The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1936-01-23
Mr.. Fletcher went ahead and didn't

publicly complain, just striking blow
for his cause here and there, whenever
the opportunity was afforded. No
doubt, even now, if he were asked
about those lean and discouraging
days, he would only smile diplomati-
cally and begin to talk about the ex-
cellent prospects which he believes the
Republicans have of winning the coun-
try in this year of grace, 1886. Per-
haps the reason Mr.. Fletcher went
valiantly ahead is that he is good
holder, and was good soldier back
in the days of real soldering when he
was a members of Teddy Roosevelt's
famous Rough Riders. Anyhow, he
did carry on. .u
Be that as it may, it must be admit
ted by all who have watched the situa-
ton that Mr.. Fletcher has been devel-
oping as a political leader along with
the growth of Republican political
prospects. One thing which has gained
him friends has been his courage to
strike out when good punch seemed
to be called for. He apparently has
that all too rare ability to strip of
the husks and get down to the grain
of the situation, avoiding glittering
generalities. His speeches and state
ments are direct and to the point.
In his address the other day COM
menting on the Presidents broadcast
of his message before Congress, Mr..
Fletcher, at the luncheon of the Union
League Club of Philadelphia, seemed
to have the ability to "get down to
cases." and to clothe his thoughts in
language which the public might un-
derstand. For example: on the ques-
ton of budget balancing Mr.. Fletcher
said:
"The cold facts continually upset
the hot New Deal pretensions. On
the day the President delivered his
speech to Congress, assuring it we
were approaching a balancing of the
budget, the United States Treasury
issued its statement as Of the close of
business December 81, 1885. 1t showed
a deficit for the first half of the cur
rent fiscal year of nearly $4,000, 000,-
000-an increase of ten per cent over
the deficit at the corresponding period
last fiscal year. 1t shows the New
Deal is now spending $1.95 for every
dollar it takes in. 1t shows this deficit
is occasioned not onlysby the so-called
relief expenditures, but by the in
crease in the routine expenditures,
which, for the first six months of the
current year, were higher than they
have been in any corresponding period
in. the peace time history of this coun-
try, and 1897, 900, 900 higher than they
were for the corresponding period last
year. In the face of such figures, it
is absured to make the statement the
administration is approaching bal
anced budget.
"You cannot balance national bud
get, any more than the housewife can
balance her budget, by trick book
keeping. The only way to balance a
budget is not to spend more than you
take in. Frugality and prodigality
are not synonymous. They cannot
work together in the same harness"
In getting "down to brass tacks,"
Mr.. Fletcher has produced some argu-
ment which cannot be answered by
calling somebody a bond-holder. In
the early days of his Craftsmanship
when things were breaking against the
party he proved that he could "take
it." The Union League Club address
proves also that he is able to "dish it
out" when the occasion warrants.