Evening star., 1935-01-13
VIEWS AND REVIEWS.
THE BATTLE FOR DEMOCRACY.
BY Rexford G. Tugwell. New
York: Columbia University Press.

THE dated articles and speeches
on economic subjects prepared
for special occasions and now
L in this volume by the Under
secretary of Agriculture all be-
ing which he has been a member OF
the present administration. From
their content it is apparent that the
other articles. primarily written for
the volume. belong to the same period.
1t may be assumed that. taken to-
gether, they furnish a key and an
introduction to the economic and
political philosophy of DIR. Tugwell.
for it may also be assumed that
man of his academic standing ana
scholarly achievement does not write
one thing and believe another, does
not use words to conceal. rather than
reveal, thought. From these essays,
DR.. Tugwell appears not as the social
ist or the very red communist he has
often been called by those who vio-
lently disagree with him, but as a be-
lever in and worker for democracy,
through legal channels and under the
Constitution. 1t is true that he does
not believe in static Constitution. In
the address delivered before the Fed
Grafton of Bar Associations of West
ern New York he says: 1T is my
view that what we have done Is to
rediscover the Constitution, to re-
vitalize the powers it was intended to
create, many of which had been OBJ
scured in the interest of economic
aims and purposes which have now
become oppressively obsolescent."
DR.. Tugwell admits that the rari-
Gus activities of the New Deal have
marked q departure from the economic
system which has been more or less
official since the COS, the system
based on the idea that competition
provided for the protection of all in
tereSts, and have inaugurated new
system of Government partnership
with industry. The operations Of this
partnership in industry. agriculture.
banking. land policy, relief and recon-
Struction, and international relations
are discussed in the % articles OF the
volume Different points of view are
taken into account. Two essays give
what are probably not entirely imag-
mary conversations with Senator
Progressive: Senator Progressive's
handling of the old brass knocker on
my door is an index to his mood"
The chapter. Wind. Water and Soil"
explains erosion projects as another
appeal to our democratic institu-
tions," another opportunity for CO.
operation between government and
groups Of citizens-in this case the
farmers. Wine Women and the New
Deal" an address before the Women's
Democratic Club of Washington, D. c.,
suggests the opportunity open to the
women of the country to establish
and maintain civilized attitude
toward wine-this good thing in life. "
and to promote the sale of American
vintages. The delicate question OF
gold is not avoided in these papers
and the attitude is orthodox from the
administration standpoint. rather than
from that of the old economy. Money
is, after all, merely "an instrument OF
value" and "a rod of measurement. y
and it is a creditable achievement OF
this administration that gold, which
is never abundant enough to pay all
obligations, has become the exclf-
sive possession of the Government,
rather than of a favored group" 1t
will be seen from these references
that, though his subject and treatment
are serious, Dr. Tugwell has both
humor and considerable ability with
the apt phrase. These miscellanies
are brief and current, but contain the
same underlying philosophy as his
outstanding work, The Industrial
Discipline"
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