Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1934-06-28
National Topics Interpreted

WdSnlngLOn.-Hr1Or TO ana since al
5ournment Of the second session of
the Roosevelt con-
Where Is NeU gress, have tried
Deal Heoded2 to collect for these
columns a compos-
lite picture Of opinion among our law
makers as to where this New Deal in
government is headed. Oftimes have
reported here that I was unable to
comprehend many phases of the New
Deal because there has been SO much
confusion. 1t has been kaleidoscope
In its character from the start, but
there had been indications that a sec
ond session Of congress and Presiden-
tial messages would serve to clarity
the situation. Such, however, has not
been the case, insofar as my humble
ability to understand 1t is concerned.
To demonstrate more clearly what l
mean, let me relate that have sought
the views Of great many members
Of congress and, with one or two ex-
ceptions, the replies to my questions
were divided into two classes. If the
representative or senator was a devout
administration supporter, the answer
was that we are headed for greater
human happiness on the basis Of a
planned national life. If the one to
whom the questions were directed
were Republican or Democrat who
Is unwilling to swallow academic the
cries in accordance with the doctors
prescription, the answer almost in
variably was: 81 don't know" Many
of them expressed the belief that
there was merit in much of the New
Deal program, but its ultimate end
was a matter which they declared
they could not now foresee.
also have examined again many Of
the letters that have received from
readers of these columns since the
New Deal came into operation, but
they fail to provide a consensus as to
whether the writer's of them have
formed conclusions as to direction.
1t is to be recalled further that Mr..
Roosevelt, in submitting legislative
proposals to either Of the two sessions
of congress, has said with absolute
frankness that his program, then be-
ing offered, contained experimental
features. With equal frankness and
courage, he stated in each instance
that If the experiments failed, he
would be among the first to admit the
fact. Such was his attitude regarding
the gigantic agricultural adjustment
program with all of his various pol
icies for limitation of production and
enforced control of surplus. But
since the President has not said yet
that any of these have failed, it can
only be concluded that he is satisfied
with the progress being made.
Opponents of the New Deal and
doubling Thomases are pointing the
finger of scorn more and more to these
experiments, and I am informed by
observers who have been visiting va
rious sections of the country that
there is dissatisfaction in consider
able volume concerning the results
thus far accomplished.
From Industrial communities and
the areas where the bulk Of the In
come taxes are collected by the gov
eminent, l hear the question: "Who
is going to pay for all of this?"
There can be no doubt that this
question Of "who is going to pay" will
become paramount at later date
than 1t is now. But the leaders of
the New Deal have gone no further to
this date than to say that restored
prosperity will make the payments
easy. And the truth of their state
ments, of course, cannot be disputed.
Many observers in washington had
thought when the President insisted
on senate confirma-
Fail to Pin ton of his nominal
Tuo,,.U ton of Professor
Tugwell to be under
secretary of agriculture, there would
be an exposition of the New Deal OBJ
jectives. Such, however, was not the
case. OF course, the senate commit
tee hearing where Professor Tugwell
was questioned turned out to be an
abortive thing, but still 1t had been
expected there would be something
that would add to the sum of public
understanding of the destination
sought. Senator Smith of South Caro-
lima, Democratic chairman Of the com
mittee and staunch opponent of Pro-
fessor Tugwell, tried to pin the pro-
fessor down to statements that would
indicate what the so-called head of the
brain trust thought the government Is
doing respecting agriculture. So did
Senator Byrd, Virginia Democrat.
Neither succeeded.
Professor Tugwell was surprised at
the questions asked him. He thought
the committee ought to take his
''word" without reservation. He as
sured the senators of his unqualified
support of the Constitution of the
United States, but afterward observ-
ers here voiced their inability to recon.
Gle that assertion with the professors
earlier writings to the effect that he
could not understand "the unreason.
ing, almost hysterical attachment OF
some Americans for the Constitution. "
Notwithstanding this. the committee
went right ahead and voted a favor.
able report to the senate on the pro.