Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-05-13
BY OWEN L. SCOTT.

programs very definitely have lost
caste in the ranks of those now run
ming the Washington show. The two
individuals are Gen. Hugh S. john
son and Prof George ?. Warren.
The two programs are the N. r. A.
and its Blue Eagle and the dollar de-
valuation with its gold buying. Both
are suffering from a bad overdose OF
promise and an underdose Of reallza-
ton.
One offered the country quick in
dustrial recovery, with millions OF
new Jobs in the cities. The other
offered a higher price leval for the
farmers products and for other COM
modities, through money manipula-
ton. Each one has had an effect and
has produced some of the results
promised. but in each case the results
are far below expectations.
The country has had White House
observation that the devalued dollar
and the buying of newly mined silver
have hardly produced the results
looked for. It has evidence in the
Unprecedented size Of the relief rolls
that N. r. A. did not bring the jobs
or the wages expected Of 1t.
X
In view of these developments, 1t
is hardly surprising that the two men
who had most to do with the programs
involved should rate less acclaim than
at the time the promises were being
held out.
Thus, in Washington, the prospects
Of Gen. johnson retiring from his job
at the head of N. r. A. are openly
discussed and this event Is rather
urgently advocated by some officials
outside the N r. A. The A. A. A. in
particular is concerned about the per-
sistent upward trend of city prices
offsetting most of the gains IN farm
prices.
The absense of Prof. Warren is
noted here. He no longer hobs down
from Ithaca, N. Y, to be regular
back door visitor at the White House
as he was during the Fall OF 1888.
Then he was engineering the gold
buying program that finally resulted
in a 59.O6 cent dollar, but not IN a
much wanted 1925 price level. Teach
ing at Cornell University. where he Is
a professor of agricultural economies
now engrosses the Government
former leading adviser on money.
All this does not mean that either
Gen. johnson or Prof. Warren Is out
of the picture.
Rather, both appear now to be VIC
Tins Of better times.
Businessmen, instead Of calling on
the general to save them, as was the
case less than a year ago, now con-
slider themselves saved and are irkeo
by some of the things they agreed to
do when in the depths Of the depres'
sion.
Farmers and other seekers aftel
high prices for commodities have beer
satisfied partially by the increases
that have occurred and by processing
tax bounties. so that there is less de-
mand for the brand of imitation tna'
Prof. Warren offered.
However, it Is not hard to find some
very thoughtful and some prominen'
Government officials who will express
the belief that the troubles OF indus
try and the troubles of agriculture are
| far from over. They regard the pres
emit as q breathing spell.
If that turns out to be true, ther
Gen. johnson again would be on hanc
to assume the role of economic Ma.
poleon, directing his N. R. A. to vic
tory. Likewise. Prof. Warren nigh,
come in handy once more with his
technique for mixing a mysterious
money portion that can satisfy those
who demand roaring printing presses
and bales of greenbacks.
If it turns out to l., untrue, then, tc
the accompaniment of a rising tide
of better times, both the general and
the professor, along with their plans
are expected to retire from the scene
r y
Even now, there is touch Of
pathos in the position Of Gen. john
son. Only a few brief months age
his every word was gospel. Today the
| talks he makes attract little attention
and they have become less frequent
A short time ago the N. r. A. pres.
conferences drew as many newspaper
men as those at the White House
Now the conferences are infrequen'
and the attendance sparse. This re.
fleets the change in attitude towarc
N. r. A., now that the glamor and thu
| novelty have worn off.
As for Gen. johnson, there obvious
ly is no more sincere man, nor
| more honest man, nor harder work.
er, in the Government service. HI
has performed herculean feats thai
| would have wrecked physically ane
mentally many another individual.
The Public, unfortunately, has tn
impression of the general as "cracl
down artist. This impression grow
from his gift for picturesque speech
and q lack of restraint in putting tina
gift to use.
Actually. Gen. johnson Is far from
q clustering bully or . rough Gus
toner. He q kind.hearted, couEd