Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1937-01-27

radio commentators to seek out men,
bers of Congress- Governors and visit
ing dignitaries to ascertain their
views on the inaugural address. This
year was no exception, and press and
radio have carried to our 13O,OO0,000
people comment on the message Of
President Roosevelt. Any study of the
address and any analysis of the COM
ment that has followed, reveals clear
ly that the Presidents message
caught the tempo of the times.
1t was message of hope. It was a
well-phrased appeal to individual pa
triotism. It was document that went
far beyond political lines in it's states
manlike expressions. 1t drew on the
experience of the last four years. It
frankly recognized the problems
ahead. Above ALL it was brief and to
the point And it will live long in his
tory as symbolic of the fact that
achievements are measured in deeds
and not words In that respect alone,
it was a masterpiece.
When the last second-term inau-
gural message was delivered by Wood
row Wilson in 1917, just twenty years
O~~SS~A~S3
their shadows over American shores.
The tenseness of our people was much.
in evidence. It was a spirit of anxiety
that is only parallelled bY the uncer-
tainty that existed when President
Roosevelt took the oath of office in
1888. That memorable day of March
4, 1888 found the doors of banks clos
ing in the face of those who sought
to withdraw life savings. JobleSs and
hungry, millions tramped the streets
and were face to face with mo help
wanted signs on stores and factories.
Men who were millionaries a short
time before were in breadlines.
That day of March 4, 1888 should be
in the minds of those who scan the
inaugural message. Progress in solv-
ing and overcoming depression pro-
blems must be reviewed only in the
light of the benefits gained, not by
individuals, but by our people as a
unit during the last four years. And
by whatever political standards the
last forty-eight months are consider
ed, the fact stands out that the gains
made by our people have been great
er, far greater, than the losses. These
employment, stocked
warehouses, factory production, high
er price levels and higher wages, sta
bility in homes that were under threat
of mortgage foreclosure-cannot ice
interpreted in terms Of monetary
costs. No price for them is too great.
Thus in the first inaugural address
ever delivered by President of the
United States in January, Franklin
Delano Roosevelt selected only COM
pie new hope on the basis of deeds
done, and action pledged, rather than
to recite empty rituals and empty
promises.
It recognized that a great cross
section Of our citizens demanded &C
ton in 1888 and that action has been
given.
Unfortunately, and 1 use the word
advisedly, the channels of propaganda
have become so wide that many of
our people are confused by issues that
are really clear when carefully
studied. One of these issues is the
Question of meeting Invent e9th-cen-
fury demands and Misunderstanding
problems with a constitution drafted
one hundred and fifty years ago.
And here let me hasten to say that
know of no single Congressional COL
league of mine in the Senate, House
or executive branch of the Govern
ment who favors abandoning the his
torical document drafted by the found
ers of our country. However, it was
written in an era when new frontiers
beckoned our people. It was a period
when fast transportation was I'M
known and undreamed of, except by
those whose imagination was chal-
lenged.
In drafting our Constitution, the
signers not only recognized that it
must later be changed to meet new
times and new conditions, but urgde
that such changes be made. The re-
suit is that the Constitution has been
changed by amendments, not several
times, hut many times.
Nevertheless we are today confront
ed with certain conditions. One of
these is the fact that effective con-
troll and regulation of things that
vitality affect our people lies beyond
the powers of the states. The Roose-
welt administration has attempted to
meet these needs with Federal au-
thority. Thus the administration has
been one of action
The real issue ahead IS whether the
laws of the land will be written by
the 435 memNc,'~ ~e ~ --~---e of Re-
personalities and the nine:y-six 1.lenl-
bers of the Senate, who are elected
periodically by the people and sup
posedly in tune with the wants and
desires of constituents, or wheter the
authority to judge what is best for
our country shall he decided by the
courts. Shall the Supreme Court of
the United States say what the Con-
gress has the power to do? Are the
nine. members of the nations high
tribunal more capable than the mem
bers of Congress to pass on legisla-
ton that vitality effects our more than |
100 million citizens? Answers to these
two questions must be found.
In his momentous Inaugural mes
sage the President has offered to find |
them. To use his cMr words:
1.-THE Constitution of 1877 did not !
make our democracy impotent"
This was one of the highlights of |
his message.