Evening star., 1934-07-11
DAVIS SEES PERIL
IN NEW DEAL RULE
1924 Democratic Nominee
Says Bureaus Threaten
to StrangIe u. S.
~ ID. L.socl.tsd prss.

BY ths Associated Pres.
UNIVERSITY. Va. July ll.--John
W. Davis. who 10 years ago this
week was named presidential nom
inee OF the Democratic party. last
night defended democracy under the
old order" and warned against its
death by the slow strsngulation OF
and engirding bureaucracy"
If 1t must die, ne said, 1T would
die a nobler death in the lightning
and the storm"
DAVIS vas introduced to the largest
crowd Of the Eighth Institute Of Pub
lie Affairs at the University of Viz
ginia. numbering over 1000. by the
United States Senator. Garter Glass,
who said he arose from sick bed
tempted by curiosity TO hear Davis
speak on the old order ="
He has not lost faith in the Con-
stitution. said Glass but will turn
to il again and again as a funda-
mental document worth more than
all the vararies Of all brain trusts or
brainleSs trusts that will exist from
now on until the end OF time"
Reforms Practicable.
The 1924 presidential nominee said
surely the people have warrant to be-
lieve that within the framework pro-
vided by the old order progress is
still possible. reforms are Still prac-
ticable and recovery is still attain
able"
In the court OF reason. in the light
Of history, the burden Of proof rests
wholly on those who would persuade
us to the contrary"
The New York attorney said he was
speaking neither for nor against the
new deal in the present use of that
alluring phrase. Under that title good
has been done. no doubt. which no
one would wish to undo.
And l share the general admira-
tion evoked by the energy, prompti-
tude and driving power shown by
President Roosevelt" he continued
"On the other hand. to approve or
reject any policy or group of policies
In mass and without analysis is an
act solely Of emotion. not of rea-
SON."
Braves Tory Charge"
Declaring that he did not wish to
be regarded as an opponent of
change and that "as liberal l put
my faith now and always in the free
dom Of the human mind" Davis said :
L am aware that one who comes
as l do to lay his humble wreath at
the feet Of the old order runs serious
risks. Some one is sure to denounce
him as Bourbon and others perhaps
to baptize him as tory.
He may be invited to be silent
until he can bring forth some new
thing Of his own; although it is not
quite clear why one who sees his
friend driving headlong toward q
precipice must wait to warn him until
he can produce a road map of the
district"
In emphasizing his precept that q
greater faith and practice in democ-
racy should obtain. Davis said the
Supreme Court has sanctioned the
doctrine that Congress, having passed
reasonably specific statute. may
commit to an administrative depart
ment the duty by rules and regula-
tions OF filling out the details
But that inch having been given.
the ell that is taken runs in final
statutory form not entirely unlike this /:
Something is wrong in the country
which ought to be put right; it is
hereby made the duty of the EAecu-
tive to find out what that something
is and to promulgate such rules regu-
lations, edicts and DEGREES as he or
1t may deem useful to correct it.
Draconian penalties are not infre-
quently attached to discourage those
who otherwise might imprudently
resist.
States Surrender.
some State Legislatures
have out-heroded Herod in point of
self-abnegation by enacting that the
| law of the State shall henceforth be
Whatever Congress has adopted as a
recovery act together with any codes.
agreements, licenses. rules and regu-
lations made effective Hereunder.
This Is more than cooperation; it
is unconditional surrender"
1t stands to obvious reason, the at
torney said. that no man. whether
the President Of the United States or
another, either the present high
minded and industrious occupants of
that office, or one less gifted. can
carry out such commands of himself. "
This brings into being. Davis said.
the bureaucracy that threatens the
existence Of democracy.
For" he said. be it remembered
that. while there are. according to the
latest computations I've seen, some
$4,000 employees of one grade or an
other on the Federal payroll no single
man or woman in the United States
has ever cast his or her vote for more
than five persons in all that mighty
host. These five are the President.
the Vice President, two Senators and
one Congressman. That far and no
farther runs the voters choice"
Drive to Novelty Is Old.
Asserting that drowning men have
clutched at strswS ever since the
world began" Davis said the battle
cry has always been the same: The
old order has failed US; capitalism
has definitely failed: away with it
and let something better be put in its
place,
Because in five brief. though pain
ful years we have fallen on evil days.
are We entitled to say forthwith that
capitalism has failed as a system ,
Is it not rather than those who in
public or private life undertook to
guide the course Of events did not
measure up to their duties and op-
portunities?
Men in Off1ce-I am not speaking Of
America alone-as well as the voters
behind them lacked vision: others
lacked courage to follow the vision
they had. Men in private station
drunk with the desire for easy money.
cast off ali restraint and forgot the