The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1935-06-13
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National Topics Interpreted II M7R7TTH
by William Bruckart ASa=I1
National Topics Interpreted
What to be Done NOW?
by William Bruckart

What to be Done Now?
What of the future? Where are
We going now that one of the key
stones of the New Deal-The Ma
tional Recovery administration
has been largely outlawed?
The national capital never has
witnessed such confusion, even in
the midst of the World war, as has
prevailed here since the Supreme
court of the United States had its
final say as to the constitutionality
OF the MIRA and the Frazier-Lemke
farm mortgage moratorium law.
The lack of constitutional author
fly for the Frazier-Lemke law was
recognized by many but until the
highest court in the land had spo-
ken concerning MIRA, views were
divided and the Blue Eagle contin-
ued to fly, abiet 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 uphold
ing the fantastic 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 I have been able to gather
from authoritative quarters in
washington, there Is nothing left to
do but perform the funeral cere-
monies for the Inflated bird and the
so-caIled national plan which it
represented. The reports Of Frest-
Dental conferences, Of meetings OF
statesment and executives OF the adj
ADMINISTRATION, Of this plan and that
plan and statements and express
sions of opinion respecting the fu-
ture course, mean absolutely moth
ing. When the Supreme court said
that the congress had unlawfully
delegated to the President power to
draft codes Of fair practice and en-
force them upon private business,
Is took away the heart and nerve
centers of the MIRA structure.
On top Of this body blow, the
MIRA principle Is looked upon In
many qnarters and by men who
know and understand the problems
Of government, as being thoroughly
discredited In the public mind. It
Is not too much to say that when
q national law does not hold the
confidence of the bulk of the peo-
pie its usefulness has ceased. s
It was with the prohibition emend-
ment. Equally, I believe it can be
stated, If opinion Of statesmen Of
long training can be trusted, no at
tempts 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 MIRA proper cannot
win countrywide support.
More Hope For Future
Enough indications already have
become visible to warrant state
ment that the summer months will
see chiseling, price cutting and
other nefarious and improper bust
ness practices going On and that
these will be disastrous to countless
business interests. The congress
will strive in half-hearted fash
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
hn1 v~fn ic Ia 10 ~
pear that the country must submit
for several months at least to a
bad condition. After that, if the
opinions of experienced men are
worth while, there ought to be q
substantial change for the better.
Careful surveys, close examinations
Of the problems at hand and candid
thinking has brought to unbiased
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-
tined to soar and ballyhoo artists
continued to preach about it's pow
ers to restore prosperity. I believe
this statement which is the con-
census ought to be tempered with
one suggestion. There is likely to
be q restoration of confidence gem
orally if the administration turns
aside from the Brain Trust theories
and employs the practical instead
of the theoretical method of gov
eminent.
Just an Idle Dream
To the agricultural community
the decision invalidating the Fra
zier-Lemke mortgage moratorium
law probably has greater interest
1t should not be SO. The Frazier
Lemke law from the first was an
idle dream and was predicated upon
short-sighted understandings of ba-
sic economic laws. Everywhere ]
have inquired concerning the prob
able end or result of the workings
of that statute, informed persons
declared it meant eventual destruc-
ton of credit for agriculture.
Supporters of the Frazier-Lemke
idea cannot lean, as do supporters
of the MIRA principles upon an ac-
cuSation that the law was badly adj
miniStered. It was administered, &C.
cording to the Farm Credit admin
istrtion, in the spirit and letter OF
its intent. Yet because it was fun
damentally unsound it never coulc
succeed. My own guess is that the
Supreme court by its ruling in this
u -