Evening star., 1935-08-08
VOTE SIGNIFICANT
IN LOAN DEFEAT
HIM UHAEW WHNN II
HIN E7EM AXE
bhu @~u " u ~s 1
Rhode Island Answer to
{ U. 5. Extravaganza Blow
~ to New Deal.
49,
nv DAVID LAWRENCE.

~ BY DAVID LAWkENCE.
More important than the Repub-
hcan defeat of q Democrat for Con-
sRress in Rhode Island was the fact
that the voters refused to authortze
the borrowing Of money for public
works, even though an outright sub
sidy for a part Of the money was
offered by the Federal Government.
II the American people are begin
ming to consider seriously how Ill
these billions of borrowings are ever
going to be paid back, and II they
are pausing to consider the tempta
tions of future borrowings, then indeed
n milestone has been reached in the
career of the New Deal.
Naturally, New England. with It's
Yankee traditions, is the place 10
find conservatism in spending and
borrowing. But it had been believed
mat the sight of Government billions
TO be spent in the form of projects
was too much for any people. no
matter what their background OF
thrift and economy.
Rhode Islands answer to extrava-
eanoe in government Is conspicuous
because it is told in the form OF votes,
but the truth is many a member OF
Congress on the New Deal side has
begun to have misgivings lately about
oil the billions being borrowed.
Effect Far-reaching.
srhs sfFert of the Rhode Island cleo
ton here cannot be exaggerated. ne
ruhlicans. of course, are happy sno
democrats are saying for publication
that it's lust another Republican DIS
trict going back to normal in a by
election. But behind the scenes some
thing else is happening. The Demo
Gratis are asking themselves whetner
the New Deal is actually slipping.
Members of Congress reao eiectlo'l
returns carefully nd anaiyze Ineni
noinutely. Even if unconvinced that
the meaning of the election was a
rebl1ke TO President Roosevelt al
minstration. many q Congressman mas
had awakened within his innermost
mind a secret desire to go back nome
and find out for himself.
II would not be surprising. there
fore. if the most immediate result OF
the Rhode Island, election Is an carry
adjournment Of Congress.
Certainly there would be no grea'
harn. if Congress left its program 10
a special session in November. Inc
Senators and Representatives would
eome hack here refreshed and per-
hans enIightened on what public opln-
ion resIlv wants. For if there Is q
trend toward conservatism, members
of Congress will be the first TO ADJUST
them elves to 1t.
The two most significant comments
C., the election came from two Ne"
England Senators. both of them Dem
ocrats. Senator David Walsh Of Mas
sachusetts, a keen observer. with one
of the best minds on political trends
and - slation in the Senate, hao TINS
to say:
'I expected a Democratic victory
with a reduced majority. The only
exclamation that occurs to me Is tn1t
certain economic policies OF the ao-
ministration are unpopular In the IN
dustrial sections Of the country.
was aware that the processing TAX
the rapid increase in the cost OF
living. with no increase in income OF
wages. had created sentiment
against the administration, but ]
did not think it had reached such
prouortions as this election seems to
indicate. I feel sure the adminlstra-
ton will be able to adjust its policies
so as to reverse the verdict Of Tuesday
before the national elections.
Distinct Opposition.
Here is what Senator Peter Gerry
OF Rhode Island said:
IT believe this evidences a distinct
trend against some Of the Roosevelt
policies, especially the processing tax
which has closed textile mills IN tnat
section. The death sentence and the
very drastic revenue bill, which un-
doubtedly had q bad effect on indus
try. probably entered into 1t. 1t was
not q protest against the local or
ganization."
Former Gov. Ely of Massachusetts,.
Democrat, In his comment. points out
that the administration had better lay
aside reform and get down to the
business of recovery along sound
lines. These remarks from Democrats
indicate that they hope the admins
tration will take to heart the Rhode
Island results and adjust itself to the
trend.
New Dealers are, of course, anxious
to minimize the Rhode Island elec-
tion's Importance, but there can be
little doubt about what caused the
reversal. The district in question Is
populate by many who are depend
ent on the textile industry. The proc
essing tax Is being blamed for the
ills of the industry. 1t was an un-
sound policy from an economic view
piont and If the subsidy were neces-
sary it should have come out Of the
taxpayers who can best afford to pay
1t and not the poor man. This is
what Senator George of Georgia and
the New England Democrats all ad-
vised ceveral months ago, but the ad-
ministration wouldn't listen to the
warnings.
Republican Position.
The Republicans are naturally much
encouraged. But they are mistaken
If they believe that the country is
ready to turn nationally to the Re
publican party as it has been consti-
tuted. The New Deal may defeat it
self. Lately its mistakes and blunders
politically have been numerous.
The swing in case of extreme antag-
onism to the New Deal might go the
full distance back to reaction. This
would be q crowning disappointment
for all true liberals. Indeed, the per-
sons who consider themselves liberal
at heart are the ones most disillu-
stoned by the New Deal. For what
might have been a constructive and
evolutionary development toward lib
eral government and progressive de-
velopment of good government has
been thwarted by unsound economics
and the political spoils system.
- - Mill