The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-04-16
Editorial Comment

/
Editorials printed below show the
trend Of thought by other editors.
They are published without regard
to whether they agree or disagree
with Tho Tribune's policies.
Changing View of the New
Deal
Chicago Tribune)
Some sober second thoughts are
rising in the minds Of the American
people these days. They have not
reached the national capital very in
fluentially as yet, but they will in
due time. The unquestioning mood
which has permitted momentous and
costly experiment to be launched with
little public question is passing. Even
tual consequences are beginning to be
considered. The revolutionary doc
trines and intentions held by many
of the presidents advisers and aids
are coming into the focus Of the ma
tional thought and are beginning to
meet the challenge Of American
loyalty. An administration which has
been exploiting the moral effects of
the depression and the personal
prestige Of the president now finds,
as has been disclosed In the votes on
the seaway and on the veto, that its
domination over congress is not un-
limited. The New Deal is losing q
good deal of its glamor. It retains, of
course,t the ardent support of those
who share its theories Of revolutionary
change and the favor Of individuals
and classes which have received or
hope to receive immediate material
profits from its command of public
funds. But an increasing number Of
citizens are beginning to think Of the
price to be paid for the New Deal, not
merely through the swelling demands
Of taxation but In the disparagement
Of long tested principles and STAN
dards and OF cherished institutions,
IN the deterioration Of national
morale.
This change Of public sentiment
and thought was inevitable and comes
none too soon. It's first marked slim
illus was tho significant controversy
over freedom Of the press. revealing
upon an issue which the American
people had assumed was forever fore
closed remarkable resistance on the
part Of the new planners. While
this was fresh In the public mind
came the autocratic confiscation OF
the air mail contracts and the efforts
to smoke screen its Interior purpose
with incorporate language and un-
supported accusation. The press at
tack also had included charges, to say
nothing OF implications, of offenses
which cid not exist. On the heels of
these manifestations Of the New Deal
came the decision Of the Supreme
court In the bread with milk case,
which, we think, shocked the sense Of
Justice Of freedom loving Americans.
Then came Senator Borah's broadside
against the MIRA. emphasizing the
threat Of that experiment in govern
ment control against the mass of
American business, and, finally. DR..
Wirt's illuminating disclosures.
In spite Of the valuations and inter-
pretations Of the American social and
political order which we are invited
TO accept by the evangelists Of the
proposed revolution. the American
people will want to know what they
are expected to accept at their hands
as substitute. and they are beginning
to ask for more definite specifications.
The plausibility Of . planned society
is beginning to wear thin as the price
Is beginning to appear. There are
good many Americans still, and we
are confident they are large major
ity, who have not surrendered their
faith In . free society, and they are
beginning to realize that a planned
society cannot be free. We doubt they
are ready to adopt the Russian model
which Is 50 much admired by leading
advisers Of their president or ever
imagined when they voted the ad-
ministration into office that under the
guise Of New Deal they were giving
. mandate for the revolutionary re-
construction Of American society. A
sane people viii not accept even q
peaceful revolution without examining
what they are offered.
The outlines Of the New Deal are
beginning to be revealed with new
clarity and significance to public
judgment. A planned society Is not a
free society. however benignant its
purposes may be. and it finds In the
popular criticism expressed In . free
press and other free agencies Of pub
licity and protest IN unacceptable in
reference with its authority. To get
rid Of tree utterance. to overawe and
repress Il not wholly suppress it, is
the first resort Of Ill the planned 80
cdeties ret up IN postwar Europe.