Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-03-03
BY OWEN L. SCOTT.

Today's leading questions in the
Nations Capital: Is the New Deal
begging down beneath an oversupply
of Eyes mem? Is President Roosevelt
getting the real "lowdown" on shifts
in popular sentiment that obviously
are occurring?
Presidents in the past often have
been cut of from real contact with
the public. Officials strove to agree
with every opinion of the Chief"
Visitors went out of their way to tell
the President what they thought he
would want to hear. There usually
was competition in "yesing" the occu-
pant of the White House.
All was to be different under Pres
ident Roosevelt. For months the
President was pictured as worried by
the small amount of critical comment
on his program. He was said to de-
sire intelligent opposition so that mis-
takes could be avoided. His secre-
taries apparently We'd with one
another to discover critical material
that they could bring to his atten-
ton. He talked turkey" with many
a visitor.
To maintain close tab on thoughts
of the people throughout the Nation,
mail was analysed carefully. A daily
analysis was made Of newspaper COM
ment and news stories. Nobody was
going to be fooled about the state of
national affairs.
Has all that changed? Is MI Roose-
welt now slipping into the traditional
role Of q President supplied with
hand-picked opinions and protected
from many Of the realities Of the
situation?
Signs begin to point that way. One
Of them followed the Senate upset of
the Presidents s4,S80, 100000 plan
for creating jobs. After that defeat
Mr.. Roosevelt decided to let the Sena-
tors face the music that would come
from the country. The reaction was
expected to be overwhelming.
An inspired story told how Mr..
Roosevelt had been informed by his
aides in the White House that the
reaction Of the people amounted to
a Spontaneous political referendum,
with letters and kilograms substi-
tuting for ordinary ballots"
But strangely, the voters who were
rallying to the support Of the Presi-
dent in his struggle with Congress
failed to communicate with their Con-
gressmen. Senatorial mail increased
slightly, If at all, and the bulk Of the
letters that did discuss the work-relief
bill were in favor Of the "high-wage"
plan favored in the Senate.
That led to the question whether
Mr.. Roosevelt had been supplied by
his assistants with the sort of infor-
nation that he wanted to hear, re-
CARELESS of whether it actually repre-
sented the true situation.
There have been other straws noted
by persons who recently have been at
tending White House conferences.
They report that if the President
shows interest in one side of ques-
ton. those present will push ahead
along the line that seems to please
him. They hesitate to bring up I'M
pleasant considerations that may
completely alter the picture.
X X
"I often wonder whether the truth
is told to any of the higher-ups in
the Government" commented an off,
cial who attends many of the impor-
tant conferences. There seems to be
a fear Of telling the truth when it is
unpleasant. The truth sometimes may
offend. Oflcials, like every one else,
want to hear praise and assurance.
Critics quickly are classed as obstruc-
t1on1Sts, when as matter of fact crit
icism may be most important
Donald Richberg as chief aide to
the President and executive director of
the National Emergency Council. has
been doing his bit to Coordinate"
critics into line.
Part Of his job Is to make all New
Dealers sing the same tune. Co-ordi-
nation is coming to mean a chorus of
"yeses" to greet all ideas and plans
that seem at the moment to be In
favor with the White House. But the
increase in the number Of ofacial
"yeses" is coincident with apparent
growing disagreement and disillusion-
AASAs t2AOoSiOue LAlc Ccu1Atys
Some Of the present troubles grow
from the 'yesing" policy as applied
to leaders In Congress.
Those leaders in more than one
instance, as every newspaper man in
Washington knows, are not in sympa-
thy with the Presidents program. But
they assume the job of putting that
program through the National Legis-
lature and readily agree, on the sur
face, with each piece Of legislation
that Is handed them.
The result has been several bad
upsets. Assurance was given that
the World Court resolution would be
acceptable to the Senate. As re-
suit, pressure was not applied. The
resolution was beaten by seven votes.
Then, with the 81, 600, 900 900 works bill
facing Q crucial vote, again assurance