The Daily Alaska empire., 1934-09-19
The Liberty League.
CNew York World Telegram.

(New York World-Telegram)
 Because we believe so thoroughly in the purpose of the New Deal welcome the organization of critics calling themselves the American Liberty League.
 What the New Deal needs is intelligent criticism. Any group power which Jacks intelligent criticism soon goes wild soft The Roosevelt Admnistra- ton has had things too much it's own way for it's own efficiency.
 Unfortunately there has been no real political opposition The Republican organization is so dis credited by it's record and so unntelligent in it's attacks that the New Dealers have been able to ignore it.
 That is not healthy in a democracy And it is especially undesirable in time of Democratic experiment. The trial and method works best when there is organized group watching for the errors. We hope the American Liberty League will function in that way
 According to its charter quoted by it's Presi- dent Mr. Shouse the Liberty League has been formed ito defend and uphold the Constitution of the United States, and to gather and disseminate information that CD will teach the necessity of re- spect for the rights of persons and property as fundamental to every successful form of government and @ will teach the duty of government to en- courage and protect individual and group initiative and enterprise to foster the right to work, earn, save and acquire property, and to preserve the ownership and lawful of property when quired"
 Like all other charters and platforms, that can mean much little depending how it is applied. And like most other platforms, which necessarily deal in generalities, it misses the main question: Whose property and whose liberty?
 This Constitution of the United States which the Liberty League is going to defends it the liberty Constitution upheld by the present Supreme Court it is the straitacket which certain earlier Supreme Courts sought to mpose2
 This respect for the rights of persons and property" which the Liberty League is going to defend-where will the league be when those per- sonal rights and those property rights conflict, they often do, when individual and group in itiative' conflict; when abors right to work" con- flicts with the lawful of property; when one citizens right to save conflicts with anothers right" to speculate; when the property rights of the farm owner and home owner conflict with the property rights of the mortgage owner?
 The specific answers to such practical questions as they arise are the problem of American states manshp-and will be the measure of the Liberty League. MT Shouse is somewhat definite wehn he says the job of the league is to oppose radcalism Some cyncs jump to the conclusion that this means lit is to be in fact league of reaction But MT shouse and MT. Smith on their public records are not reactionaries. The record of Al Smith as a humanitarian and public servant is not easily sur passed
 There is room for an intelligent conservative party in this country today Whether the Liberty League may eventually become such political party IS question propertly left open by MT. Shouse Admitting that the league may not be in existence in 1936," he adds, "we do not expect to take par in partisan political effort this fall but we may find it necessary to become active in elections il conditions should demand" Of course, if the league should turn out to be just another reactionary organ
 zaton it probably will not be in existence in ls3t as an effective force political otherwise l For part, we have always believed that this democracy requires clearer political alignment an honest progressive party and an honest con- servative party checking each other with intelligent criticism
 Crash Kills Driver Manning at Mrneal, r1oas