Evening star., 1935-11-17
BY MARK SULLIVAN.
MERICA, in the political sense,
\ ambles along as if this were an

n
We have started little earlier
than common and we move toward the
campaign with a slightly heightened
interest. Nevertheless, we all think of
1t as if 1t were just one more presi-
dental election. Yet it is quite pos
sible, il the New Deal goes on to the
only destination it can have, that this
may be the last presidential election
America will have, for as inevitably as
sprig grows into tree the New Deal,
if it is not arrested, means new order
of society, and new order of society
means a new form of government
| adapted to the new society.
Prof. Tugwell knows. He says: II
regard the coming months as among
the most critical ones of our history"
But we discuss whether Roosevelt
can carry the East or the Republicans
carry the Midwest. We talk about
aspirantS for the Republican nomina-
| tion, and soon we shall all be talking
about whether Landon will carry the
primaries in Indiana or Knox get the
delegates from Wisconsin; whether
ex-Gov. Smith will support Mr.. Roose-
welt or Hiram johnson support the
Republican candidate.
Blind as Russian Farmers.
And in all that We are just about as
blind as those kulak farmers in Rus
sia who, in 1916, were intent upon
their crops and their cattle. calm in
the assumption that what had been
would continue to be-not knowing
that all around them were forces and
men who, within a year, would de-
stroy the order of society that 999
Russians out of 1000 assumed would
go on as before
At Los Angeles last month Prof.
Rexford G. Tugwell, Undersecretary
of Agriculture, made speech. quote
from the Associated Press account:
"Tugwell asserted the nation was
witnessing the death struggle of in
dustrial autocracy and the birth of
democratic discipline He said there
was no reason to expect the disestab-
lishment of our plutocracy' will be
pleasant. These historical changes
never are pleasant he said. Our
best strategy is to surge forward with
the workers and the farmers of this
nation, committed to general achieve
ments, but trusting the genius of our
leader for the disposition of our forces
and the timing of our attacks.
Powerful in Astuteness.
The man from whom these words
came, Prof Tugwell. is powerful
person. Not powerful IN his person.
ality, not in personal force and mo-
mentum. If anybody would make
real fight against him he would go
back to the academic calm and safety
from which he came But Prof. Tug
well is powerful in astuteness, shrewd-
ness: powerful in his understanding
of how to bring about revolution-he
has studied it in Russia and written
about 1t in his books; he is powerful
In his intellectual processes, including
adroitness: he is powerful in his
thoroughgoing hate for the present
organization of society in America;
and he is powerful in the position he
holds.
Officially Prof. Tugwen is Under
secretary of Agriculture. But the man
above him, Secretary Wallace, is
queer compound Of eccentric and
ephemeral enthusiasms, of mystic and
philosopher, his head in the clouds,
his feet in mire of statistics. About
the relation of the Secretary to the
Undersecretary, We have the word Of
Gen. Hugh S. johnson, former head
of N. r. A.. who knows we'll, from the
inside, the human relations of the New
Dealers: Mr.. Wallace surrendered all
mental conclusions to Rex Tugwell."
Have Different PHILOSOPHERS.
Gen. johnson says that another of
the New Dealers, Prof Felix Frank
furter, ''is the most influential single
individual in the United States" But,
with due respect for Gen. Johnson's
familiarity with the inner family inti-
macies of the New Deal, I think he
is wrong in giving primacy to Prof.
Frankfurter over Prof. Tugwell. The
two professors have different philos-
ophies about society-there Is not
space here to explain the distinction.
AS between the two, it Is Prof. Tug
wells philosophy that is making prog
reSs in America, rapid progress. The
reason Prof. Tugwell's philosophy Is
winning is that Mr.. Tugwell knows
where he wants to go and knows how
to get there; in his purpose he is
helped by his personal relation to
President Roosevelt and by his official
position. Prof Tugwell is the real
animating genius of the New Deal.
And as Undersecretary of Agricul-
ture, with the prerogative of mental
conclusions" surrendered to him by
his superior, Prof. Tugwell has his
hand on the lever by which the new
order of society can be brought about.
Hardly handful of people in Amer>
lea, think, understand what A. A. A.
is. When anybody opposes A. A. A.,
have feeling that the Midwestern
farmers are resentful; they say, 1
imagine, Hes unwilling to let the
farmers have a little aid" But farm
relief is only a small fraction OF the
whole of what A. A. A. Is.
All that the Mdwestern farmers, as
D.
and corn-hog limitation contracts. In
those contracts, if they stood alone,
there is no threat to the American
form of society and government. Those
contracts are voluntary. The farmer
can take them or leave them. He can
take the Government money and re-
duce his crop. or he can refuse the
Government money and raise as much
as he pleases.
Mechanism for New Order.
The mildness A. A. A. practices in
the Midwest has bearing on politics.
The Midwest is vitality important in
next years election. To get second
term for President Roosevelt, to per.
NIT the New Deal to 60 on, to enable
A. A. A. to develop to its destined
end, the votes of the Midwest farmers
are needed in next years election.
These voters are shown only the mild
part Of A. A. A.
A,t,aIIy A iS q mecha nisrn