Evening star., 1934-07-04
JOHNSON TERMED
MIRA. BABE RUTH
Former Gov. Sweet Speaks
Before 72d N. {. A.
Convention.

Gen Hugh S. johnson is "a Babe
Ruth" who hits the ball far over the
heads of such critics as Clarence Dar-
row, William E. Sweet, former Gov
tional director of the Recovery Ad-
ministration. asserted today in Splr-
tied defense of the N. R. A. and the
new deal
Pinch hitting" for Gen. johnson,
who left the city yesterday for Sara
toga Springs, N. y, Sweet addressed
q general session of the National Edu-
cation Associations SeVenty-second
annual convention at the Washington
Auditorium. He called johnson 'the
Babe Ruth of the N. r. A. team and
added
Mr.. Clarence Darrow denies that
our leader is Babe Ruth at all. He
says that all the general does is
pOp I'D little flies which are easily
caught. thus leaving him standing at
the home plate. or when the general
Goes hit the ball it is a slow grounder
and the batter is thrown out before
he reaches first base.
Never Fans Out
'My own conviction" Sweet con-
tinued. is that the general is a Babe
Ruth. and that when he hits the ball
it goes so far over the head of Mr.
Darrow that by the time he feels it
the general has completed a circle
of the bases for home run. One
thing is certain. he never fans out. "
Defending the administrations agri-
cultural policy, which was attacked
Monday night by DR.. Glenn Frank,
president of the University of Wis
conSin. Sweet said the argument ad-
Varced by administration opponents
is totally outside the realm of
reality"
He referred to the contention that
limiting production is bad economic
policy
We are not told what to do with
surplus production he said to A.
A. A. critics. "A panegyric to pro-
duction does not solve the problem OF
overproduction when there is not sutti-
cient purchasing power among the
people with which to buy. 1t is a
waste of time. money and energy as
well as terribly depressing to the
spirit of the producer, to make more
things than can be sold or to grow
more foodstuffs than can be mar
keted
EavOrS Discussion.
Striking the same note hit by New
ton D. Baker former Secretary OF
War. in an address to the educators
last night, former Gov. Sweet said
education of children in the principles
of democracy will be the greatest
weapon in combating the trend
toward relationships. He urged the
teachers not to attempt to suppress
discussion of controversial subjects in
their schools
we should not hesitate to bring
any subject into our class IN eco
nomics because it lies in the zone Of
disagreement" he said. When We
are careful to have both sides of a
question presented. We should let de-
bate and discussion have full sway, no
matter where it leads
sweet SdIO Llt NdS 4tSS tOIiIIA lieu
about preserving the form OF democ-
racy than its spirit In the midst OF
unprecedented changes the people are
unperturbed in their confidence that
their rights will be preserved and the
Government remain secure. because
they know the spirit of democracy will
continue to dominate the Nation, he
declared
LaiSseZ Faire Heritage Gone.
If We succeed in securing a wider
distribution of the national income
and cure the maldiStributiOn Of
wealth and power We shall then have
an economic order in this country
in keeping with the ideals of democ-
racy" he remarked Far better for
the economic life of the community
that 80 men should have an income OF
$4,000 each per year than that one
man should have an income OF
$50 O0OO."
In conclusion, he said. The eco
nomic heritage which we must hand
to our children will be totally unlike
the heritage which We have received
from our fathers. We received a her
itage of laissez faire which produced
unfair competition, sWeatshOp labor
and child labor This is gone. On
the other hand. new era has come,
in which an attempt will be made to
infuse industry with such method of
control as viii guarantee the worker
a good life while at the same time
conserving individual initiative and
enterprise
Gov. Sweet was introduced by Rep
resentatiye J. Buell. Snyder OF Penn
svlvania At the conclusion of this
mornings session the n. E. A dele
gates were free for the rest of the
DAY The next session was scheduled
Tor tomorrow morning
Urges Fight on Dictators.
In his address last night. former
Secretary Baker told the educators the
Nations schools must combat the
spread of dictatorship to America.
The more l see Of relationships,
wherever they are. the less l like
them" he declared. Democracy to-
day is the sole possession of the Eng
speaking countries and some Of
the Scandinavian nations. II is up TO
CpFCIAI NnTIEWC