The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-09
Liberal Viewpoint
BY DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

ONE of the most valiant workers for new
~ deal long before the days of Mr. Roosevelt
was Charles Edward Russell. Of late. he has
lost much Of his old Socialist fire. But he has
lost none of his power as trenchant and fas-
cinating writer. He has now written his auto
biography (Bare Hands and Stone Walls. Some
Recollections of a Side-Li1le Reformer. BY
Charles Edward Russell. Charles Scribner'S
Sons. 5000. Purely personal items are sub
ordinated to the economic, social and political
movements in which he took part. AS glimpse
of the history of contemporary American social
! politics. it compares with the autObiographieS of
Lincoln Steffens and Clarence barrow.
The book is marred chiefly by the naive at
tempt of Mr. Russell to justify his utterly mis-
taken position in the World war. He quotes
Clarence DarrowS speech during the war a
vindlcation of his own stand, neglecting to point
out that Darrow has long since honestly repudi-
ated his wartime position
The new deal came upon us with such a rush
that few textbook publishers had any oppor-
tunity to revise their books and include an ade-
qlate summary of the Staggeringy comprehen-
sive new deal Therefore, one may feel deeply
grateful to Messrs. Hamm and Dambrow, teach
erS in New York City schools, for their splendid
summary of recent American history Current
Problems in American History. By William A.
Hamm and Oscar Danbrow. College Entrance
Book Company rs cents. While this little
| work Of some 1876 pages is intended primarily
should be on the library table of every American
citizen who pretendS to read a newspaper
IT was inevitable that the colorfuI first year
L of Mr. Roosevet's rule would stimulate the
| writing of histories of his administration Mr..
| Lockers book (The American Way: Franklin
Roosevelt in Action. By Earle LOCKER. John
Day Company. $3.50 is readable and reliable
Journalistic summary of Mr.. Roosevelt's term to
Coto
political career prior to March 4, 1888. The
opinions Of the author are dogmatic and out
spoken, but add color to the work. 1t is frankly
| sympathetic and at times eulogistc, but it is
certainly highly useful and generally reliable
summary of what the new deal has accomplished
and of the personality and methods which
| dominate it.
| Mr.. Benson Y. Lands sees the new deal in the
guise of third American Revolution: The first
American Revolution-1775 to 1783-was strug-
gle between an association of agricultural
colonies and the metropolis of London The
second American Revolution-1661 to 1865-was
conflict for control of the national government
between planters of the south on the one hand
and an alliance of eastern industrialists with
middle western farmers on the other The third
American Revolution-that of 1933-began
largely as clash of the south and west against
the industrial and financial east. This book
attempts an Interpretation of certain aspects of
the third revolution"
DY getting down to fundamentals in this
- fashion, Mr. Lands book (The Third
American Revolution An Interpretation. By
Benson Y. Lands. Association Press. SD is
less superficial and episodical than the journal
| iStic summaries of RooSevelts activities 1t is
perhaps the most successful attempt to date to
| place the Roosevelt experiment in its proper
| historical perspective. It deserves to be taken
over by some well-known publishing house.
Professor Holcombe gets away from the ira
ditional textbook treatment of political parties
and attempts to envisage their nature and
significance in terms of the new world order of
1884. CThe New Party Politics, by A. w. Hol-
combe, w. w. Norton & Co., Inc. S1.75) He
holds that the old party system, founded on
sectionalism, is on its way out, to be replaced
by parties based upon economic groups and
| social classes. Professor Holcorlbe aligns him
self with the middle class and concludes his
book with the summary statement of a well
thought-out program for this economic group.
Mr. Samuel Crowther sets forth, with his well
known literary power. forceful case for Anleri-
can economic nationaliSm He contends with
vigor that the future prosperity OF the United
States depends upon our capacity to turn away
from Europe and the Far East and to develop
our economic life with primary consideration
for the American market While Mr. Crowther
goes to the opposite extreme his book VAmerica
Self Contained, by Samuel Crowther, Doubleday,
Doran g. Co. Inc. SD Is desirable antidote
for the dogmas of our professional inter-
mai ionalists and investment bankers.