The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-06-30
Up to the
President
National Topics Interpreted

Up to the try at large is rath-
D-.,:J,re err sitting on the
edge of it's chair
waiting to see how President Roose-
Welt is going to play the hand he has
received in his "new DEAF which he
asked. Equipped as he is with the
greatest powers ever accorded
President of the United States, the
situation surely is up to the President.
Upon his administration, his playing
of the cards, depends the result, the
success or the failure of the program.
It is quite apparent since the smoke
of battle cleared and congress closed
up shop that the President suffered
considerably from the riotous outbreak
In the senate and the house over the
veterans compensation question.
mean that personally the President
lost some of his prestige and his pro-
gram, so well planned, was somewhat
disrupted. 1t must be explained, how
ever, that the general principles which
Mr.. Roosevelt laid down as the new
DEAF have come through unscathed.
Hence, I repeat that the Chief Execu-
tive is confronted now only with the
problem of making things move in &C.
cordance with the promises pledged in
his campaign and to which he tried to
adhere with all of the solemnity of an
oath.
The President is wholly mindful of
the responsibility he assumed in ask
ing congress, in effect, to make him
general manager of about everything
in the nation. He showed that quite
Enthusiastically when he affixed his sig
nature to the last grist of bills ground
out by -too-willing congress. In
a statement at that time, Mr.. Roose-
welt described the national recovery
public construction bill as "the most
important and far-reaching legislation
ever enacted by an American con-
gress,' but he added that if it were
to succeed sit demands the whole
hearted cooperation of industry, labor
and every citizen Of the nation" The
President counseled patience as well
as asked cooperation. and how better
could he show that superhuman job
lay ahead?
In two pieces of legislation particu-
larly has the President been given
powers as wide as any ever accorded
in wartime. He has been made mas
ter of our agricultural destiny in one
and under the terms of the other he
has assumed the job, as he described
it. of putting the government in part
nership with industry. Instead of the
necessities of the situation in wartime.
however, we find the work to be done
is that of encouraging consumption of
foods and other commodities instead
of rationing of foods and clothing and
materials that might be needed for
the forces at the front. Instead of
speeded-up production, we find the
President with almost dictatorial pow
ers to reduce production of agricul-
ture. The depression seems to have
made things run backward.
AS the several agencies to admins
ter the new powers are set up under
the Presidents guild
Possible ance, it appears
Difficulties more and more as
though he is going
to meet with difficulty of serious
character. The President cannot keep
his hand on the steering wheel of ev-
eryone of the various machines. That
is beyond human comprehension. He
must delegate the work to others.
There are going to be many, many
mistakes. These always occur 1t can.
not be avoided. But the President is
going to have to shoulder the blame
for all of 1t.
What l have been trying to present
is a picture of situation in which
the President is the pivotal point.
Let us pursue enc or two of the
possibilities. The congress Mt the re-
quest of the President voted some
$5O0000,000 in federal money as out
right gifts to the states for relief.
When the President had the relief rep
resentatives of the states here recent
" he told them that the federal gov
eminent would not countenance "the
building of lot of useless projects
under the guise of relief" Mr.. Roose-
welt was emphatic in his declaration.
But the question one heard around
here was "how many of the state Of
fee holders and politicians will see
that such policy is enforced?"
Another salient: the industrial re-
covery section of the bill putting gov
eminent into partnership with indus
try entails organized cooperation of
each of the numerous Industries.
Leaders in the individual lines of COM
mercial endeavor have been coming in
here for conferences on codes of prac-
tice. Outwardly, every one of them is
sincere, and. be it said to their credit.
most of them are inwardly sincere In
their effort to find some means to ac-
complish economic recovery. But
among those who are visiting Wash
ington for these conferences are some