888, as compared to sl6O 600. -
o0O In September. The low point for
American exports was reached last
February, when they totaled only sl0l =
sos 900. This business was practically
doubled in october. The administra-
tion's policies and a pickup in busi-
ness In this country were advanced as
reasons for the improved condition Of
American export trade. Furthermore,
it was urged that the lowering of the
dollar in foreign exchange has had
something to do with the increase in
the volume of business with the rest of
the world.
Imports in october were up to sl51. =
100000, or about SO 900, 900 more than
in September. leaving the balance of
trade in favor of America at $43, ,000, ,0O0
Increase Held Material.
Although American foreign trade has
still a long ways to 60 to reach again
the totals of october, 1928. when the
exports were valued at $3.50, 900 ana
imports at 1886, 1858, 900, 1t was pointed
out that the increase has been material
over the low mark set last Winter. The
increase in export trade from Septem-
Der to October resulted both from an
advance in the unit value Of exports
and an increase in the volume Of cut
going shipments Advances were made
in exports of animal products, vege-
table products, in rubber and tobacco
products. in cotton, manufactured and
unmanufactured; in metals and manu-
factureS of metals, including machinery
and automobiles
Increase in foreign trade Of this
country, with a mounting increase in
domestic trade, will be the best an
swer to any political attacks which NAV
come to the Roosevelt administration
its supporters insisted yesterday.
The recent announcement Of the
appointment of the new Executive
Commercial Policy Committee, with
representatives from the Departments
of State, Treasury, Commerce, Aeri-
culture, the A. A. A. and the N. r. A.
and the Federal Tariff Commission. Ia
an effort to bring into coordination
the various Government agencies look
ing to the expansion Of trade and to
the protection of the American markets.
both at home and abroad. This COM
mittee, which is expected soon to be
called into conference by Undersecre-
ttary OF State Phillips, chairman pro
tempore, has many problems to con-
sider.
Tariff Plans Seen.
Plans for the Reorganization of the
Tariff Commission, which have been
unoer consideration for some time by
the administration, are expected TO be
lHn0tlnrad eOny, II is .,nln~~ka1A -