The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-02-27
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

TN the Epistle to the Hebrews. Paul observed
Il that Faith is the substance of things hoped
for, the evidence of things not seem"
When reading over the Presidents recent
message to Congress on the continuance of the
MIRA, I was struck with the applicability Of
these lines to the Presidents words.
Among Mr.. Roosevelt's more colorful and
optimistic statements were the following:
1.-The National Industrial Recovery Act was
the biggest factor in giving unemployment to
approximately 100000 people.
The age-long curse of child labor has been
lifted, the sweatshop outlawed, millions Of wage
earners have been released from starvation
wages and excessive hours Of labor. A great
advance has been made in the opportunities
and assurances of collective bargaining between
employers and employees. Under it the pattern
Of new order of industrial relations is definitely
taking shape.
Industry as whole has been freed, in part
at least, from dishonorable competition we
have begun to develop new safeguards for small
enterprises. Most important of all, business
itself recognizes more clearly than at any other
time in our history the advantages and the
obligations of cooperation and self-discipline
and the patriotic need of ending unsound
financing and unfair practices of all kinds"
TTAVING been a Roosevelt booster since long
l. l. before the Chicago convention of 1882, it
would obviously please me very much If could
concur in the Presidents appraisal Of the results
claimed for his ma jor economic experiment
Yet, as an honest observer, it seems to me
that his catalogue of alleged achievements is
more list Of what we might have expected from
his speeches. both before and after election, than
anything that has been actually realized 1t is,
to be frank, no more than wishful thinking
however noble its motivation.
One need not necessarily accept the extreme
contention of MeSSrS Stolberg and Vinton that
an earthquake would have accomplished as
much as the New Deal in order to be struck
with the discrepancy between Mr.. RooSevelt'S
claims and the facts
There is no good proof that the MIRA played
any decisive role in putting 100000 men back
to work. This may have been due in large part
to the temporary business revival early in 1888
prior to the installation Of the Recovery Act
Other factors also entered into any re-employ-
ment which has taken place.
Child labor may have been formally out
lawed, but it is obvious from authoritative re-
ports that it has not been outlawed in fact The
clauses touching on child labor have not been
at all vigorously enforced.
Such increases in wages as have actually
been realized have been Offset in large part
often more than offset-by the increase in living
COSTS
WEN friendly observers of the Administra-
IL ton labor policies who possess any serious
regard for the facts are pretty much agreed that
President Roosevelt and Mr.. Richberg have thus
far walked out on organized labor and have
surrendered pretty abjectly with respect to
Article IA.
When men like Messrs. Green, Woll and
Lewis are put in the light of aggressive fighters
for the cause of labor by contrast with the
Administration, then certainly the latter can
hardly be held to have brought into being any
new charter of liberties for organized labor.
Whatever progress has been made in curbng
dishonorable competition has forwarded equally
dishonorable n1onopolstic tendencies by great
industrial organizations
Business, far from being more tolerant to-
ward governmental control and self-discipline,
is recalcitrant and avaricous having forgotten
most of its confessions of guilt and shortsighted-
ness so common in 1908. It has made the
supreme mistake Of being unwilling to CO.
operate honestly and extensively with SO mod
crate and friendly a champion of private bust
ness as President Roosevelt.
Instead of recognizing the necessity of curb
ing unsound financial practices, business has
bitterly fought such slight efforts at reform as
the Securities and Stock Exchange Acts. There
has been nothing less than an organized strike
Of capital.
The consumer has been sacrificed right and
left, and very able men empowered to look after
consumer interests-Such as William F.. Ogburn,
Paul H. Douglass and Frederick G. Howe-have
either resigned in disgust or been displaced by
the Administration.
was never more disposed to defend the
President against his reactionary enemies. But
his supporters must now have more than words
to use ammunition in his support.
1t is high time to end the reproach of Stol-
berg and Vinton that the New Deal is an eco
nomic program which moves one speech for
ward and two steps backward"