The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-03-02
NEWSPAPERS OPINIONS
THUNDER OVER DIXIE

That the extension of New Deal pnHosoPh! anu
reforms in the South must necessarily be more
drastic and far-reaching than in other sections Oh
the country, is very generally understood ana
widely discussed everywhere except IN the South
itself The two factors that make this imperative
are the negro and the sharecropper.
In the North and West, Neal Deal phiosophy Is
accepted. To the organized workers it promises
more pay for less work; to the organized worth
less it pledges some sort of living without WORK
at ALL 1t is also accepted by the large groups OF
organized aliens and radicals because 1t Is destruc
tive of the American form of government.
In the South the New Deal is not supported pre-
csely for any of these reasons but largely because
it seems profitable to the masses and because the
New Dealers cell themselves Democrats. PROBABLY
90 per cent of the Southern whites do not suspect
any upset of their local affairs or present pohtlca
set-up They even resent the mere suggestion OF
such thing. Yet anyone, who has associated
closely with active New Dealers during the last
three years, knows perfectly well that extensive
plans have already been formulated for accom-
plshng this very result.
We have numbers of congressional districts IN
the South wherein negroes compose from 90 to gu
per cent of the total population. This population
not only does not vote, to any extent, but they
hold no political offices at all in either county OF
state Such a situation is violently resented by
many of the most powerful groups supporting the
New, Deal and the matter has been held in abey-
ance with difficulty. The plan calls for negro rep
in those districts where negroes pre-
dominate, just as has been given in Chicago and
has been given by consent of both parties to DOM
mani grouus of Irish Italians and other nationa-
ties in many places Along with this of course goes
bn local offices
some compulsory removal OF popuiation' ana all
that these things imply.
The share-cropper is another baby that is at
tracing wide attention from the same groups who
champion the negro. Hardly day passes but
receive literature concerning his condition and So
letting funds for his organization and upft. The
plan here seems to be-simpe liquidation OF the
landlords and the recently introduced sit-down
strike is being hailed probably the most painless
method of dsposing of such hapless gentlemen as
still remain on our southern plantations.
That such an assault on the South as indicated
here is impending there is no room to doubt Only
some minor things such the Federal Constitution
have TO be disposed of before the assault can be
successfully undertaken. 1t must be understood
that New Dealers are, in spite Of southern support
exceedingly suspicious and doubtful Of the South'S
real loyalty to the cause They know that men like
Bailey. Glass and Byrd are against them in this
program and that the traditional background OF
the South is overwhelmingly opposed to them.
It is thought that the southern white excepting
the Communists, are the only people remaining on
the continent who will actually spill blood for a
cause and that any open effort to effect such revo-
luton without first preparing the ground, would
be dangerous and produce horde of Balleys and
syrds. The North and West must first be thor
,ughly consolidated behind New Deal policies be-
fore any risk can be taken of losing the South
politically.
This now having been satisfactorily accomplished
he long expected plan for the reorganization OF
he Supreme Court has been announced and the |
assault if all goes well, may shortly be under
aiken with full judicial approval and guarantee OF
success. The President himself said in his message
hat if he were given six more justices there would
De no necessity for changing the constitution. II
his means anything it means that the constitution
S to be changed by the appointment OF additional
justices and the changes only revealed to the PEG,
pie by judicial decision. i
New Deal lawyers have selected what they term
the welfare clause" of the constitution as being
if properly interpreted, to legalize any
acts of congress desired. There is OF course no
welfare clause" in the constitution but Section 8
Article l, does empower congress to provide for
the general welfare of the United States"
No one can doubt but that court can be
formed to interpret this wording to mean that
congress can enact anything it chooses for the
general welfare" Indeed under liberal interpre-
taton the states themselves can be entirely abol-
ished if and when congress chooses to consider it
for The general welfare" to do so.-Bruce Cotton
in The State Magazine.