The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-03-04
DEALING DOWN MIDDLE
Economic, Political Boys SlO7O Roosevelt
BY RUTH FINNEH
Times Special Writer

w That bOlSterOuS lhAdhO' TIC
New Deal, celebrates its second
birthday today. somewhat sobered
in gait, its brow furrowed with
care.
The primary task it set itself
on March 4, 1933-putting the I'M
employed to works far short OF
being accomplished. But IN this
field as in many others, the gov
ernments prodigiously expanded
activity has made itself felt from
penthouse to graSsrootS.
From its nebulous beginnings,
the New Deal has emerged as
middle-of- the-road government,
its goal the maintenance OF
private profits and a democratic
form of government, its course
toward that goal exploratory and
unpredictable.
Its conception of what is neces-
saTy to maintain private proht
has been different enough from
that of its predecessors to alarm
the right. and alternately to en-
courage and disillusion the left.
TWO years ago both schools OF
il thought were for Franklin D.
Roosevelt for different reasons.
Today voices are raised against
him in hoth schools for different
reasons.
The New Deal tally sheet shows
the following scores:
Still unemployed, 100000 per-
sons-according to estimates OF
the Presidents own National Eco
nOmic Council.
Industrial production has
reached go per cent of the 1928
IS average. Federal Reserve
Board.
Pay rolls total about so per cent
of the 1926 figure.-NRA Re-
search and Planning Division.
Dividends and interest now
total $50 per cent of the 1926 fig
ure-Same sources.
IN his inaugural address Presi-
IL dent Roosevelt diagnosed the
nations trouble as maldistribution
of wealth. Most of the New Deal
enterprises have been built on the
theory that increased purchasing
power on the part of men and
women of little means would
bring about stable prosperity for
all.
Today, though many farmers
enjoy larger incomes, average
prices paid by agriculture for the
things 1t has to buy exceed aTer-s
age income from the things it
has to sell.
Though wage rates have been
increased for many workers in
low-paid industries. NRA reports
that "on the whole the amount
of money which the average man
in industries under the codes finds
in his pay envelope has not in
creased a great deal"
Meanwhile living costs have
gone up. Based on the 1918 av-
erage. food prices were 122 per
cent last month, against 900 per
cent two years ago.
That's a brief summary of the
economic situation. The political
picture is also cloudy.
TWO years ago the whole
Il country was frightened and
ready to follow Mr.. Roosevelt
wherever he might lead. Today it
is necessary for the Administration
to argue and fight its way along.
Finance is frightened at legisla-
tion which proposes to strengthen
Federal Reserve Board control of
the banking system. Industry is
frightened at legislation to regu-
late and eventually abolish utility
holding companies.
Organized labor is reSentful over
a series of decisions affecting its
power to bargain collectively, over
continued unemployment. and
over refusal of the President to
pay prevailing wage rates on re-
lief jobs.
Farmers are divided in their
verdict on AAA. disturbed at con-
tinuing middleman profits, and
clamorous for lower interest on
their obligations.
Some citizens have begun to
listen to Huey Long. Upton Sin
clair and DR.. Townsend. Appar-
emily they are disappointed by the
scope of President RooSevelt's So
b cial security program. They ex-
pected more.
CONGRESS has become recall
~ citrant instead of docile. On
paper the Administration has ma
jorities of almost unprecedented
size in both houses. Actually 1t
can count on only about half of
the Senate Democrats for I'M
questioning loyalty. On the three
tests of strength in the seventy
fourth Congress Mr.. Roosevelt has
been defeated.
Finally, the courts are multi
plying the troubles of the New