The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1934-01-04
NEIGHBORLY LOVE
By Frank R. Kent, in the Baltimore
Morning Sun

By Frank R. Kent, in the Baltimore
Morning Sun
So beautiful were the Christmas
Eve eminations of our leaders IN
Washington, the impression might be
gathered that every Administration
heart beats as one and nothing save
love and light is harbored in the New
Deal bosoms.
The President stressed the Glove thy
neighbor as thyself" commandment in
his Christmas greeting, and the ebul-
lient General Johnson told US that the
pinnacle of Democracy" has been
reached. He admits this is largely due
to the administration of the depart
ment of which he is the head. Other
Administration spokesman Justify
sang in the same key. The chorus in
the press and over the radio was in
spring and the response splendid. Not
a Earring note was heard.
In the midst of all this holiday har
mony it seems a pity to put the finger
on a sore spot or refer to current OF
controversy underneath the pellucid
stream. No doubt when this is done it
will be ascribed to the sinister nature
of some sorehead. Yet the fact is the
man who commits this act is so close
to the President that you could not
get the claim of balanced budget be-
tween them. If there is anything thin
ner than that, no one knows it. Again
his name is Ernest X. Lindley, official
Roosevelt biographer, author of the
Roosevelt Revolution" as devoted a
friends as Mr.. Roosevelt has and as
much in his confidence as any.
Some time ago Mr.. Lindley created
unite a stir when he wrote in his
, paper of the undercover row between
the young Liberals" and Mr.. George
Peek. He told of the bitterness felt
in the Tugwellans and with singular
accuracy presented the facts and fore
cast the result. A day or so ago Mr..
Lindley wrote a somewhat similar
piece. This time the principals in the
controversy are Mr.. Harry Hopkins,
director of the Civil Works program
on the one side, and Gen. Hugh John
son, matchless master of the NRA, on
the other. 1t seems that in his hearty,
wholesome way General Johnson has
severely criticized the CWA. 1t has,
he said, "created perfectly absurd
situation by paying wages that private
industries could not afford" 1t is, he
said, ridiculous that men who are, in
effect, upon the dole, should receive
more than workers in industry"
Now this was untactful in the gen.
eral. For one thing, while these men
are on the dole, that fact is not sup
posed to be referred to. On the con-
trary, the mere suggestion is regarded
as bad. For another, the CWA pro-
gram is quite the most radical step
yet taken and is close to the hearts of
the "Young Liberals" For another,
the money runs out in February and
an additional billion to carry on must
be had from Congress. Considerable
criticism of the CWA wages has come
from various sections. In the South,
State officials have said it was making
it impossible for householders to hire
Negroes for real work Mr.. Hopkins
characterized these protests as so
much "yapping" and was not dis
turbed.
However, when attacked by co-di-
rector of the New Deal, he was really
resentful. He and the general had
words" in the White House itself
words which the reliable and posted
Mr.. Lindley described as a "head-on
clash" The general demanded of Mr..
Hopkins why he had not consulted
him before fixing CWA wage stand
ards. To this Mr.. Hopkins delicately
replied "Why didn't you consult me
before you approved your lousy
codes" Told later that the CWA is
paying "only decent subsistence
cages" General Johnson retorted:
THAT is just some more adjectives so
far as l am concerned" When things
reached this point, Mr.. Lindley states,
the controversy was carried to the
President.
In Mr.. Lindley's judgment, the Pres
ident will stand by Mr.. Hopkins rather
than General johnson. Whether this
means the general will follow Mr..
Peek into outer darkness he does not
state, but he did indite one significant
paragraph. Commenting upon the
Johnson contention that under NRA
the Governments interest in labor is
confined To nrntnctiror tic RIGHT 70 nr