Evening star., 1934-09-30
New Dealers Taking Lesson From
Gen Johnson's Note Book of Experience

, N. r. A. policies clashed. There was
fundamental contradiction growing
out Of the fact that N. R. A opened the
way for industry to raise industrial
prices just about as rapidly as A. A. A.
raised farm produce prices. Gen.
johnson made gestures of cooperation
with Mr.. Wallace and Chester Davis,
administrator Of the A. A. A., but
policies remained unchanged. So now
one OF the first tasks of new N. r. A.
administrators will be to seek a basis
for cooperation with the A A. A.
In administering the agricultural ex-
pertinent, officials have INDUCED in a
minimum Of ballyhoo They have made
few promises. Agreements with farm
ers, which might be compared with
codes under N. r. A., have been car
ried out to the letter even when they
involved Federal intervention to plow
up field or to take away some pigs.
The most intense pressure from farm
ers has been resisted in establishing
corn-hbg quotas.
AS a result, Mr. Wallace and Mr..
Davis continue to ride high in the
esteem of the President. Their expert
ment is criticized, but they feel it is
secure enough to seek referendum on
its continuance. Involved was a real
revolution in the country's agricultural
set-up, but it has been carried out
with little fanfare
Probably even more striking is the
case Of the Tennessee Valley Author
ity. Here triumverate of three men
Arthur E. Morgan, Harcourt A.
Morgan and David E. Lilienthal-are
seeking to rebuild the economy of sec
tons OF six States. They are carrying
on an experiment that is the nearest
to Socialism of any yet attempted in
this country.
The T. V. A. hopes to remake the
method of life of the 100000 and
more people who live in its area of
operation. Vast power projects are
under way. There are programs call
ing for the development of co-opera-
tive industries. Plans are drawn for
dlversifying industry, for classifying
land and moving families from mar
ginal lands to better farming areas.
There has been little of the johnson
| technique in this whole venture. The
administrators have acted swiftly and
effectively, but with little ballyhoo.
AS a consequence, the T. v. A., al
though the country's most radical ex-
pertinent, is less criticized than either
the A. A. A. or the N. R. A.
| X X x X
Much the same story can be told
OF the Federal Emergency Relief
Administration. Like the T. v. A.,
the F. E. r. A. can be turned into an
agency for promoting important
changes in the country's economic
system. When combined with the
Federal Surplus Relief Corporation,
| which is operated out of the relief
administration, there is provided the
machinery for a broad Socialistic
experiment.
This experiment, in fact, is under
way in number of directions, but it
is the object of news suppression
rather than ballyhoo Harry Hopkins,
who has a reputation of speaking
frankly on relief and other problems,
Is quick to belittle the activities of
F. S. r. C. and the work relief plans
Those plans, however, are vigorously
pushed by Jacob Baker, an assistant
to Mr.. Hopkins as administrator of
F. E. r. A. They include number
of projects that bring together idle
factories, idle men and surplus raw
materials to produce goods that are
distributed to the unemployed. If
carried out to its logical end, this
program can mean that the country
would harbor one economic system
based on production of goods for
profit and another system based on
production of goods for use.
(Copyright 1934)