Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-12-01
Grapefruit or Lemonf


The New Outlook is having terrible
time getting along with the New Deal
Which is another way Of saying that a
former Governor of New York cannot
stomach the program of his successor,
who now happens to be President of the
United States. Alfred E. Smith, editor,
does not agree with the gold and none
tary policies of Franklin D. Roosevelt,
President. Nor does the editor approve
Of the manner in which the public
works program Of the administration
has been administered under Secretary
IskeS of the Interior Department, who
also is the administrator of the So 300,-
100000 works program. Mr.. Smiths
latest blast attacking the adminiStra-
ton deals with the P. w. A, which, he
charges, has begged down. He asserts
that the Civil Works Administration,
with 500 900, 900 to spend putting men
to work without delay, has been set up
to bring about the employment of men
which the Public Works Administration
should have taken care of in the first
place And further, Mr.. Smith insists,
the use of S4OO, 900 900 in this fashion
was never contemplated by Congress
and is a plain violation of the law.
Secretary Ickes has replied to the
attack of Mr.. Smith, declaring that it
is clear the latter is merely a crouch,
or words to that effect, and that the
outpourings of the New Outlook are
dictated by the disappointed ambition
of Mr.. Smith, who did not become
President of the United States, as he
desired to do. This Is merely reSOrting
to the argumentum ad hominem.
Doubtless Mr.. Ickes will produce figures
showing how many men have been put
to work under the public works pro-
gram, as well as how many hundreds
of millions of dollars have been al
lotted for these works, both Federal
and non-Federal. 1t is that kind OF
argument that the country needs when
il becomes necessary to judge, for ex-
ample, between the New Outlook and
the New Deal. Calling names gets no
where as a rule.
Mr.. Ickes has been handed the
tough job of spending for the Gov
eminent more than three billions of
dollars, and Of spending it wisely and
honestly, and in cooperation with
States and municipalities. The projects
authorized must be worth while and
of benefit to the people. The con-
tracts must be let to the best ad-
vantage. Furthermore, the law stipu-
lates that outside Of the strictly Fed
eral projects and read work grants Of
thirty per cent of the cost of labor
and materials would be made by the
Federal Government and the other
seventy per cent loaned-n the States
and municipalities so desired-with the
distinct guaranty that the loans would
be repaid. With many of the States
and municipalities fiat broke and In
the red, there has been a certain reluc-
lance on their part to go further into
debt, even at the inSistence of the
administration. Mr.. Ickes not only has
had a tough job, but he has doubt
less done it as we'll as another could
have done it, and better than many.
Mr.. Smith lays himself open to the
charge by Roosevelt supporters that he
is becoming a scold. BY others he will
be hailed as one man not afraid to utter
a word of criticism in the midst Of a
chorus OF administration approval, He
is the editor of a new magazine. 1t IS
his job to make it widely read. and he
seems to be finding plenty of vitriolic
things to say calculated to arouse the
interest of the reading public. The ad-
ministration has its defender in the
shape of a new periodical, Today, pub
lished by Mr.. Aston, a firm friend of
the President, and edited by Prof. Moley,
who at one time headed the brain
trust" in Washington. 1t Is always
easier and more spectacular to attack
than to defend
Mr.. Smith insists that the civilian
works program, devised to be q screen
for the failure of the P. w. A., Is half
way between an orange and a lemon
a mere grapefruit. Mr.. Ickes replies
that Mr.. Smith is merely lemon in
a garden where only peaches should
grow.