Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1934-09-06
National Topics Interpreted

COmluS clcCLIOu Cdu"
paign and for the next session of con-
gress are being sharply drawn. It is
recognized here that the line Of
cleavage will be whether the Roose-
welt administration shall go further
to the radical side or whether it shall
be forced to more conservative be-
lief.
There has been so much confusion
In administration affairs that the issue
IL being forced. Each time heretofore
that conservatives have fought against
proposals by the Roosevelt administra.
ton or have criticized acts performed
under the discretionary authority
granted the President by congress, the
conservative element has been badly
defeated. 1t should be said that the
conservatives have lacked any particu-
lar punch, nor have they had leaders
worthwhile. Consequently their at
tacks have lacked virility and have
amounted to the same thing as an at
tempt to kill bear with birdshot.
Now, however, there seems to be. a
stiffening Of backbone on the part of
the conservatives, both Democratic
and Republican, as is evidenced by
the formation Of the American Liberty
league. This group, headed by such
men as Jouett Shouse, former Demo
cratic national committee head, former
United States Senator James M. Wads-
worth, New York Republican, and
Alfred E. Smith, one time Democratic
candidate for President, has announced
its purpose to fight in defense Of the
Constitution. 1t also is prepared to
make war on radicalism. Mr.. Shouse,
who will be the leagues president, de-
clared 1t was not anti-Roosevelt, or
anti-administration but that it admit
tedly will be against some features of
the New Deal.
Thus, for the first time since Mr..
Roosevelt became President, he is con-
frOnted with frank outright opposi-
ton Of serious kind on those parts
Of his program which the league and
other conservatives believe go beyond
traditions Of American history. My
information is that the league is well
supplied with funds and that 1t will
be able to disseminate its views in
extensive fashion. The purpose, it is
said, is to make sure that the rank and
file Of voters hear all sides to the vari-
Gus questions.
The non-partisan character of the
work to be done is being emphasized.
The names of the men who head the
organization are advanced as proof of
the statement that it will not dabble
In partisan politics. 1t remains, never
theless, that this group naturally must
oppose good many Of the New Deal
plans and in some quarters it Is be-
heved the New Dealers will attempt
to catalogue 1t purely as an anti-ad-
ADMINISTRATION propaganda machine. 1t
Is to be seen thus that Mr.. Shouse and
his associates have a battle on their
hands in addition to defense of the
Constitution. But those factors do not
change the belief Of many here that
In the American Liberty league we
actually are seeing the birth of a new
political party. It is this manner that
parties are born.
The lack Of coordination in govern
mental agencies is giving the Presi-
>, dent fresh concern
Ntchoergs and a new program
job is being considered
in order to fend of
partisan attacks. Donald Richberg.
Chicago lawyer and former general
counsel for the MIRA, has the Job in
charge. He will attempt, where his
predecessor Frank Walker failed, to
straighten out the tangled skein that
has resulted In many of the agencies
of the New Deal running counter to
each other.
Mr.. Roosevelt wants balanced con-
troll" among these agencies. That is,
he wants to see that the various units
whose functions may overlap are not
working at cross purposes and he
wants to see the recovery machine set
tied down so that there may be har-
mony among the officials of the ad.
ministration.
For an example of what / mean,
take the case of MIRA and AAA. II
has been recognized for some months
that the purpose behind these two
groups and upon which they have been
attempting to expand government
supervision Of agriculture on the one
hand and industry on the other have
led officials in different directions. It
has resulted in an undercurrent of dis.
satisfaction each with the other. Mr..
Richberg thinks that some way must
be found for this to be eliminated.
Then we have the Public Works
administration. the Reconstruction
Finance corporation, and the Home
Owners Loan corporation and now the
Federal Housing administration. II
is easy to see how many times any one
Of these may cross up the plans of
the others. The result obviously has
been difficulties and embarrassments
that ought never occur and would have
been avoided had the machinery been
geared together when the programs
were worked out.
Mr.. Richberg's job, therefore, plain
ly Is one fraught with great difficulties
and one that is fraught with notantioI