The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-14
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES =

by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES
DREsIDENT ROOSEVELT has relied SO
L widely upon expert advice in formulating
the deal that his administration has been
derided in some quarters as a professional
bureaucracy.
How have the brethren of the academic
cloth reacted to the dominion of the brain
trust?
According to Professor H. Parker Willis of
Columbia university, "a large majority of eco
nomc, political science and social science pro-
fessors are either skeptical or openly opposed to
the brain trust measures.
Being myself quite thoroughly inclined to
give the new deal the benefit of every doubt and
unwilling to condemn it until it is proved an I'M
doubted failure. moved the other night to
thank God if it were true that the majority of
professors were antagoniStic to it. A more
touching or reaSsuring tribute could scarcely be
paid to the Roosevelt program
For example on this evening I happened to
pick up in g. Pullman article by an emf
nent professor Of economics, Professor Lewis H.
Haney OF New York university who contributes
regularly to the newspapers on economic affairs.
In this article he led off with the following:
I'm several respects there seems to be some
tendency to check the extreme radical trend at
Washington and to recognize the difficulties and
dangers of scrapping our tried institutions. This,
/ think, is hopeful indication"
read on eagerly thinking that there must
have been some subversive policies which my
fine -toothed comb had missed But the Dol
shevik" intrigues which alarmed Professor
Haney were none other than the national recov-
cry act. the agricultural adjustment act, the
securities act, the effort to restore 1926 prices
the st. Lawrence river project, the overriding of
states rights in the federal regulation of bust
ness and the like
THE professor rejOiced that judges in Texas
Il and Florida were bravely stemming the
tide of SOvietism and that the custodians of
the NFIA were much less cocky"
Such talk as this from man who ought to
know better might stagger one less familiar with
the way of professors
Far from being extremely radical" the new
deal is so moderate and cautious that it does
not possess the slightest chance of restoring
prosperity unless it is made the starting point
for extensive elaboration and further develop
ment in the future. There is not radical
policy in it, if are to the term radical"
in any reasonable or sensible fashion
More absurd yet is the allegation Of "cocki-
ness" on the part of those charged with the
enforcement of the deal. Realistic friends
Of the Roosevelt program feel that the chief
criticism which be legitimately Ieveled
against its administrators is that they have thus
far lacked the courage to bring their excellent
aspirations into the practical world Of achieve
ment and run out the nOney-changers pirates
and tories.
the professors too harShly. one should call atten
ton to the very important Columbia University
Report on Economic Reconstruction, which
handed in by a group of experts, most of them
university professors
NTHILE wisely and egitimately questioning
w certain details Of the new deal this group
of eminent professors expressed their general
approval of the program, even to the reform
of our monetary system.
When it came to the very core of the new
dispensation namely, rational social planning
under direction of the federal government these
experts came out Fundamentally in support of
the Presidents philosophy:
THE establishment of economic equilibrium,
as already defined, is necessary condition of
any effective national economic planning. We
regard economic planning as a rational and in
fact necessary expedent under the conditions
Of cur present society The contrary doctrine Of
economic laissez faire assumes a situation of in
digidualst competition and of free price feX-
Utility which. whatever advantages or disad-
vantages might be, does not now exist"
The upshot of the whole matter is that as
in every other profession. there are professors
and professors. No more counting of noses with
respect to professional opinion will be any in
diCation of the validity of the ideas expressed.
The opinion of Harry Emerson Fosdick on a
question Of theology would be worth that of a
thousand fundamentals parsons from the back
woods. Similarly, the mature conclusions of
Charles Austin Beard. a Paul Douglas or a
Willard Atkins is worth far more than the NUT
terings and musings Of a whole battalion of
acadenacians as thoroughly enslaved by their
stereotypes as any fundamentals clergyman
Never fear, the bars the government is 60
ing to lift against imported liquors are not
the kind you lean on at $50 in the morning.
Explorers discover the queen of Sheba's an
Gent capital when they'd 90 better if they'd
find some Of our own lost capital right here
Dave Hotton. suing for divorce from Aimee