Evening star., 1937-12-18

The declaration of principles is
statement of what Congress ought to
do to assert its own leadership. 1t is
non-political and non-partisan and is
by no means an administration
document. AS a matter of fact, the
wisest thing President Roosevelt could
do at the moment is to indorse openly
every word of the statement.
What really was back of the decla-
ration was an effort to indicate to the
business and labor world that Congress
was prepared to take whatever steps
seemed desirable to protect the sys-
tenn of private initiative and yet to
conserve such gains of true liberalism
as had come about through govern
mental intervention.
In No Sense \ Formula.
The declaration is not in any sense
q formula, but it contains the first
encouraging word that has been ut
tered by any substantial group in Con-
eress to the outside world on the sub
ject OF encouraging private enterprise.
President Roosevelt and Secretary
Morgenthau in recent addresses spoke
of the Importance of getting private
tndustry's machine into action to ab-
sorb the unemployed. Business men
have been hesitant because they did
not know whether Congress really
meant to be conservative or destruc-
tive. The special session has thus far
yielded very little light as to how much
interest Congress really has in avoid
ing the consequences Of a real busi-
ness depression.
1t will be contended, and rightly,
too, that any declaration of principles
Is necessarily vague and leaves much
to be filled in by way of particular
legislation. But, on the other hand, II
public opinion rallies behind a set Of
principles, then legislators feel COM
pulsion to be guided by those princi-
pies. Up to the time the petition was
circulated, one could look in vain for
any statement of policy that could
give business or labor or both any real
sign Of what might be expected from
Government since the business reces-
sion came upon us.
Action Is Natural.
Congress has given the country an
impression Of leaderless drifting. In
the midst Of serious economic situa-
ton, some people have been crying out
for a presidential assurance. Others
have wanted quicker action on revis-
ing laws that have been harmful. The
administration has counseled against
hasty action. What more natural thing
than for members of Congress to seek
to give reinsurance by drafting
statement Of general purposes?
1t is significant that on the Demo-
cratic side men like Senators Walsh
OF Massachusetts, Van Nuys of In
diana, Byrd of Virginia, Bailey of
North Carolina have assisted in the
preparation of the document and that
such Republican leaders as Senator
Vandenberg of Michigan, Townsend of
Delaware, Austin of Vermont and
Steiwer of Oregon have buried political
prejudice and sat down with their
Democratic brethren in the interest of
u uC pau lOtLSHl.
Undoubtedly some of the political
minded persons who see politics or
hidden motives back of everything
hurt the movement by treating it
cavalierly as coalition" movement,
Anybody who understands party ma
chinery knows that coalition move
ments are not started that way espe-
ctally with sentences and phrases
which dovetail so much with the
Presidents own pronouncements of
recent weeks.
1t may be that the statement will
yet be subscribed to by a substantial
number of Senators, possibly ma
lority, but this will happen only when
the American people tell their Sena-
tors that they want to see the princi-
Piles supported. That's why the move
ment to get Nation Endorsement
of the proper relationship between
Government and private enterprise is
well worth watching for it goes to the
root OF sound recovery program.
Copyright. 1877