Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-12-03
DIR, GLENN FRANK
HALLS DEMOCRACY
Educator, First Town Hall
Speaker, Sees Need to
Curb NationaIism.

With nationalism running amuck
throughout the Western world, the
setting up of relationships is a sign
of weakness, and as social, economic
and political problems become more
complex the necessity for clinging to
democratic forms of government be-
comes more imperative.
This conclusion was drawn last
night by DR.. Glenn Frank, president
of the University of Wisconsin, who
delivered the principal address at the
first meeting of the new Town Hall OF
Washington in the auditorium of the
United States Chamber of Commerce.
The auditorium was filled to
its seating capacity OF 900, with
close to 100 standing around the walls.
Outside, several minutes before the 8
o'clock opening hour, close to $50 pro-
spective patrons were turned away for
lack of space. Those inside repre-
scented the "intelligentsia of Washing
ton," as described by Huston Thonip-
son, president of the Town Halls
Board of Directors. Many distin-
guished officials, leaders in Govern
ment, education, journalism, dlplo-
macy and society were present.
Questioned by Panel.
DR.. Franks assertion that dictator
Ship while appearing now as a
strong" form of government. is in
reality a sign of weakness, came as a
part of the open forum that followed
his formal address. The question was
raised from the floor by Secretary Of
Commerce Daniel C. Roper, who as
serted that the problems of today can
be worked out without changing the
present form of our Government.
Earlier DR.. Frank had been sub
1ected to series of questions by Sec
rotary of Agriculture Henry A. Wal
lace. DR.. Ernest Gruening, director of
the Bureau of Territories and Insular
Possessions; w. M. Kiplinger, bust
ness writer, and Lothrop Stoddard,
author, who formed the panel" for
raised by Dr. Frank DR.. John w.
Studebaker, United States Commits
sioner of Education, who presided,
also took part in the discussions.
DR.. Frank. discussing Americas
Hour of Decision" raised the question,
DO the American people know what
they want?"
DR.. Gruening answered by saying
they are seeking the more abundant
life" and then asked what the Gov
eminent should have done or should
have left undone during the past two
years. Without attempting to an
swer the question in detail, DR.. Frank
asserted that the recasting of the re-
lation of Government and business, as
eXemplifled by the N. R. A., is con-
tribution to progress of historic i'm
portance. Likewise the wider distribu-
ton of wealth through an improved
program of wages and hours is like
wise of Importance. AS to the means
of accomplishing these two steps, how
ever, he declined to praise the meth
DDS created for the purpose.
Marvellous progress has been made"
he said, land We should not scrap
a good idea merely because of bad
mechanism"
Foreign Trade Necessary.
In answer to questions by Kiplinger,
DR.. Frank asserted that government
is merely means to an end, not the
ultimate goal itself. He declined to
fix a definite period of time as con-
shutting the present transient emer-
gency," and in answer to question
by Secretary Wallace declared that the
experimental processes now being tried
by the administration should continue
so long as the financing can hold out
and there is hope of definite results.
DR.. Frank also pleaded for more
the old favored-nation type of treaties,
declaring that larger importations of
foreign goods are necessary, unless
as creditor nation, we are bidding
for economic suicide.
In his formal address, preceding
the panel discussions, DR.. Frank de-
clared:
The dominant question that emerges
from the events of the time is this:
Can We ride the storm and make the
revisions of political and economic
policy which the effective operation
of an age of potential plenty re-
quireS, without subjecting the Amer
lean order of private enterprise and
political liberty to subversive changes
that may bring ultimate ruin in the
wake of transient recovery?
"One thing should by now be clear
to all literate Americans, namely,
that the temper of the crowd and the
turn of affairs combine to create a
situation in which beating the TOM
tom for obsolete traditions of politics
and economics can neither satisfy the
mass mind nor bring recovery and
Sterilization to our enterprise"
Changes Since World War.
After tracing the many changes that
have taken place since the World War,
particularly as they affect public lead
ership and government, DR.. Frank de-
clared:
From one end of the Western World
to the other the slow gains of
generations have been set aside in a
frantic search for new foundations of
national being. Democracy is fouted.
Freedom is invaded Plenty is re-