Evening star., 1936-11-24

structton Finance Corp. last night
h, the National Radio Forum toi-
lotps. The Forum Is arranged on
The Star and broadcast ouer Nd-
tional Broadcasttng Co. coast-to-
coast network.
The Washington Star and you. Mr..
Kuhn, make q substantial contribu-
ton to our national administration,
and to people throughout the coun-
try, in providing this forum for cur
rent discussions of public affairs.
It is doubtful if in our history great
er attention has been focused upon
our Washington government than in
this period. In the little travelling
that I have been able to do during
the past three or four years, people
invariably have shown the keenest
possible interest in what is going on
in Washington; they are always eager
for information. Certainly in no
presidential campaign has there been
such widespread interest as was dis
played in the one just closed.
We are ali to be congratulated upon
the practically unanimous indorse-
rlent of President Roosevelt, and upon
our determination to continue his
leadership. Now that we have placed
this great and continuing respon-
sibility upon him, it is the obligation
of each and every one of us to sup
port him.
Running our National Government
Is not unlike publishing a newspaper.
A well-balanced newspaper has some
thing in it for every class of reader.
and our National Government must
be run in the interest Of every class
of its citizenship. None of us likes.
or reads, everything in a newspaper;
and none should be expected to agree
as to every detail of government.
Influence Is Democratic.
It is significant, however, that in
the election, the Roosevelt admins
tration was considered, as it should
have been, in its entirety, with atten-
ton directed to accomplishments in
the net. The President started out
with the avowed purpose Of bettering
conditions for every one. especially
the less fortunate. He has stuck to
that course throughout, and stated
most emphatically in the campaign,
that he expected to continue in that
purpose. There is something to be
learned from the great vote he re-
ceived-the controlling influence in
our country is neither reactionary
nor radical, but democratic and So
eially minded.
Some of our leaders, both political
and business. opposed the Presidents
reelection rather more vigorously
than ordinary political Affiliations
would prompt. Notwithstanding that
the profits of business have been
multiplied many times under his ad-
ministration, and largely through his
policies. This. of course, was their
privilege as American citizens, but
most of them can be relied upon to
accept the verdict in good grace.
We now hear on all sides the ques-
ton: will business support the
PRESIDENT" The answer is, it will.
Its leaders, particularly in big busi-
ness, are much too smart not to. That
Is, they are too smart money and
business-wise, that is why they are
at the top. However. they have been
none too wise politically. or with re-
spect to our social problems.
Cooperation For Axes.
But with such an overwhelming in
dorsement Of the Presidents policies,
those business leaders who opposed
his reelection will be all too willing,
at least for the time being, to bury
the hatchet and do what they can
to assist in completing the job Of
recovery. and generally to adopt the
broader policies for which the Presi-
dent stands. Some of them may have
their fingers crossed, but for the
present, cooperation will be substi-
tuted for the ak. Some who were
active against his reelection are al
ready advising cooperation and sup
port Of the administration.
In the main. the smaller and
medium sized businessmen supported
the President in the election. His
administration had saved their busi-
Yesses and, as with big business, had
changed the color Of their ink from
red to black. So we need have no fear
about business not supporting the
President.
I made the statement in speech
during the campaign that the Roose-
velt administration is not and never
has been against business. A friend
of mine, who vigorously opposed the
Presidents reelection, good-naturally
took me to task for this statement,
notwithstanding stock in the corpora
ton he represents is selling at almost
10 times what it was selling for In
1892. It was friendly criticism, of
course, and so considered, and I
hope, upon reflection, now that the
election is over, this friend will be
able to understand that statement,
which I now reiterate.
Never Against Business.
The President Is not and never has
been against business. In the cam
paign he said. in effect, that he
wanted to preserve it, but for all the
people instead of for a select few.
He spoke of preserving economic de-
mocracy as well as political democ-
racy. Both are essential to the well
fare of our country. He further
stated that IN his view. private enter
prise is the backbone of the economic
well-being Of America. He did, how
ever, draw attention to the fact that
half Of the industrial corporate wealth
Of our country had come under the
control Of less than 200 huge corpora
tions, and that many Of these, in one
way or another have interlocking in
fluences: that this drift was a menace
to our social and economic system;
and that he proposed to use every
power and authority Of Federal Gov
ernment to protect the commerce Of
America from selfish forces.
1t Is certainly not to the best in
terest Of our country that control Of
the wealth, industry and credit be
concentrated In q few hands. This
IS so fundamental as not to be open
to argument. Business has, In fact,