The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-06-14

Done NOJD! uonal heco'eiy au
ministration - h a s
been largely outlawed?
The national capital never has wit
messed such confusion, even in the
midst of the World war, as has pre-
vailed here since the Supreme court
of the United States had its final say
as to the constitutionality of the NRA
and Frazier-Lemke farm mortgage
moratorium law. The lack of constitu-
tional authority for the Frazier-Lemke
law was recognized by many but until
the highest court in the land had
spoken concerning NRA, views were
divided and the Blue Eagle continued
to fly, albeit in a lower circle.
New Dealers generally were con-
fident to the last. They appeared to
expect some unseen force to guide the
Supreme court in unfolding the fan
tastic program which they had devised
and which the President made a part
of his New Deal plans for economic
recovery. The adverse ruling made
them sick at the stomach. Most of
them have not yet recovered. Hence,
confusion continues to reign.
You have heard much discussion in
the past two weeks as to how the
breath of life may again be breathed
into the Blue Eagle. AS far as / have
been able to gather from authoritative
quarters in Washington, there is moth
ing left to do but perform the funeral
ceremonies for the Inflated bird and
the so-called national plan which it
represented. The reports of Prest-
Dental conferences, of meetings of
statesmen and executives of the Ad-
ministration, of this plan and that plan
and statements and expressions of
opinion respecting the future course,
mean absolutely nothing. When the
Supreme court said that the congress
had unlawfully delegated to the Presi-
dent power to draft codes of fair prac-
tice and enforce them upon private
business, it took away the heart and
nerve centers of the NRA structure.
On top of this body blow, the NRA
principle is looked upon in many
quarters, and by men who know and
understand the problems of govern
ment, as being thoroughly discredited
in the public mind. 1t is not too much
to say that when national law does
not hold the confidence of the bulk
of the people it's usefulness has ceased.
So 1t was with the prohibition amend
ment. Equally, I believe it can be
stated, If opinion of statesmen of long
training can be trusted, no attempts
to revise the NRA will get to first
base. Even the Brain Trust movement
to obtain amendment of the Federal
Constitution making such laws as NRA
proper can win countrywide support.
Enough indications already have be-
come visible to warrant a statement
that the summer
More Hope months will see CHS
for Future cling, price cutting
and other nefarious
and improper business practices going
on and that these will be disastrous
to countless business interests. The
congress will strive in a half-hearted
fashion to offset the loss of strength
and prestige suffered by the New Deal
at the hands of the Supreme court.
But the effort plainly will be only half
hearted. SO it Is made to appear that
the country must submit for several
months at least to a bad condition.
After that, If the opinions of expert
enced men are worth WHILE there ought
to be a substantial change for the bet
ter. Careful surveys, close examina-
tions of the problems at hand and
candid thinking has brought to I'M
biased observers the conclusion that
there Is more hope for the future now
as regards the economic situation than
there was while the Blue Eagle con-
tinued to soar and ballyhoO artists
continued to preach about its powers
to restore prosperity. I believe this
statement which is the consensus
ought to be tempered with one sugges-
tion. There is likely to be restora-
ton of confidence generally If the Ad-
ministratiOn turns aside from Brain
Trust theories and employs the prac-
tical instead of the theoretical method
of government.
To the agricultural community the
decision invalidating the Frazier
Lemke mort gage
Just an moratorium law prob
Idle Dream ably has greater in
terest. 1t should not
be so. The Frazier-Lemke law from
the first was an idle dream and was
predicated upon shortsighted under
standings of basic economic laws. Ev.
erywhere 1 have inquired concerning
the probable end or result of the work
ings of that statute, Informed persons
declared it meant eventual destruction
of credit for agriculture.
Supporters of the Frazier-Lemke
idea cannot lean, as do supporters of
the MIRA principle, upon an accusation
that the law was badly administered.
1t was administered, according to the
Farm Credit Administration, in the
spirit and letter of its intent Yet be-