Evening star., 1935-04-28
BY OWEN L. SCOTT.

set under way second active period
in the life of the New Deal. This
one-backed by $4,000 600 900 of
spending money-will seek to profit
by the mistakes that brought such
an abrupt end to the first.
Signs OF the new offensive are
numerous in Washington. The Presi-
dent is hard at work on plans to
start the new billions to work. His
! objective is to show returns for every
dollar spent. Leading New Dealers
are being shifted about. Depart
ments that have functioned in low
gear for some months are suddenly
taking on new life. Cabinet members
have taken to the stump to fight back
at their detractors. All in all. the
lethargy of recent months is giving
way to aggressiveneSs.
This turn had long been awaited.
President Roosevelt and his admin
istration have been on the defensive
most of the time since last January.
They lost the ball to Huey Long
and other panacea peddlers and are
having a hard time getting 1t back.
Congress seemed TO get out OF hand.
That, in turn, could be traced back
to a widespread change in public
sentiment.
For a time the New Deal was in
clined to scoff at doubters Recently,
however. reports from the country
were convincing enough to cause Jim
Farley, Postmaster General and chair
man Of the Democratic National Com
mittee, to admit to friends that some
thing needed to be done. The at
titude of revolt in Congress was found
to be symptomatic Of similar atti-
tude among voters who had been
friendly as recently as last Novem-
ber
Two things now are counted on
to change that picture. They are:
First, the start of new large-Scale
Federal spending on basis calcu-
lated to have maximum effect both
on the pocketbooks of business men
and the spirits of the unemployed.
Second, a normal rise in business
| activity and employment following
| what is expected to be a brief slump
at the moment. The New Deal no
longer believes that recovery can come
! through Government action. 1t de-
pends on private industry to carry
that load and expects that work relief
will simply help it along.
A sign Of what lies ahead can be
| read from the present shifts in per-
sonalities and policies.
Frank c. Walker returns to key
position. What does that mean?
Simply that Mr.. Roosevelt has picked
a most trusted aide, and one highly
| skilled in the art of politics, to pass
on all future requests for Federal
money. Mr.. Walker is in a position
to see that funds from the $4,000. 900
600 works pool go to the spots where
they will do the most good. both
from the point of view Of business
and of politics.
Harry Hopkins is given the task Of
seeing that much of the money is
spent. Has that significance? Just
this: Federal Relief Administrator
Hopkins and his chief assistant, Cor
| rington Gill, know how to get results.
They are little bothered by red tape.
Delays which have characterized some
| spending activities of the Government
are expected to be avoided when the
new program gets into full swing.
The objective is to work up to a
| spending peak next Winter.
Harold Ickes apparently is to have
a somewhat smaller part in the new
est spending venture. The meaning?
Mr.. Ickes. as administrator Of public
works. with s3,3O0,00O,O00 to spend.
has smaller than expected results to
show. His chief objective has been
to spend that money without single
scandal. To accomplish this objec-
tive a spy organization was built up
that caused more than a little New
Deal embarrassment.
X
DR.. Rexford Guy Tugwell comes
back into his own. Dr. Tugwell will
have many millions of dollars at his
disposal to start rebuilding agricul-
ture according to a new pattern. As
the leading New Deal intellectual. he
| will continue to hold office as Under
| secretary of Agriculture. This recog-
milton means that the ups and downs
| Of life as brain truster have left
DR.. Tugwell's standing unimpaired
at the White House.
Donald r. Richberg. until now the
Presidents co-ordinator and chief
adviser. slips back into the wings to
| devote himself to saving N. r. A. Has
that importance? Very decidedly. 1t
shows how desperate Is the plight of
the Blue Eagle, which not so long
ago was to pull the country out Of
the depression.
Also, it shows that Mr.. Richberg,
badly nicked by the attacks made
on him by labor leaders and by
Gen. Hugh johnson. desires a chance
to evade the limelight. for q time
at least. And. probably most impor-
tant Of all It IL an indirect admis.