The Washington times., 1934-09-14

CTaCk4I1B, SCO4SS -
Of Am e lean w
citizens have ~ ~,
been shot down
in strike riots, and 100000
are unemployed as winter comes.
It is well to keep cheerful,
but, unfortunately, most Of the
Executive utterances do nothing
to promote cheerfulness among
thoughtful people. This is true
because they do nothing to re-
lieve the existing great urlcer-
tainties as to Government policy.
They are mostly just "stalling.
Take the statement that the
NRA is now to be given a
set-up like our Government" )"
with it's functions divided into
legislative, executive, and judicial
branches. Sounds good, but
what does it mean? 1t throws
no light on the practical issues,
such, as price fixing, wage diff
ferentials, etc.
ANYHOW, the system of checks
and balances deemed suitable Tor
government by our fathers is GER
tainly no good for business ad-
miniStration. Business and gov
ernment are fundamentally differ
ent, and one of the Saddest fea-
lures of the situation is the at
tempt to have government run
business.
Maybe the President means
that Just as he considers the
Constitution "elastic" enough
to warrant the radical New Deal
steps, SO the, proposed set-up of
NRA would not be anything
that would have to be lived up
to! --.' ~.
In fact, our government itself
Is now run by the Executive, with
rubber stamp legislators, and the
courts mostly saying "Yes" (on
the ground of a seemingly per-
petual "emergency"D. .
Or take the statement on collec-
tive bargaining. The President
says. Well, yes-and, again. no.
More precicely, he says that either
majority representation or pro-
portional representation may be
practical, depending on condl-
tionS!
First he said proportional repre-
sentation in the automobile case.
Then his National Labor Board
said majority representation in
the Houde Engineering case. Now
he says both" This is evidently
Stalling.
Then there is the financial ques-
tion. The President says perhaps
eventually he will use the paper
profit made by the Government
through seizing our gold. 1t is
"nest egg" he smilingly observes.
He won't tell the nation whether
he is going to initiate or not, al
though most of us want to know
definitely. and the only statesman
like course is to decide upon a
policy.
Stalling again.
Why this stalling technique?
One may guess that the President
does not know, and cannot make
up his mind.
On tha one hand, suppose he
thinks occasionally of his personal,
fortune and his wealthy friends.
(No one could blame him for
that.) On. the other hand, there
are his political promises Of "a
more abundant life" for the
masses.
On the one hand, he sees the
failure of experiment after ex-
periment-tO control prices by
gold buying, to restore trade
with Russia, to prime the
pump government partnership
with business under the NRA,
crop control under AAA, etc. On
the other hand, there are the
promises of prosperity, and the
Oft-repeated statement that we
are on the way"
He virtually promised to bal
ance the budget in 1885. He now
feels compelled to spend so much
that no balance is possible. and
government credit has cracked
ominously.
On the one hand. Tugwell is
being sent: aboard. and Warren
and Rogers are no longer heard
of. But Douglas and all exper-
fenced (and therefore conserva-
tive) men have left the ship.
My plea is ''Quit atalling, Mr..
President, and let us know! If you
don't know what is right and best
for the country, say so. And then
take as ad;.sorS. regardless Of
party. men whose experience,
training, and honestly fit them to
deal with the great economic
questions which confront U.S."
OSo.rooAvvro Dvr1SnN