The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-08-23
triumph for the Brandeis-F rankfurter
left wing branch of the New Deal
Using Wrong Tactics

tactics OF long ago, attempts to fight 1t
through the United States Chamber Of
Commerce and the National Associa-
ton Of Manufacturers. neither OF
which can scare a representative from
a doubtful district, or worry q New
York senator. L.<4 4,-. .n
Just why Business In general does
not take a leaf from the amazing sue
cess which attended the letter writing
campaign of public utility stockholders
Is hard to, figure. Not because this let
ter writing campaign really did the
utilities much good. The final bill Is
tough enough on the holding compa-
MES almost to suit Roosevelt.
The significant fact is that this letter
writing campaign resulted in a 40 ma
jorfty in the house of representatives
for precisely what the letter writer's
demanded. The fact that the letter
writers did not demand enough really
to save their bacon is not of conse-
quence In this connection. They got
what they asked for-from the house.
Enough of them. obviously, can get
what they want any time-if they make
1t, clear enough, and in time. A couple
of hundred excited stockholders living
In n congressman's district can scare
him to death. But he pays no atten-
ton whatever to the national associ-
ations. His only concern is votes in
his district.
This was not so important up to the
new day. In the days when bosses
controlled states, Big Business oper-
ated through them.
Why Ickes Worries
1--WE have only two unemployed per-
sons, and they have been unemployed
for 80 years." :,
That crushing answer, made by the
little town of Colebrook, way up in
northwestern Connecticut, near the
Massachusetts, line, is one Of the rea-
sons why Harold L. Ickes' gray hair
Is getting thinner. Why the public
works part of his activities seems to
be begging down. Why some admins
tration officials are wondering If It.
would not have been better-providing,
of course, the White House had thought
of 1t first-to let, Carter Glass Of Vir-
ginia, Alva. Adams of Colorado and
other senators have their way about
substituting two billions Of doles for
four billions of work relief.
But that is not the only problem
which is worrying Secretary Of the In
terror Ickes-and the White House
and which is Illustrated by Colebrook.
When the word first got round that
Colebrook could have a big grant of
federal money for a fine new road
there was much excitement round and
about the village. The progressive
element was all for 1t. 1t would mean
the spending of money-and prosper
ity. -
But opposition was not slow in show
ing Its head. The handfulsofs mer-
Chants might want more customers,
but the summer residents did not
want a lot Of workmen messing the
place up. Again the merchants might
like the idea Of a fine new through
road, that would: cause many auto tour
lists to stop off, make purchases. at least
buy meals. But the folks who have
been the mainstay of the community
for a generation, living up there on
money made elsewhere, did not want
the tourists trouping through, did not
want the flavor of the old community
spoiled" in short wanted to keep
things just as they were.
But the Progressiyes did not give up.
They kept on fighting. Then. suddenly
it vas discovered that. the money so
kindly rendered by Mr.. Ickes would in
volye using a new road plan approved
by the state highway commission. This
would necessitate: cutting a~corner of
the beautiful and HISTORIC old, church
which is the center of the whole Cole
brook legend.
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