Evening star., 1937-07-04
Signs of a Collapse
OF Leadership
BY OVEN L. SCOTT.

wrong with the state of the Nation?
Glass bitterness is deepening, trade is
hesitant, national finances continue awry
yet there is lacking the voice Of assur-
ance that might be expected of a
planned economy"
The explanation? Apparently it is to
be found in at least temporary collapse
OF leadership More and more signs
appear that President Roosevelt has lost
the firm grip he had when he set under
way the forces that now rise to test his
ability. And more and more signs appear
that John L. Lewis is general who has
lost contact with his troops.
People are told that the President
aspires to dictatorship and that John
Lewis is the real dictator to dictator.
Yet, instead of feeling the iron hand of
dictatorship the country discovers itself
drifting while the two supposed die
tators-a bit bewildered-eye one another
suspiciously.
The fact of the matter is that. reports
to the contrary notwithstanding Mr..
Roose:elt and the C. l. o. leaders are
far from being pals While those two
angle Tor position, strike violence of a
kind that leadership could avoid has
f1ared in many parts of the country.
Government authority has been chal-
lenged with impunity by both workers
and employers. AS consequence, de-
signing individuals with a hunger for
power themselves have been able to
develop vigilante movement-outside
the law, but under the guise of patriot
lsm-that is sweeping important indus
trial States with a speed that alarms
responsible officials
Also Congress for the first time has
failed to be impressed by the sunshine
of the Roosevelt personality. And, despite
all the discussion at recent White House
human needs" conferences. the Presi-
dent has not found way that will not
cost somebody some money to help the
submerged third of the population.
The question now is Has President
Roosevelt lost his magic touch, and with
it his fair for leadership?
Aware of the swift changes of pace
for which the President is famed. few
people are found offering fat answer.
But enough questions are coming home
to foost on the White House doorstep to
cause some of Mr.. Roosevelt's most de-
voted followers to wonder and to express
apprehension.
The first recent test of leadership came
with the stdown strike Astute advis-
erS, including Vice President Garner,
urged clear statement of Government
policy. The President baked. and con-
sldered his position vindicated when the
men won their strikes. After the Supreme
Court upheld the Wagner labor relations
act-providing machinery for gradual
and peaceful organization of labor
again President Roosevelt was urged to
use his influence with labor leaders to
encourage use of that machinery.
But again he baked John Lewis in
sisted on driving ahead faster than his
resources of leadership permitted. Men
got out of hand violence f1ared and now,
admittedly. there is hardening of pub
lie sentiment against the labor organiza-
ton with which the Presidents name
has been permitted to become identified
Not only that. but the Wagner act itself
is jeopardzed when it could have been
labor's strongest ally
Lack Of aggressive leadership-based
upon principle-gets the responsibility.
FarleV's organization asked Mr.. Roose-
welt to take time from public business
to write his signature on hundreds of
pages to be inserted in the 1886 Demo-
cratic convention book. Mr. Roosevelt
probably guessed that something was up.
Now his prestige suffers with revelations
that those signatures are being peddled
at $3.50 each to business men who might
eXnPrt tn oct Gnyerrpoert
thing that concerns the Presidents de-
voted disciples, according to their story
is that he took chance on a dangerous
the consequences.
AS an example of leadership. Mr.
RooSeVelt'S attack on the courts fooled
from the start
He opened on the line of undermining
the judicial machinery. quickly switched
position under attack, and then, when
his campaign brought a change in the
court viewpoint. the President refused
to heed the advice of members of his
own cabinet and of the Senate leader
ship and insisted upon a fight that
jeopardizes his whole remaining legis-
lative program.
And that is not all.
Actual anguish is reflected in the Fed
eral Reserve Board and elsewhere over
a failure to display leadership involving
Government finances. Just at the time
when the Treasury was about to close
another fiscal year July l nearly $3,OOO,-
100000 in the red, the Senate showed
willingness to 60 along with Senator
La Follette's plan to increase taxes on
lower bracket incomes. Instead of jump
ing at the opportunity to bring about
budget balance. Mr.. Roosevelt gave
orders to defeat the tax plan, and de-
feated it was.
'The President has missed the boat"
one of his advisers exclaimed in sorrow.
He talks higher taxes for next year,
but next year there will be an election
approaching and a small but deceptive
surplus in the budget. The big chance
was lost"
Yet on the subject of finances, Presi-
dent Roosevelt is won't to chide news
paper men. Just this past week he re-
marked that he long ago had formed the
opinion that no newspaper man knows
the difference between dollars and
cents"
Shortly after making that remark. the
President entered upon a discussion of
the Federal Government debt. and re-
vealed his opinion that the dollars con-
tributed by 26.OOO, 900 workers who are
saving for old age through the social
security system and by about 5000 900