Evening star., 1935-12-17

It was a pleasure to accept your
| invitation to debate national poncleS.
There has been no time in two genera
tions when it is more needed that men !
stand I'D and discuss public questions. |
The welfare of our people can make |
progress only upon the sunlit road OF
frank debate. The witchery OF nall |
truths fades only under the exposure
of discussion. And there is only |
disaster in the dark alleys of inspired |
propaganda. There ideals and men |
are assass:nated with poisonous whis-
perings.
have recently discussed the New
Deal at Oakland and again at New
York. Since then President Roosevelt |
at Atlanta has entered the debate in
defense of the New Deal-particularly
its spending, deficits and debts.
propose to debate so much of that
statement as TIME permits.
You will not be astonished if we do
not agree.
American Liberty VS..
New Deal COllectivism.
Perhaps more than any other living
person I can sympathize with the
President in his burdens. We could
agree upon some acts of this ad-
ministration, but we disagree upon
profound principles of human liberty.
In its larger dimensions this irrepreS-
sible conflict is between the American
system of liberty and New Deal COL
lectivism. May I again say that true
American liberalism is not the pos
session of any political party. Belief
in it does not constitute men either
Republicans or Democrats.
Three years ago, speaking in New
York City, said, This . is con-
test between two PHILOSOPHERS of gov
ernment. The expressions our op-
ponentS use must refer to important
| changes in our system other
wise they are nothing but vacuous
words. . .. They are proposing changes
which would destroy the very founda-
tions. =" That warning was denied
by our opponents.
We have now had three years of
it. We have seen the weakening of
self-government by. Federal centrali- |
Zation. We have seen the color of
personal government in the abandon |
ment of congressional responsibility |
under executive pressure. We have |
seen executive orders, propaganda and |
threats substituted for specific laws. |
We have seen the color of despotism
in the creation of huge bureaucracy. |
We have seen the color of FaScism in |
the attempt to impose Government |
directed monopolies. We have seen |
the color of Socialism by Government |
in business competition with citizens. |
We have followed the old Roman pat
tern in the reputation of Govern |
ment obligations by the clipping of |
the coin. We are now speeding down |
the road of wasteful spending and |
debt, and unless we can escape we
will be smash in imitation. This is
not forward looking American liberal
ism. These are the suicide roads
along which so many liberal govern
ments in Europe have plunged over
the precipice to despotism. 1t is no
kaleidoscope of glittering forms for
the amusement of children.
Not Yet Too Late
To Turn to Tried Paths.
1t is, however, not too late to turn
about. In that aspect find a news
paper dispatch dated November %
from Los Angeles. After announcing
the naming of new street as New
Deal avenue, it says: "The new street
is located near the Tugwen resettle-
ment colony because New Deal |
avenue comes to a dead end, the |
county will arrange ample room
to turn around"
The practical questions we have to |
debate separate themselves into two !
great fronts.
The first is the insidous expansion |
of government over the lives of the !
people. Unless it is arrested it means
the stranggling of the liberties that |
were born with this Nation.
The second is the spending, debt, !
currency and credit policies of the
Government. Even if they stood alone
they would by continuation bring
poverty and despair.
In speaking at Atlanta two weeks
ago the Presidents first basis of de-
fenSe for his gigantic spending, def
cts and debts was the assertion that
"the mechanics of civilization came
to dead stop on March 8, 1888"
What happened on March 8, 1888, |
was an induced hysteria of bank de- |
positors. The banking structure at |
large subsequently proved to be sound. |
That is scarcely dead stop to civili-
zation.
Suspects motion"
To Justify Spending.
I have always believed that the
newspapers are one of the machines |
Of civilization. They did not quit. |
At that time I saw no headlines that |
the farmers had ceased to till the |
fields. Most of you did not detect that |
the delivery of food to your doors had |
stopped. Railway managers appar-
emily did rot know that their trains |
had stalled. Somebody failed to inform
us that the hum of our factories was
silent. We still had to Jump out of
the way of the 100000 automobiles.
Our churches, schools and courts are
part of the mechanics of civili-
zation. They did not close And the
Supreme Court seems to be function
ing yet. If civilization came to a
dead stop the press missed a great
piece of news that day.
If this notion is to be the excuse
for this spending and other vagaries
OF the New Deal, we had better ex-
anime into it.
The truth is that the world wide
depression was turned in June-July,
1882, all over the world. That was
before the election of the New Deal.
That is supported by scores of lead
ing American economists, business
men and public leaders. 1t is sup
ported by the economic publications
throughout the world.
That turning was aided by the
measures of our republican Govern
ment These measures were within