Evening star., 1936-01-20
NEW DEAL AIMS
/. HELD DESTRUCTIVE
Ogden Mills Tells Town Hall
Philosophy Threatens
American Life.


last night as the Town Hall meeting
In the Shoreham Hotel developed into
a political debate reminiscent of the
Lincoln Douglas era.
Following an address by Ogden L.
Mills, former Secretary of the Treas
ury, who said the philosophy Of the
New Deal means mot simply the mod
ification of our American scheme of
life. but its destruction" the debate
became acrimonious.
Take the potato control act" de-
clared Representative Wadsworth, Re-
publican, of New York. "Is there any
greater menace to the farmer?
I'VE are told we must curtail our
wheat. This leaves us with idle acres.
They are planted in cotton Then We
must curtail our cotton. and we have
more idle acres. And so on down the
line until, finally. we catch up with
the lowly spud. If the farmer grows
five bushels more than the Govern
ment says he can grow, he may be sent
to Jail. And If citizen knows the
farmer is doing it and doesn't report
MIN. he, too, may go to jail
This philosophy of restricted pro-
duction and controlled price is a phi
losophy under which only the rich
survive and only the poor succumb."
Moran Defends Act.
Representative Moran, Democrat, OF
Maine. took up the defense of the DO
tato act.
They grow potatoes up in Maine"
he declared, land I know what I'm
talking about when I say the farmers
in Aroostook County were facing
starvation under the old system. This
attempt to control potato production
is at least an effort to do sometime
for them. Our critics say We are
headed toward Socialism. l wonder
whether they really fear National
Socialism or are hoping for a return
Of the private Socialism Of the good
old days
Our opponents become excited
about planned economy. But haven't
we always had planned economy?
suspect it's really question of who's
doing the planning and who the plan-
ming is for
Coyle Defends New Deal
An attack on New Deal inconsistent
cies was met by David Cushman Cov]e.
economist, who asked. Are we tn
accept the idea that anybody should
be elected on political platform and
not have another idea for four-and-a-
half years?"
Mills then asserted that government
tai policies were responsible for the
failure of industrialists to replace
60.O00,000 of worn-out equipment.
Senator Black, Democrat. of Ala
bama, took sharp exception to this
statement. Arising from his seat
among the spectators, he pointed a
finger at Mills and shouted:
Il demand that Mr. Mills tell this
audience which government he is
talking about"
Before this point could be cleared
up. some one in the back of the room
piped up:
"I'll give 25 cents TO the Salvation
Army If any of the gentlemen can tell
me the difference between a Republican
and Democrat"
III answer that" Mills said quickly.
There's no difference between a Re-
publican and real Democrat"
Resembles Fascist Government.
In his address, Mills said. "the New
Deal is the American eAuression of the
new movement which Is exemplified in
Europe by the Nazi government of
Germany. the Fascist government of
Italy and the Communist government
OF Russia" 1t resembles the Fascist
government more than any other, he
added.
1T will be strange and new Amer
ica," he continued. when men must
no longer look to themselves, but seek
the assistance, the guidance and di-
rection of a parental government:
when the limits of their activities and
the extent OF their achievements are
carefully circumscribed: when the
bold and enterprising must bow to
lazy bureaucracy, genius to medi-
ocrity when men may no longer keep
what hey earn. control what they
own, and provide for their children.
save in such measure as their masters
may determine, and when all the
future can hold is perpetuation Of the
present
Policies Are in Conflict.
THUS We see that, as opposed to
the liberal doctrine of free enterprise
in the field Of economics, democracy
in government. and liberty. self-de-
velopment and progress in the life of
the individual, the new movement
espouses monopoly IN economics, arbi-
trary power in government and the
standardized RECOMMENDATION Of the in
dividual. Here is an irreconcilable
conflict
1--WE are faced with a formidable
issue. If we would grasp its full sig
nif1cance. We must understand that
the new movement has enlisted the
warm sympathy of social reformers.
the ardent patriotism of intense ma
tionalists. and the favor of those to
whom, as in Russia. the new faith
takes the place of religion. A new
force is abroad In the world, and the
world IS on the move"