Evening star., 1936-01-04

a contlnuatlOp OF the spirit OF 1ear.
THE carrying out of the laws of
the land as enacted by the Congress
requires protection until final adjudi-
cation by the highest tribunal of the
land" he said. Congress has the
right and can find the means to pro-
tect its own prerogatives."
Threat Not Clear.
Just what the Presidents threat
against his critics meant was not clear
to many who heard him. BY some,
it was thought that congressional in
vestigations of the groups opposing
the New Deal might follow.
In his defense of the New Deal and
its legislation, the President chal-
lenged his opponents to come forward
with definite statements as to which
of the New Deal laws they would ask
this Congress to repeal"
The Republican retort today to this
challenge was that it would not be
this Congress, but the next, which
would be called on and which would
repeal those New Deal laws which re-
mained on the statute books after the
Supreme Court had rendered its de-
cisions.
The President was greeted with
roars of applause when he entered the
| Senate chamber soon after pm. on
the arm of his son James. The cheers
rose, fell and then rose again and
again. Republicans were noticably ST.
lent however. and the few who clapped
their hands did so perfunctorily.
The scene was drab enough, except
for the color provided by the eve
ming gowns and wraps worn by some
of the women in the audience. Row
upon row of men in dark business
suits or more formal morning dress
on the floor of the House gave the
occasion a solemn appearance.
In the executive gallery sat Mrs.
Roosevelt, Mrs. James Roosevelt and
Mr.. and Mrs. John Boettiger. all
members of the Presidents immediate
family.
Surprised by Foreign Note.
The Presidents references to for
eign affairs came as a surprise to
many members of Congress, particu-
larly his structures on other nations.
His audience listened in silence until
he declared for neutrality, which
struck an immediate and answering
chord.
But when the President turned the
heat" on his critics and on that part
of business which is opposed to him,
and which he described as a small
minority of American business, the
Democrats yelled themselves hoarse.
Republicans smiled sardonically or
sat in stony silence. They clearly re-
garded the Presidents speech as q
political effort, addressed to the elec-
torate and not to Congress.
Near the close of the Presidents ad-
dress he said:
IT cannot better end this speech on
the state of the Union"
Republicans Roar.
raucous laugh arose from throats
on the Republican side of the cham
ber, a thing unheard of in the past |
at a delivery of presidential mes
sage to Congress.
His message, while addressed to the
Congress, was clearly intended also
for the millions of Americans who
heard it last night and will read it
today
The President named none of the
groups which are attacking his poll
cies He referred to them, however,
as those who dominated the Govern
ment in the IL years following the |
World War, numerically small groups
of financiers and industrialists. They.
he said. are guided by "entrenched
greed" They abdicated in 1888, the
President continued, adding:
But now, with the passing of dam
gers, they forget their damaging ad- |
missions and withdraw their abdica-
tion.
They seek the restoration of their |
selfish power. They offer to lead us
back round the same old corner into
the same old dreary street"
The President charged that groups |
of business men, minority of Amer
ican business. he insisted, are spread
ing fear and discord among the people.
"They would gang up against the
peoples liberties" he said. If they |
had their way. he continued, they |
would be autocratic toward labor, |
stockholders and the consumers.
Issues Challenge.
IF these gentlemen believe, as they |
say they believe" added the Presi-
dent, that the measures adopted by |
this Congress and carried out by this |
administration, have hindered rather |
than promoted recovery, let them be |
consistent Let them propose to this |
Congress the complete repeal of these |
measures. The way is open to such
a proposal,
Painting a picture Of rising pros |
perity in this country, of laws en-
acted under the New Deal for the |
benefit of the people, the President |
asked If the people and the Congress
believed that these laws should be
repealed-laws protecting the banks, |
protecting labor. protecting the farm.
er. the home owner. He asked il |
they would be willing to deny in the
futural Federal relief and put back |
the burden on the States and local |
communities. If they would prefer a
meager dole to work relief, il they
would restore the fate of labor to
autocratic employers.
The President declared that you,
the members Of the legislative branch,
and /. the Executive, contended for
and established new relationship
between Government and the people"
He said that fha control nf tia Gsnsr.