The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1935-03-07
After. Two Years

After Two Years
MONDAY of this week President Roose-
wi welt completed his second year in Of
flee. It is an ideal time to consider
what accomplishments have been made to-
ward recovery in that period.
Critics, moved in part by political mo-
hves, are now bounding the presidents
every step, pointing to inconsistencies, fail
ures and near failures which can be charg-
ed to his administration and minimizing or
neglecting to mention the accomplishments
In all fairness it can be said that the
NRA was noble experiment" that failed
to come up to expectations. It did not put
the number of men to work that it was de-
signed to. Public demand has resulted in
dropping many price fixing experiments that
were designed to stabilize business and in
sure fair profits.
Something however has been salvaged
from the wreckage. In the first place child
labor was outlawed, perhaps for all time.
shop to find where employment was created
and salaries raised through NRA. Certain
" labor benefited to some extent. It might
have profited more had unions been less
greedy. Price fixing was unpopular but
many industries formed organizations under
the NRA program which survive and are
working to the advantage of all concerned.
Critics credit the rise in farm prices to
the drouth, calling the AAA another Roose-
velt failure. Unforeseen of course, drouth
limited production and raised prices, the
very aim of the crop reduction-by agree
ment program. Cases of injustice can be
cited and the plan was too complicated but
judged by the early signup of corn-hog con-
tracts in this county, farmers do not con-
slider it was flop. It is certain that money
was brought to this community through the
program which would have come in no other
way The corn loan plan enabled farmers
to enjoy the rise in corn prices which other
wise would have gone to spectators. Farm
financing projects have enabled thousands
to hold their land and obtain interest rates
which will make it possible in time to be-
come debt-free.
Comparatively minor, perhaps, but the
CCC program is seldom mentioned by crit
les, the deduction which follows being that
it was no failure
The Public Works administration has
been extremely slow in getting underway.
It "failed" to become pork barrel which
was disappointment to some congressman,
a fact responsible for some criticism. The
Tennessee Valley authority and some other
programs are not vet far enough advanced
to be fairly judged, the objections being to
their interference with private business
rather than to the manner in which they
work out.
1t is not difficult to imagine what might
have happened had not the federal govern
ment come to the front in relief matters.
Certain it is that the old idea that the more
fortunate in each block could take care of the
needy in that block was long ago outdated.
Relief has been expensive but for the most
part it has been fairly administered.
First move of the new president was to
stabilize banks, program being adopted
which has dispelled fear and put an end to
most banking risks.
A great many other efforts could be
mentioned, some successful many partly or
even WIDELY useless. Even economists can
only guess as to the condition which might
exist if some of the plans such as changing
the gold value of the dollar and calling in
all gold had not been adopted.
The sincerity of the president is seldom
questioned Fair minded persons must con-
slider that he has had all kinds of advice, in
great quantities; that he followed an adj
ministration the greatest criticism of which
was that it did nothing; that politics, hui
man weaknesses and great pressure UNI
avoidably enter into any government pro-
gram.
Our attitude today should depend on
two things: first, would we care to go back
TO March 1888 and if we could, who would
we put in the presidents chair who could do
better Second, more can be accomplished
in the two years that remain of his admin
istration if he is afforded support than ii
every effort is made to discredit.
Remarking that only two members OF
the graduating class there look forward to
careers in the business world, Sleepy Eye
columnist remarks: 'aThe minority is natur-
al: look where business has gone in the last