The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1936-01-09
Unsafe Leadership


and in which they have put the coun-
try is understandable. But that they
should be surprised at the Supreme
Court decision burying the AAA in
the same grave with the MIRA is not.
**#
Certainly there was nothing unex-
pected about it. 1t was the clear logic
of the NRA decision. Prior to this last
decision it was almost impossible to
find a lawyer of standing, Democratic
or Republican, who thought it pos
sible for the court to sustain the
Administration. So, too, it is equally
hard now to find one who does not
believe a similar fate awaits the Cuff
fey Coal Control Act, the Utilities
Regulation Act, the Wagner Labor
Board Act and the Social Securities
Act.
1t thus seems inevitable that in the
end practically the whole of the "New
Deap evolved by the Roosevelt Brain
Trust for remaking America will have
been unequivocally declared in con-
flict with the Constitution. The con-
viction that this was the unavoidable
outcome was strongly held and fully
expressed when these proposals were
first launched. Their sponsors them
selves were in doubt about them. The
more able among them knew they
were unconstitutional, but went ahead
on the theory that before the court
could pass upon them they would have
become so intrenched and their sue
cess so well demonstrated that it
would not dare knock them out. This
proved a wholly baseless foundation.
***
The final completeness with which
the AAA has been killed, plus the
knowledge that many other legislative
acts are doomed, has vastly increased
the confusion always the outstanding
New Deal characteristic. Coming as it
does on the threshold of Mr.. Roose-
velt's campaign for reelection, it is
involved in the mists of Presidential
politics and clear thinking upon the
part of the people is not prompted by
the immense face-saving efforts bound
to be made, and the propaganda which
is pouring out to cloak the collapse.
#**
Nevertheless, it does seem that,
as he views the wreckage, one thought
would permeate the mind of the aver
age American who, charmed by the
gay confidence of the President and
pleased with the dramatic show he
gave, has retained, despite apprehen-
sions as to the cost, belief that Mr..
Roosevelt's judgment was sound. That
thought is the simple one that, pleas
ing as is his personality, he is an in
competent and unsafe leader, who,
plunging ahead regardless of warn
ings and experience, has made hor-
rible mess of national affairs after
three years of completely futile and
terribly costly effort.
M#*
From certain cheap statesmen in
Congress, from some shocked men,
bers of the Roosevelt circle, journal
istic and political, and from some of
the benefciaries of the Federal funds
he has poured out with so lavish a
hand, there emanates criticism Of the
court. However, to now anyhow, this
has been more or less furtive and re-
strained, lacking wholly that hostile
and defiant note that followed the
NRA decision last year. One reason,
of course, is that the public reaction
then was such as to discourage similar
strategy. 1t was clearly demonstrated
then that in any issue drawn with the
court and the Constitution on one side
and the Administration on the other,
the people overwhelmingly would be
with the former.
The Supreme Court needs no de-
tense. It is above and beyond politics.
Its members are not candidates for
any office, have no part and no inter-
est in campaigns or candidates.. The
great bulk of the people know and
unshakably believe this. The great
bulk of Them revere the Supreme
Court as the most stable and de-
tached, the least political and most
disinterested of our institutions. The
great bulk of them are resentful of
the blatherskites who blame the Su-
preme Court for judgments which
were inevitable. If blame is to be
placed, the logical place for it is
squarely upon Mr.. Roosevelt, whose
leadership has wasted SO much time,
labor and money and who, under adj
vice from unsound men, adopted
schemes of government clearly out
side our Constitution and inimical to
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