The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-06-22
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

| MOT since his caustic> observations ION the
1 money-changers in his inaugural address
has President Roosevelt risen to such heights of
economic realism and social vision as he did in
his message to congress on June 8. He here
stated his conception of the minimum civiiza-
ton and decency which any conscientious adj
ministration should strive to realize.
''Three great objectives-the security of the
home, the security of livelihood and the security
of social insurance-are, it seems to me, min
imum of the promise that we can offer the
American people
every individual and every family willing to
work. They are the essential fulhllment of
measures already taken toward relief, recovery
and reconstruction"
I have read with considerable care a large
number of representative editorials which have
commented upon this unusual and realistic COM
munlcatlon to congress-
Outside of those that are committed enthuSi-
astically to the New Deal through thick and
thin, there is pretty general tendency to de-
scribe the message as a well intentioned bit of
rainbow chasing or amiable day dreaming on
the part of our President.
EVEN a great American journal which is gen.
IL orally friendly to Mr. Roosevelt compared
his pronouncement to the "unfuflled promise of
Lloyd George to make England a land fit for
heroes to live in" 1t suggested that Mr.. Roose-
welt is posing as "an advance agent of Utopia"
1t seems to me that any such talk as this is
the most transparent nonsense. The Presidents
message was in reality, realistic and a hard
ened statement Tt merely shows that the Presi-
dent has both conscience and some sense of
social strategy. He was quite right when he said
that his program represents the least that could
be done by his administration for the citizenry
of the United States.
If a social and political system can not as
sure to every normal adult and Self-respecting
citizen home a job and security during periods
OF temporary unemployment, it deserves to be
thrown out and replaced by new order which
will bring about such a minimum contribution
to civilization and decency
After all, Mr.. Roosevelt's promises are not so
far from Mr. Hoover's declarations six years
ago that poverty was to be abolished two cars
to be IN every garage and chicken in every
pot
The great difference is that Mr. Roosevelt
apparently recognizes that certain sweeping
changes must be brought about in the old preda-
tory and partisan system if such happy day
is ever to be realized
Not only is this outline of the social minimum
of civilization sensible and realistic It would
be relatively easy to usher in if we were to apply
science and social realism to its attainment
TNHE technocrats assured us that science and
Il justice combined could give to every adult
American the equivalent of $4,000 year. Sup
pose they could only do one-fourth as we'll. An
average income of $4,000 year for every Amer
lean adult would bring something better than
mere shelter and a job.
Under the old system, even at the height of
its prosperity 988 per cent of Americans we're
receiving less than $1,000 year. Nevertheless
the son of the man who is perhaps the most
prominent figure in American finance today is
our authority for the statement that a SIS 900
income for all adult Americans is a very sane
and moderate estimate of what could be done
if we really introduced the most efficient pro-
ductive methods and assured just distribution
Of the social income.
OF one thing we may be sure Sooner or
later, the American people will demand what
Mr.. Roosevelt declares to be the minimum es-
Sentials of The New Deal. If the servants of
capitalism and democracy do not bring about
the realization Of this social minimum, RADICAL
ism is bound to triumph and try its hand at a
newer and more drastic method.