Evening star., 1934-08-25
PRESIDENT COOL
ON LIBERTY BODY
Attitude Hints at Knock
down Fight Between New
Deal and League.
By the Associated Press.

by INe hSSOCldIeu rIcSS
President Rooseyelt's faint praise
of the American Liberty League-with
Biblical reservations-mayh hasten an
answer to the question:
Are the new deal and the league
in for a knock-down, dragout scrap?"
The President left no doubt how he
views the new non-partisan organiza-
ton, in implying late yesterday that
property is its god as against the en-
phasis he places upon human rights.
President Jouett Shouse of the
league, now at Cape Cod, has insisted
repeatedly that it aims not to ham,
string the administration, but to help.
That he soon will amplify this posi-
ton, in the light Of shortcomings the
White House attributed to the league,
is expected.
Found to Fall Short.
The Roosevelt position is that the
league is a fine thing, so far as it
goes; but it falls some nine-tenths
short.
In the dusk of the historic blue
room, the President painstakingly-
and not without flashes of smiling
irony-developed his thesis that the
leagues announced purposes cover
only a part of the ten commandments.
He read these purposes slowly to
the $50 or so reporters present-"to
teach the necessity of respect for the
rights of persons and property ."
and Ito teach the duty of the Gov
eminent to protect individual and
group initiative ."
An organization should go the
whole hog, he said, not just pick out
love thy God" and love thy neigh
bor."
Cites Ignored Principles.
With that, he gayly remarked that
humorous friend had defined the
league commandments as love thy
God" (property being God in this
case) and ignore thy neighbor."
AS examples of important govern
mental commandments" that he be-
lieved the leaguers had ignored, he
cited
The duty of providing jobs for
those willing to work and of protect
ing the community from those who
would exploit it to their financial ad-
vantage
The President said he had not been
invited to sign up with the league.
That, he said with a chuckle, must
have been an oversight.
The founders of the league include
Alfred E. Smith and John w. Davis.
nnnnnnrofir
inees who have taken emphatic ex-
ception to portions of the new deal,
as well as James w. Wadsworth, Re
publican member ri Congress, and
Irenee du Pont.
The President had no comment on
the political implications of the
league, an angle that doubtless will
receive increased consideration as the
organizations policies take shape.
Hailed by Wall Street.
Before turning to other subjects, in
this last press conference prior to a
rest of several weeks at Hyde Park,
he told of having read with relish an
article in a newspaper which said
Wall Street looked upon the league as
little short of an answer to a
prayer"
Mr.. Roosevelt told OF the visit that
had been paid to him recently by
Jouett Shouse. Mr.. Shouse entered,
he said, and took from his pocket a
paper from which ne read the pur-
poses of the league.
As to whether he had any objection
to the setting up of s. ch an organ iza-
ton, the President said he assured
Mr.. Shouse that he 1ad none, that it
was not any of his business. Then,
as the story ran, Mr.. Shouse de-
parted
A correspondent inquired face
tiously whether Mr.. Roosevelt was
for the Constitution. He said he
still was, but then rephraSed 1t to
avoid the passive, saying be actively
favored it.
At a later point, when questions
and answers were being banded, he
said he adhered to the Constitution.
Hopkins Dismisses 1t.
Previously, Relief Administrator
Harry L. Hopkins had dismissed the
more lightly than others
in the city.
They are so far over to The right"
he observed lightly, that no one will
ever find them"
Meanwhile, whether Mr. Roosevelt
will direct fsvorite chal-
lenge to the league-"what would you
have the new deal do?"-spiced the
rife speculation over how out-and-out
the Right-Left conflict will become
The enthusiasm with which finan-
cial centers welcomed the organiza-
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