Evening star., 1933-03-05
BY MARK SULLIVAN.

7 BEGIN by setting down two state
ments which, think, are axi-
omatic. The first is:
( No American can wish for good
Tor himself during the coming
months and years without also wishing
good for the country as a whole.
That statement, true at nearly all
times, Is particularly true in time of
depression. We are all in the same
A few short sellers" in the stock or
grain market may have improved their
business positions during the depres-
sion. and because Of it. There may be
q few others, uniquely placed in the
econC.--c and social structure, who es-
cape the common lot. But as to the
mass Of us, the truth applies: the
times cannot be good for any Of u un-
less they are good for all Of US.
The second statement, equally -
omatic. Is: No man can wish for le
good of the country, during the corft1f
months, without also wishing for the
good of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the sue
cess of him as President.
"Sell America Short"
Here again there may be trihing
exceptions. There may be a very
few SPECTATORS in the markets. OF a
not very appealing type, who would
make money by, In j. P. Morgan's Ia
miliar phrase, selling America short
and through having their short sales
made profitable through lack OF sue
cess on the part Of the new admins
tration at Washington.
But, broadly speaking. the rule for all
of us Is the same. Any one who tries
to 70 through the coming months and
| t,ov,iy,p nj mart nf his coil
for his own and the country's prosper
ity, and hoping with another part for
failure Of Mr.. Roosevelt as President
any such person Is going to have an
unhappy time, be in an impossible po-
sition. He Is going to be at war with
himself, his soul battlefield racked
and torn by struggle between contend
ing desires.
The only way for national prosperity
Is success for the Roosevelt administra-
ton. The only way for individual hap
piness. so far as personal happiness can
be affected by politics, is success for the
Roosevelt administration. This is true
not only for America. Measurably it Is
true for much of the world. Mr.. Roose-
welt has an enormous opportunity-a
of course, responsibility in proportion.
| For another reason, equally urgent,
success on the part Of the Roosevelt
administration IS important to the
| United States. More than important,
almost indispensable. Lack Of success
by Mr.. Roosevelt as President would
| lead to disappointment IN him. And
disappointment in Mr.. Roosevelt would
be, under the conditions that exist,
about the most cruel tragedy that could
happen to the people, the deepest spir-
itual wound that could befau them.
Lack Violence So Far.
We have come through this depres-
sion so far with an immunity from
violence, from resentment taking the
form Of social disorder, that has been
a wonder Of the world Every one who
would like to see US 60 the rest of the
way with the same immunity must wish
that Mr. Roosevelts presidency be sat-
isfying to the people, and specifically
that during his administration and
early in it, we should feel ourselves on
, the upward way toward material pros
perity and social contentment. One
more deferring of hope, one more fall
ure of a man or an institution to live
up to the ideal the people have Of him.
one more disillusionment would be the
thing America could hardly endure.
Whoever wishes for the happiness Of
America must wish that Mr.. Roosevelt s
presidency be a success.
The people have suffered, as an in
cident of the depression. unhappy dis
appointment, tragic disillusionment-
disillusionment about men, about lead
ers in various lines, especially in busi-
ness and politics. There was disap-
pointment about some of the strongest,
most venerable institutions In the world.
On q day in September, 1881, one Of
the oldest metaphors in the English
language, "As strong as the Bank Of
England" became, for the moment, less
valid
In many cases the men about whom
disillusionment has come have not de-
served it. But no matter-the history
Of the last three years has been a
series Of toppling gods. The most con-
spicuous-the least deserving Of this
cruel accident of fate-s Mr.. Hoover.
In the beginning he was the symbol OF
prosperity-and through no fault Of his
prosperity ceased. The thing the peo-
pie felt he stood for ceased to be. In
quiry was not made about fault, in the
disappointment the people felt. justice
about fault or responsibility played lit
tie part.