Evening star., 1936-11-14

amendments to old laws.
But instead Mr.. Roosevelt decides
on vacation. To the queries Of the
newspaper correspondents assembled
with him three times now since the
election, he answers modestly, unpre-
tentiously, even vaguely the questions
about future plans and future legisla-
ton. No matter what the problem,
he hasn't really begun to tackle it or
some one else is studying it or some
more information is being gathered
or he has to wait until Congress con-
venes to decide-all this can hardly be
the turn of mind of one who is delib-
erately planning huge transforma-
ton in the customary way that things
have been handled in the field of
Government.
New Breathing Spell.
Mr.. Roosevelt acts in way that
indicates as plainly as If he had
called for it that he would like a
breathing spell himself-a rest-and
that he wishes everybody else would
do likewise so far as changing over
the Government or making legisla-
tive plans for his second admins
tration.
All around him are friends who
want to start right in pushing-they
want the President to 60 further to
the left or they want him ito consoli-
date the gains of liberalism" or else
they want him to take a hand in
sundry disputes as between capital
and labor that are never going to be
solved il the Government is going to
assume a new role of boss instead Of
umpire or mediator.
Unquestionably the groups which
supported Mr.. Roosevelt expect him
to become an intense partisan of
their respective causes. This means
complications which Mr.. Roosevelt is
loath to stir up now, even if he were
disposed to go along with the nu-
merous enthusiasts who are at his
side ready to move forward to bigger
and better N. r. AS and bigger and
better A. A. AS, as the case may me.
How can he 90 of on q boat cruise
and get any mental relaxation If
before he departs he just sets off a
bunch Of controversial firecrackers
that will keep the naval radio towers
sparkling with messages all the time
he Is gone?
Support From Right.
At the moment the President has
an unprecedented amount of support
from the so-called right" or con-
ServatiVe side. Business men are
talking Of cooperation with a great
deal more earnestness than at any
time since the banking crisis Of 1893.
There Is a universal spirit OF eager
ness to adjust viewpoints. The Presi-
dent is probably as keenly aware of
this trend Of mind in the business
world as anybody else. On top of
all these currents is a definite up
swing in business. Newspaper head
lines tell Of bigger dividends, more
wage increases, diminished relief
rolls and of bigger expenditures for
plant expansion.
The mood of the Nation, therefore,
Is one Of recovery. 1t is as If the elec-
ton had cleared the air and defined
the future as one of continued Gov
ernment spending and doubtless more
regulation Of business practices, but
with the constitutional safeguards
still present to prevent any material
change in the attitude of Govern
ment toward property rights. Again,
Mr.. Roosevelt's second administra-
ton, II 1t be termed liberalism A"
merely means an effort to regulate
the capitalistic system to bring about |
Q better standard of living for the |
low income groups and better re-
distribution of wealth and income.
Clash Due in January.
Such moderate, middle of the road |
course, probably will not satisfy the |
leaders of the radical elements which |
supported Mr.. Roosevelt at the polls
and there will be plenty of contro-
versy and clashing Of viewpoints when |
january comes and the President re- |
veals to the leaders inside and out
side of Congress what further reforms
he has to offer.
Possibly the cutting down of the
budget expenses to produce balance
between income and outgo will afford |
the first opportunity for battle. Nat
uraHy in any conflict on such points |
MIR. Roosevelt can count on the sup
port of many millions Of the 1900, 900
who voted for Mr.. Landon and for
at least half Of those who voted |
for him, assuming, Of course, that at |
least q half were not affected by
direct Federal spending.
But why should Mr.. Roosevelt be-
come any more specific at this time
when tempers are not altogether
snoothed out and campaign fever-or
perhaps 1t should be called victory
passion-runs high among the many
groups who feel they won the WARP"
For this reason the President is medi-
tatively preparing for his cruise, pre-
pairing indeed to turn the thought of
the country to large problems of in
ternational policy and moving away |
for q month at least from the agita-
ton on how to remake the business
structure or the agricultural fabric
OF the Nation overnight just because
persons gave him the green
Light in an already complicated sys-
tenn Of economic traffic