Evening star., 1935-10-08

Yarns you hear about the decline OF
Roosevelt popularity are true in gen.
eral way, but do not tell the whole
story.
Epery one kno,ps OF the antaoo-
nisn, among city business people,
manufacturers, professional people,
groups heavily burdened and fear
Jul of taxation, the To1Unsendites,
etc. Beyond this, there seems to
hare been q change OF sentiment
among Uhite collar classes. Not
that they are against Roosevelt no11.
They seem to be merely less en-
thusidstic about him. They no
longer cancel engagements to hear
his radio speeches. They no longer
applaud everything done in Wash
ington.
Their collective state Of mind seems
to be one of sympathetic searching
analysis, without general appreciation
or disapprobation.
Interest in Public Affairs.
That is why there is greater interest
in economics and politics than there
ever has been. Every shopkeeper will
argue economics with you. Every clerk
has his own political ideas, which are
not necessarily those he reads. The
people certainly know more about
what is going on in Washington than
they ever did and each has his own
view.
Consequently, the decline of in
terest in Mr.. Rooseplt's words seems
to indicate only a decline OF in
terest in him personally, but not in
his NeD Deal. That is an impor.
tant political distinction.
For instance. the newspapers of Mr..
Roosevelts' particular path gave little
prominence to his speeches on his
Western trip, although many of those
same newspapers are ardent New Deal
supporters. They displayed relief and
tax news from Washington, the Eth
iopian situation and even interviews
with Mickey Cochrane more promi-
nently than the Presidents speeches.
That is an accurate reflection of
the current interest trend.
Business Is Better.
Business was to 40 per cent bet
ter In the Is or more communities
visited and hastily investigated dur
ing this trip. Only one exceptional
city was 40 per cent better (San
Diego. The average improvement of
the Western half of the country was
found to be about 10 per cent over
last year.
This is a far better condition than
the washington figures show. 1t is
due partly to Government spending,
partly to sectional subsidies by the
Federal Government "a. A. A., silver.
But even beyond those factors, the
natural undercurrent of business is
definitely fixed and strong, much more
so than in the East, where the lag
ging heavy goods manufacturers are
centered.
The depression is physically oper,
but the trouble is it has not been
forgotten. Business people are un-
certain, inclined to keep in their
shells. Some refuse to tell how good
their business Is. They prefer to
talk in doubts.
If all were suddenly to start talk
ing business up instead of down,
an entirely different national feeling
would be created without any mate
rial change in the basic situation.
Country Looks Prosperous,
The outward appearance of the
country is excellent. There are few
manifestations of depression. Auto
traffic Is heavy on most highways.
Tourists are travelling and spending
money. Trains are not generally
crowded, but well filled. Few vacant
houses or stores are seen in most
cities. Business men are advertising
energetically and competing sharply
for business.
Where the eristing condition op-
parently differs most from normal
is that, Ul.ile nearly every one 1.-THE
upper three-tonrths OF the country)
is making little money, profits are
not Dhat they tDere in 1923-25.
Furthermore, the high-pressure
groups, the promoters who made
money out of financing new enter
prises, are not now making anything
at all. Their wall Is loudest.
L.: H., lid $n%