The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-12-03
Which Road viii It Be?

10 % sure, there u every m0lCa-
ton that senators and congressman
win follow tho presidents lead and
that he can get just about what he
wants in the way Of legislation, but
this will not prevent them from hav.
ing ideas Of their own even where
they lack the courage to follow their
own convictions.
In the long run, this question VIII
be decided by the mass Of public
opinion to which all officeholders, nc
matter how highly placed. are very
attentive. Sooner or later, the pro-
gram adopted viii be the one which
the American people want adopted.
In recognition Of that fact. the av-
crage voter should keep an eye on
this situation, form . definite opin-
Jon II he can find the facts upon
which to base one.
Something instinctively tells the
average man that he cannot spend
his way into prosperity. Somehow
Or other It doesn't seem logical, no
matter what Relief Administrator
Hopkins or Interior Secretary Ickes
think Of 1t. The bin for emergency
expenditures win have to be paid
some time and no one wants It to be
any larger than necessary when it
is presented. For that reason It Is
only natural to distrust the theory
upon which they base their represen-
tations to the president.
On the other hand. there Is no
denying that the heavy expenditures
made to date have been both neces-
sary and helpful. Business In North
Dakota has been much better this
year than last. Had It not been for
the money received from the federal
government, through various chan
nes. there would be practically none
at all.
To practically everyone In this re-
gion, government help has been q
1ife and death matter and we appre-
I fate the interest and attitude which
rs prompted the administration to
Intend It.
At the same time, We would much
rather get back upon our own feet
and be able to ask nothing from any.
one. We want no largesse II we can
avoid tho grim necessity Of taking It.
Since Hopkins and 1ckes probably
think the same way about It, the diff
ference Of opinion Is clearly not one
Of the goal to be attained but the
method by which it Is to be reached.
The aim. In al Of the governmental
activities, Is to establish recovery 90
that all who wish can be profitably
employed. On one side we have the
more visionary advisers who feel that
increased appropriations offer . way
out. On the other Is the more con-
sentative group which feels that
business win have to be left to paddle
its own canoe sooner or later and
that It had better b sooner lest It
forget how 70 paddle altogether.
Few persons have . national per-
spective and It Is difficult for Us to
obtain one. beset q We are BY our
own local problems and perplexities.
Nevertheless. the attitude which seems
sound here Is doubtless pretty close
to the facts elsewhere. II We get .
crop next year at fair prices, We viii
be Ia position to favor abandonment
Of the governments spending policy
and will need no relief from the row
eminent.
II we do not get . crop We win be
as bad off as we are now-perhaps
worse. We know what we hope win
be the fact. but none Of Us can be
sure.
For US. recovery depends upon one
major and . number Of minor unpre-
dictables. The same thing probably
Is true Of the nation 8 9 whole. On
this basis It probably would b lust
Is wise not to try to plan too far
ahead. Whether We want to or not,
We have to leave certain THINGS to
forces over which no man has con-