Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-03-04

throes OF the worst depression
of It's history, man little
known outside his own State.
physically handicapped as the result
Of a long illness. but Of a buoyant
and cheerful disposition, took the oath
Of President on the east steps of the
Capitol.
Looking back on these ~ months
Of Franklin D. Roosevelt's admins
tration. In the midterm. the country
still remembers, in the midst Of clos
ing banks and threatening chaos, the
inspiring inaugural speech Of this
man. and the new hope he aroused IN
the discouraged masses. The ma
gician's hand quickly brought order
out Of chaos, restored the national
spirits, and for the next few months
led the country in one Of the greatest
comebacks in any previous depression.
The wonder worker in the White
House vas acclaimed the world over
for his new dealism, his decisive
leadership, and his almost miraculous
accomplishments.
Then the machinery began to slow
down. During the months that fol-
lowed. 1t would take q sput forward,
then fall back, but never to the low
point at which it had started forward.
Progress was made in reviving what Mr..
Roosevelt first described as 'the with
cred leaves of industrial enterprise"
and In bringing the more abundant
life" he had promised in his campaign.
The plans for recovery and reform
frequently ran counter, one hindering
the other. Although Mr. Roosevelt
touched the high point Of his states
manship in the opening months Of
his administration, his most severe
critic is forced to admit the net result
has been progress toward the goal Of
recovery, in spite Of the cost.
Hoover Moved Cautiously.
Where his predecessor. Herbert
Hoover, moved cautiously and fear
fully, ever intent on maintaining what
he called the American system. Mr..
Roosevelt moved boldly and some
times carelessly, determined to root
out the evils Of the old order while
he was bringing business recovery.
Arriving now In the middle Of his
term, the President finds the people
cooling toward his reforms. and de-
handing that recovery be given the
right of way. Between his long worked
out plans for social changes and the
necessity for speeding up the eco
nomic machinery. he now waivers. The
New Deal hangs thus suspended, IS
the President begins to chart the
course Of his administration for the
more critical months ahead.
As most persons in his position. Mr..
Roosevelt now finds he has been I'M
able to satisfy all groups. or to per-
form miracles. The propertied class
and the conservatives view with fear
the 1000, 000, 900 . year being spent
for recovery. and the rapid piling up
of Government debts. The earlier
mirage Of currency imitation creeps
closer day by day.
On the other hand, the so-called
radicals, the Huey Longs, the Father
Coughlins, and organized labor groups
become FESTIVE because the New Deal
does not move sufficiently far to the
left. Some want immediate imitation;
others demand even more Govern
ment spending to provide jobs for the
10000 900 Of unemployed. and larger
boumties for the aged and the desti-
tute. Stin others insist that the Gov
eminent should give organized labor
the right to dictate its terms of en-
ployment. and to give the worker q
larger share Of the profits Of industry.
Caught Between Currents.
Mr.. Roosevelt finds himself today
caught between these two currents.
one pulling to the right and the other
to the left. He Is attempting to 70
. middle course-the friend of the
capitalist. the laboring man and of
the farmer, without class distinction.
During the first two years, Mr..
Roosevelt has proved himself one of
the country's greatest showmen. He
has held his spectators spellbound.
But now the acts have begun to 70
stale. The audience has begun to
murmur.
Across the national stage have
moved many spectacular figures. The
President introduced o new kind Of
politico-economist-the brain truster.
Beginning with Prof. Raymond Moley
Of Columbia University, who shortly
retired to become . magazine editor,
many have come and gone. These
college professors have introduced
many new ideals into the public serv-
ice. but some Of their ideas have been
Of questioned soundness. From Profs.
Warren and Rogers, the sponsors OF
managed currency and Government
purchase Of gold to raise commodity
prices, the gamut Is run to DR.. Rex
ford @. Tugwell, Undersecretary Of
Agriculture. who, Is one Of the last
Of the brain trust group to retain Q |
position 1t influence IN the admins.
tratinn.
NJ. Roosevelt has introduced prob
ably the most eolorfti administrative