Evening star., 1937-08-08
BARKLEY'S RISE TO LEADERSHIP

rency has been able to announce an
all-time peak in bank deposits.
"CONsIDER industry. In 1929
commerce with foreign nations
amounted to $4,000, 100000. In 1892
it had dropped to s3100.00O 900 and
the loss Of this trade meant the loss Of
employment to more than 100000
American workers. This trade decline
was caused in part by the erection of
lndefensible trade barriers, which led
TO retaliation against us by nearly
every other nation in the world. This
administration has attempted to re-
lleve and improve this situation by
the negotiation Of trade agreements
with other nations, through which We
are finding an outlet for some Of our
surplus agricultural and industrial
products.
Loss of our foreign trade. however,
was not so serious as the decline of
our domestic industrial production and
resulting unemployment. Early in 1882
there were nearly I3.s0O.0oO unem-
CiOsNd III LIllS tOulllIN-d SJaRRpTl0P
total, for it can be conservatively esti-
mated that each Of these idle workers
represented family of three. includ-
ing himself-or more than 10000 .0nn
Americans without visible means Of
support. In order to cope with the sit
uation the national recovery act was
passed, intended to assist in the re-
vival OF business, and despite contro-
versial issues in connection, 1t did
eliminate some Of the unethical meth
ods that had prevailed in business and
spread employment.
Also as part of the recovery pro-
gram the Public Works Administration
was set up, with billions appropriated
by Congress to set the wheels of In
dustry turning again and provide en-
ployment. Not only have these ends
been achieved but useful pro ojects have
been constructed throughout the
country, OF permanent value to their
communities. Expenditure of this vast
sum OF money has been free from sus-
picion OF corruption or misappropria-
ton.
HEN there is the matter of Fed
eral relief, with Governors OF
States, mayors Of cities and officers OF
counties coming to Washington with
burdens they could no longer bear,
laying them on the Federal doorstep.
But it was a call to service that there
was no honorable way to escape, and
the Relief Administration met the
emergency feeding the hungry cloth
ing the naked and giving shelter to the
homeless on a scale never before un-
dertaken by any Government.
When Franklin Roosevelt entered
the presidency nearly 100000 homes
in the towns and cities Of the country
were on the verge of foreclosure and
dispossession and home owners were
unable to meet their obligations to
money-lending agencies. Here the
Home Owners Loan Corp came to the
rescue, placing $3,0O0,000 900 at the
service Of home owners throughout
the Nation for refinancing OF their
mortgages on longer terms OF pay
ment and at lower rates Of interest.
Through Federal Housing, the
Reconstruction Finance Corp, and
other agencies set up under this ad-
ministration. the good work has gone
on, re-establishing the morale and
prosperity Of the American people 1t
is recital that could be continued in
definitely.
I'm order to carry through these
projects 1t has been necessary In GER
tain cases to depart from precedent.
But, as have already said, the DEM
ocratic party has always been q party
Of liberalism. And 1t should set. I
repeat, as its goal and objective the
advancement OF liberalism.
by the same token, these definite
accomplishments and this aggressive,
constructive program have set a stand
ard Of activity for the American peo-
pie. That Is why say that the Re-
publican party can no longer hope to
exist or gain adherents simply by OPP
position to the liberal principles OF the
Democratic party. If they Insist upon
criticism, they will be called upon to
offer some substitute. Construction.
not destruction, the Nation now de-
mands Of It's leaders"