Evening star., 1938-11-13

| - \ c r u n n
%$3s sounds, on radi.
c / m, h c
,, ,,. shameless effort
to control elec-
tions with relief funds, governmental
corruption, the fragrant flouting of
constitutional forms and expert
mental paternalism In the field of
economic action. All of that has been
condemned and that is the real sig
nitlcance of the elections Those who
have feared that America might 60
the way of Russia, Germany and
Italy may now feel treasured.
The long-range significance of
what has happened is much clearer
than the immediate outlook. Wheth-
er the next two years will be period
of political calm and tranquility de-
pends primarily on President Roose-
welt. If he reads correctly the lesson
of the elections and acts accordingly,
he will be saved many hours Of grief.
Third New Deal Dead.
On the other hand. if Mr.. Roose-
velt mistakes the meaning of the
1888 elections, as he did the election
two years ago, he is destined to meet
firm and unrelenting opposition. bit
ter political warfare and perhaps
crushing humiliation. For it is Ger
tain that what Gen. Hugh S. john
son calls the third New DEAL is
now dead and past all hope of res
direction.
Mr.. Roosevelt must make the
choice. 1t is particularly difficult
decision for him to make. BY nature
he is a fighting man-much more
the leader Of the cavalry charge
than the philosopher, despite his
many efforts in the latter field. The
situation confronting Mr.. Roosevelt
calls, not for the flash of saber or
the roll of drums, but quiet, media
tive reflection. Thus it goes against
his nature.
Secondly, Mr.. Roosevelt is con-
vinced of his own good intentions.
Perhaps it would be unfair to say
that he has a Messianic complex.
But it is obvious that he does not
believe he ever has been wrong in
any major particular. So far at least
he has not admitted error. Even in
the matter of election forecasting,
his post election announcements
must be approximately accurate,
though adverse to him. It would
have been encouraging, and very hu-
man, If Mr.. Roosevelt had guessed
wrong the outcome of at least this
election.
Thirdly. Mr.. Roosevelts closest
friends and advisers are the very
ones who have led him astray. He
cannot reverse what he has been
doing-the things which the voters
condemned at the polls-without re-
pudiating them. They, too, have
become mesmerized with the belief
of their infallibility. Their self
confidence and their Righteousness
overwhelm them Thus they have
immunized themselves against pub
lie reaction.
Hopkins Feels Superior.
Harry Hopkins is a typical illus
tration. Long, long ago Mr.. Hop
kins decided his judgment was su-
perior to all others in the matter of
administering relief. Criticisms of
his work were met by contemptuous
assertions that the critics were "too
dumb to understand" He dismissed
the Bacon-Vandenberg substitute
bill for relief administration, before
reading 1t, with the assertion that it
originated with Republicans and
therefore could not have any value.
Whether the results of the elec-
tions have jolted Mr.. Roosevelt and
his advisers remains to be seen. So
far there is little evidence to that
effect, aside from the general con-
fusion in New Deal ranks. None ex-
poets Mr.. Roosevelt publicly to
mount the repentance bench. There
are other ways, however, to make
evident change of heart. Yet the
signs are not encouraging to those
who desire that change. Instead
there was a slight tone of belliger-
ency in the first press conference
after the elections-a note of II am
all right if you do not misrepresent
me-"
Harry Hopkins has had the good
taste to keep his silence. But not
the blatant Harold 1ckes. He had
to rush into print, loudly proclaim
ing Mr.. Roosevelt's policies had been
indorsed and that now we must be-
come reconciled to Mr.. Roosevelt for
another term. This is the same Mr..
Roosevelt whose friend and lieuten-
ant, Frank Murphy, was overwhelm-
ingly crushed by the electorate in
Michigan; whose personally indorsed
admirer, Elmer Benson, was driven
from public life in Minnesota; whose
protege, George H. Earle, was ig-
ANONYMOUSLY defeated in Pennsyl-
vania; whose home State of New
York was saved after a personal plea
by him from going Republican only
by a hairline margin.
1t is no wonder that Henry WAL
lace-who at least is a little more
sensitive to what is happening
around him than other New Dealers
gagged over the Ickes' words and
broke precedent by publicly re-
buking his fellow cabinet officer,
Mr.. Wallace's avowed spirit of hu-
mility and soul-searching might well
be emulated by the other New Deal
ers. But it is doubtful that it will be
for Henry Wallace's influence at the
White House in recent months has
not been great. Harry Hopkins has
seen to that.
AS for the Republicans, they
choose to regard their victory as an
opportunity rather than a personal
or party triumph. Having convinced
the American people of the deficien-
cies of the New Deal, they now will
turn toward the projection of alter
native and constructive programs.
Their recent campaign and its sat-
isfactory conclusion is evidence that
they are in tune with public senti-
ment. They are looking forward not