The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-23

weaken the Presidents relief issue in Louisi-
ana or Justify the Long dictatorship there.
Long has merely proved again that there is
no limit to his billingsgate. So what?
FLETCHER is somewhat more subtle as be-
comes a former diplomat, but he also has
the idea that political debate consists Of
groundless assertions. He plays it safe, how
ever. He simply revives the old Red bogy-
the refuge Of every patrioteer.
The planned economy of the Wallaces,
Warrens and Tugwells is merely New Deal
version" he says of the MARKHAM philosophy"
He continues: We must stop using Federal
funds to set the government up in business in
competition with private enterprise. We must
stop the definite movement toward state social
ism which has for its purpose. if not the
ownership. at least the rigid governmental
control and operation of agriculture finance,
business and industry"
Apparently Fletcher is a bit mixed. The
New Deal can not be headed toward Marian
socialism and state socialism at the same time.
for they are opposites. Henry will have to
make up his mind
1t is true that Federal funds are being used
to set up the government in competition with
private business-one business. That is cleo
trio power. But that is not Red import. 1t
is an old American custom, practiced for years
successfully by conservative Republican and
Democratic municipalities to prevent rate
gouging by private monopoly. And it is a
form OF defensive public competition which
probably will be extended to other utility and
natural-resource industries if private MONOPOLY
continues to prevent rational recovery.
AS for government control of finance, which
was voted by Republicans in Congress no less
than Democrats, does Fletcher propose to re-
lax regulation of the banks and stock mar
kets? Has he the courage to go to the people
with this as the next campaign issue? The
Republican National Committee may have for
gotten February, 1893, but there are a good
many million victims IF busted banks who
have not.
FINALLY, Fletcher objects to rigid govern
mental control and operation of agriculture"
There is no such thing in this country-not
yet. But II years of G. o. P. government. with
falling farm prices mounting mortgages and
tenancy brought US to control of agriculture
by creditors. If the New Deal had not reversed
upward the trend OF farm prices. much of
American agriculture today would not be
worth operating. as the banks and other mort
gage-holders discovered to their dismay.
AND II the Roosevelt Administration does
not succeed in the almost impossible task of
helping the farmer to reclaim his land and TO
make living on it, the creditors probably will
unload 1t on the government. If that happens
1t VIII not be as Fletcher fears because of
socialistic plots in Washington, but because
neither the individualistic farmer nor the
capitalist creditor can afford to keep the los
ing land
THE FletcherS and the Longs will get no.
- where with attacks of this type on the
President. Their ire is irrelevant, and the pub
lie knows it,
The only way they can capture the Presi-
oeht popularity and unseat him in their par
tiSan campaigns is to produce better leader.
America in distress is very practical-minded.
If Huey Long wants the people to believe
that he is better man than the President.
he will have to prove to them that his dicta-
torial rule in Louisiana is more democratic
and more efficient than Roosevelt rule What
chance is there of that?
If Fletcher wants the voters to rally to his
Old Guard, he will have to prove to them that
the old deal on its record is better than the
new. And what chance is there OF that?