Evening star., 1935-11-24
BY THEODORE C. WALLEN.

cumstances, President Roose-
velt's verbal promise of a
- breathing spell" has not only
failed to placate business but has led
to new show of determination to
60 to the mat with the New Deal. In
view Of the turn Of the recent elec-
tions, the imminence Of Supreme Court
action on vital Roosevelt measures
and the approach of the presidential
campaign. Democratic leaders see a
distinct stiffening of business resist
ance to the New Deal.
To the minds of the politicians the
developing situation recalls some ele-
ments of Mark Hanna's fight to elect
Mckinley over Bryan in 1896. Bryan's
defeat was attributed to the phalanx
of business sentiment marshaled
against him, and the vigor of the Re-
publican campaign in the industrial
sections. 1t is recognized, of course,
that that campaign differed markedly
from that of today in that business in
1896 was rising to avert the mere
threat of a new deal, whereas the
present struggle is to drive out new
deal that is already in possession of
the Government.
With the N. r. A. dead and large
Industries refusing to help revive 1t.
with the public utilities holding COM
pany act defied on the strength of a
stimely" district court decision, and
with the November elections en-
couraging the bankers to hout the
Roosevelt administration in their re-
cent New Orleans convention, the
business community believes the worm
has turned and that the New Deal, If
not President Roosevelt himself, is on
the way out.
Mr.. A. Shift Best Test.
Best illustrating the change Of at
titude is the position business has as
sumed toward the N. r. A.
Most business men year ago were
cooperating in development Of the
codes and hoping they would be con-
tinued. They disliked the interfer-
ences Of Government in their affairs
which the N. r. A. entailed, but they
saw this organization as q bulwark
agaiRst more radical proposals, such
as the 34-hour week.
Now the Supreme Court has set the
limit on Government intrusions on
business management so drastically
that the industrialistS no longer are
afraid Of what Congress may do in the
way Of additional legislation.
President Roosevelt's promise Of a
''breathing spell' has not disarmed
business because it sees this pronounce
ment as a confession Of weakness. 1t
did not come until after the Rhode
Island election and other incidents
had indicated that the President was
losing strength with the voters.
From its viewpoint, business be-
lieves Mr.. Roosevelt has done his
worst and that the courts and popu-
lar opinion can be counted on both
to prevent further radical measures
and to wipe out some of the existing
governmental exactions.
Hence, business groups now feel able
TO focus attack on the huge volume
Of governmental expenditures, which
all along has been their main cause
Of concern. The big fight of the COM
ing session of Congress almost GER
tainly will revolve about the Presi-
dents budget. This also is likely to
be major issue in next years elec-
tion.
Await Congress Estimates.
Not until Mr.. Roosevelt submits his
estimates of Government expenditures
for the next fiscal year at the OPEN
ing Of Congress in January will the
exact lines Of his budget battle be
drawn, but its major objective is plain.
The opposition's demand will be for
an immediate curtailment of expendi-
lures with view to balancing the
budget not later than the year be-
ginning July /, 1887. The conflict
will center inevitably on the Presi-
dents so-called emergency budget"
which now accounts for more than
$4,000, 100000 of the Governments
annual outlay. For the first time the
administrators whole system of un-
employment and agriculture relief will
be questioned.
Evidences are plentiful that Mr..
Roosevelt now realizes that his major
political danger lies on the side of
Government finances, and that he is
bending every effort toward setting his
house in the best possible order to
meet an attack on this front.
On its face, however, the presidents
task appears insuperable To abandon
now his promise of full-time job for
every employable American-made in
his message to Congress last January
would be calculated to lose the very
relief vote on which his managers are
counting for reelection.
Equally dangerous politically would
be any modification of agricultural re-
lief, which constitutes the second