The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-15
The President Must Lead
An Editorial


bills are loafng or sulking on the job. These
men should be called out and bawled out. in a
fashion to wake them up and get them back
on the JOB.
THE time has arrived for the President to
i crack down. The people need and want
aggressive personal leadership. 1t must and
will come from some one. Our people Will not
run in group circles Indefinitely. We have re-
spected the Presidents patience and his toler-
ance with those in nigh places whom he knows
to be putting personal, political and financial
interests ahead Of the public good. We have
understood the necessity for some resort to
political strategy. But we believe the time
has arrived TO lay aside the fy-swatter and
use a club. The first job is to unmask the
wreckers, and let the people know them by
name and by their acts.
Constructive criticism and honest debate are
always in order, but now it is time to give the
gate to the economic buccaneers, whether they
wall in the citadels of big business or whine
in the Presidents own party councils. 1t is
time to call the roll on the wreckers who Of
fer no constructive plans of their own, but
who ruthlessly seek to scuttle the Presidents
plan because it frankly refuses to lead rs back
to the reactionary conditions to which we owe
our present plight.
Now is the time to turn the heat on the
demagogs advocating revolution under the
guise of plans they know will hold no more
water than a sieve.
The propaganda to undermine the Presi-
dents popular support has been ruthless and
persistent. SO far it has made little Roadway.
But the President can not remain on the de-
fensive. Inaction will be interpreted as indie
cision. The people are impatient, it is true,
not with the President, but with those who
would scuttle his program, whether they be
politicians, labor leaders, or plutocratS. With
out action, this impatience, in time, will seek
some leader-and possibly with less wisdom
than was shown in 1892.
The voters are not such fools as to turn
for help to the financial Triggers and business
racketeers who betrayed them before. They
are still looking to the President as their hope,
still ready to back him. But the President
must resume the initiative. If the depression
is to be licked this year, a quick and crushing
blow must be struck at the would-be wreckers
of the Administrator program.
MEANWHILE across the country believers
IVA in the New Deal and those who still vest
their hopes of economic recovery and a better
social order in the man they elected as their
leader owe it to the President and to them
selves, to the present and to the future, to
stand up and speak out with the voice of an
outraged people. On platforms and through
the press; by letter and wire to Washington, to
the President, to Senators and congressman,
to political leaders at home; on the air and in
public gatherings, let people shout their de-
mandS. That will get action. Official Wash
ington has it's ear to the ground and after all
it has heard from crackpots and demagogs in
recent months will heed a shouted demand for
a return to presidential leadership.
In 1917 our leaders in every walk Of life
dropped partiSanship and petty differences to
unite in an epoch-making coalition to help
save Europe. The hour and the moment offer
a similar opportunity for national cooperation
to help save ourselves.
MIR. PRESIDENT, the people today are look
IVA ing to you for leadership and direction.
State clearly and simply what popular support
you desire, and point out the men or the interests
who are blocking action necessary to recovery.
You will not be disappointed by the response.