The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-01-21

L
| Frank CAdcGraw-Hil Book CO. $2.50)
Labor, Industry and Government By
Matthew VOL. Cd. Appleton Century Co., S2)
The Mortgage Problem" BY Harold G.
Aron. George Press, s1.50)
CLENN FRANK is the dean of liberal phrace
" makers and his book is by all ODDS the most
colorful product of liberal rhetoric In our day.
While in general sympathetic with President
Roosevelt and the New Deal, he is critical on
number of points, especially the adoption Of
the economy of scarcity. The best chapter in
his book is his vigorous attack upon the renun-
citation OF plenty.
He brings out clearly the point that we can
no longer stumble along. We face either reso-
Lutte liberal reforms or revolution. He draws very
clearly the distinction between a successful pro-
gram of RELIEF and a statesmanlike reconstruc-
ton of the economy Of the nation:
"I applaud the willingness of any leadership
that goes oravely to bat in moment of crisis
and, without standing on ceremony, does what
ever may be necessary to see to it that men and
women and children are fed and clothed and
sheltered
But relief and economic realism present diff
ferent problems. longtime craftsmanship re-
quires that we go beyond planless borrowing to
bolster up an economic order that does not, in
! its normal day-to-day operation spread buying
power widely enough to stabilize an adequate
market for its output and give to the millions
those basic factors of goods, services, and leisure
which are the essential raw materials of salts
factory living.
=" A ND it is. I repeat, in the authentic proc
| l. esses of economic enterprise, not in the
artificial processes of political action, that the
economic problem must finally be solved"
The weakest point in Dr. Franks book is to
be discerned in the fact that after he has mag
N10in
and financial leaders, stating literally that they
have been so stupid as to breed the suspicion of
deliberate suicide he places his faith in the flu
ture upon the leadership of these same individ-
uals.
Matthew Vol has written very clear and
interesting book setting forth his economic and
labor philosophy. He boldly and Fundamentally
defends the right of labor to organize and strike,
and claims that Clause IA of the MIRA is merely
step on the way to the full rights of labor II
a democracy. He denounces any interference
with the right of labor to strike Fascist
challenge to our liberties.
Unfortunately Mr. VOLTS acts in his role as
an official of the American Federation of Labor
Go not square with his rhetoric. He failed to
take a position of decisive leadership in 1888
which would have enabled labor to get as much
as possible out of the NFA, while the A F. of l..
backed away from the strikers and let them
down in notorious fashion in many critical
strikes o. the last year.
II VEN some of Mr.. VOLTS rhetoric for public
L. consumption is hardly of a liberal
vintage, for he continues the absurd Com
pers policy of opposing the organization of a
strong labor party.
The holders Of mortgages in this country,
especially city real estate are in VIGOROUSLY
bad way. Finance capitalism has Quilted the
mortgage system from the inside, while the in
hationists would greatly reduce the actual value
of these mortgages and the interest due thereon.
Mr. Aron has written an imprisoned plea for
the protection of these mortgages and the re-
organization of the mortgage system:
THE largest single investment in America
is in mortgage securities. They are the spear
head of the capitalistc system and their own
ers are the soldiery who can save America from
imitation, national collapse, confscation of pri-
vate property, the end of individualism, the
death of free competition and the annihilation
of democracy"
Mr. Aron would do away with the private
system of title insurance and create public
mortgage authority: Merely to police the ave-
nues of trade and commerce, so the thug can
use his blackjack, and the rufhans can not ter
rorze the public or loot the shopkeeper"