Evening star., 1935-09-29

questions in the order of their i'm
portance as I found them are the
Constitution, national finances and
taxation, wealth destruction, artificial
business and agricultural stimulants,
the Supreme Court, a revival of the
N. r. A., States rights, national de-
fense and foreign trade. The list
could be made much longer but these
will fairly represent the public mind
for the purpose Of this discussion.
Taking them in thai order, let us
see what America is thinking. Presi-
dent Roosevelt has huge following
which looks upon him as new Ameri-
ican patriot fighting against tremen-
dous odds for some indefinable some
thing that will lead us all to a finer
economic and social existence. II the
average American citizen was as loyal
to his country as these hot Roose-
veltians are to their leader, out ma
tional patriotism would make the
Ethiopian esprit de corps look like
nother-in-law 1--we. Then there are
those who are not 50 passionately
Rooseveltian, but who nevertheless
feel that he should be given another
term as a reward for his courage
during the dark ages Of 1888. 1t Is
also true that there are many Demo-
Gratis who will remain loyal simply
because Of deep-rooted party o72vic-
tions, traditions and prejudices.
Roosevelt has unquestinoably lost
caste in many parts of the country.
Many of those who campaigned for
him in 1882 are now violently opposed
to him. Out West they call his follow
ers the Roosevelt rebels. 1t is quite
evident that the President reached
the peak of his popularity about a
year and a half ago. Since that
time it has probably receded about 40
per cent. How successful be will be in
restoring his popularity depends upon
how clearly and definitely he outlines
his proposed course of action and what
the opposition does. A considerable
number of the voters feel that Mr..
Roosevelt will regain much prestige If
he will frankly and fully state the
ultimate aims Of his administration
and how he expects to achieve those
aims.
New Deal a Symbol.
Interlocked with the President IS
the New Deal, but, because so many
feel that the New Deal will be what
ever Roosevelt makes Of it, the ques-
tions concerning it naturally fall into
second place. In the minds of the
greatest number of people the New
Deal is a symbol. People cannot tell
exactly what it stands for or what it
hopes to achieve. To them it repre-
sents either a symbol Of progression
or a symbol of confusion. Those who
take it for good are passionately in
are violently opposed to it.
Besides the Rooseveltians those who
are counted in the New Deal ranks
are the liberals of many hues, who
say that they have no better place to
land, the army of farmers and dole
recipients who have dipped into the
Government relief pail and like it,
laborers who bargain collectively, ap-
pointive and elective Democratic Office
holders Of all descriptions with their
far-flung job, relief and public works
patronage; also those with an anti
Wall Street complex, bank failure
losers and those who believe we have
finally come face to face with the
necessity Of strong central govern
ment.
In the opposition group we find
those who have a deep and abiding
faith in the power and the sanctity
of the Constitution, the proponents Of
sound money, a balanced budget and
prudent taxation, the soldier bonus
advocates, the laborers who would
rather secure their jobs by honest
service than by the alleged machina-
tions of professional organizers. the
industrialists who feel that they can
be honest without Government super
vision, hordes of farmers who believe
that they have been short-changed
in the farm relief extravaganza and
can make q better living II left to
their own resources, and, finally, some
who call the New Dealers yellow
Americans" for wanting to live OH
their future generations just so that
they may have few more tax-paid
comforts for themselves.
It is my opinion that the New Deal
has lost more prestige than has the
President. Many express the senti-
ICsoanfinIied on Enlirfh Paael