Evening star., 1934-03-04
Roosevelt's First Year-Two Views

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Had this money been given directly as
relief without injecting the element of
reform implied in the philosophy Of .
planned economy it might have been
better. AS 1t IS, much of the money
given to farmers was in the form of
compensation for reducing or Destroy
ing crops-in the interest of planned
economy. In handing out money to
the G. w. A. workers wage rates were
paid in many instances that were SO
far in excess Of prevailing local wages
that men and women left their Jobs
with private individuals or companies
to work for Uncle Sam.
Socially worthy and helpful as has
been the furnishing of temporary work
for the unemployed through the P. w.
A. and the G. w. A., this has not
brought about the expected economic
Improvement. As in the case of the
subventionS to the farmers, the new
dealers had assumed that by putting
money into the hands of millions of
people the economic pump would be
primed and flow of prosperity would
return. But the money, though valu-
able as erlief for suffering humans, was
spent for retail purchases of the So
called consumption goods" used in
everyday life. 1t failed to penetrate
to the so-called durable goods"-the
mining, metal, machine and similar
industries in which are about four
fifthS of the Nations UNEMPLOYED. It
produced a temporary stimulation in
consumer goods and retail purchases,
but 1t failed to benefit those industries
with thousands unemployed
needed 1t most.
The C. w. A. Storm.
The decision of the President to
taper off the c. w. A. work is arous-
ing storm of protest among the poll
tlclanS-who have seen in this distri-
button OF money new method of get
ting and holding votes So far the
PRESIDENT has stood reSolutely against
those who would continue these sub
ventions. If he loses his fight we shall
be burdened with a vast army of DO
lltlcal employees. Even if he wins we
shall have to face the problem of find
ing work for the 100000 who will
still be unemployed when the C. w. A.
winds up its program.
The charge of playing politics made
against the C. w. A. is less serious
than is the "Tammanyzation" of the
country under the astute Postmaster
General Farley. Close observers of
our political life agree that never
since the days of Andrew Jackson has
partisanshir played such a large part
as under the Roosevelt administration
The first requisite of every applicant
for any job under the Federal Gov
ernment is letter Of Endorsement
from his local Democratic committee.
Efforts have been made to demand
similar requirements even for the ap-
plicants for scientific and technical
positions. No effort is spared to
strengthen the political hold of the
Farley organization throughout the
country. BY the free use of public
funds the administration has-at least
for the present-bought the good will
OF the whole sections of the country
that would normally be opposed to it.
With all its defects the administra-
tion has had the merit Of doing
things" President Roosevelt's gift of
leadership has, furthermore, restored
confidence and hope to a despairing
people. 1t was his good fortune to
take Office at moment of exceptional
pessimism. but after the general world
recovery was definitely under way. No
one would pretend that conditions are
not infinitely better today than they
were a year ago. Incidentally. in
those countries which have not en-
joyed a new deal economic conditions
have improved as much and even more
but the point for all thoughtful Amer.
leans to consider is not whether we
would be better or worse off had there
been no new deal, but rather whittier
the new deal is leading and what it
implies for our future. 1t should be
analyzed, discussed and fully consid-
cred. The country as a whole may
decide to abandon the principles which
guided Americas growth since its
foundation, but before doing SO the
new deal should be weighed In the
balance with the old. This Is what
most of the new dealers have sought to
prevent. It does little credit to the
new deal If its only chance Of being
accepted is to have it forced upon the
country sight unseen"