The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1938-11-18
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LOOKING FORWARD
By FRANKLIN Mailman

nant power in our lives The
Republican party, electing sena-
tors and governors IN 20 states,
has been restored as a numeri-
caly strong and effective opposi-
ton that must be respected.
Thus once again the tws-party
system in this country has been
firmly entrenched. Threats of
third party movements have
evaporated like the morning dew
under the rising sun. Third
term prospects again become
Only of academic interest.
More important, the country
has put its foot down, with
crunching sounds ,on radicalism,
the shameless effort to control
elections wi h relief funds,
governmental corruption, the
fragrant flouting of constitution,
al forms and experimental pater
alism in the field of economic
action. All that has been con-
demned and that is the real signi
ficance of the elections Those
who feared that America might
go the way of Russia, Germany
and Italy may not feel assured.
The long-range significance of
what has happened is much clear
er than the immediate outlook.
Whether the next two years
will be a period of political calm
and TRANQUILITY depends primarily
on President Roosevelt. If he
reads correctly the lesson of the
elections and acts accordingly.
he will be saved many hours of
grief.
On the other hand, if Mr.. Roose-
welt mistakes the meaning of the
1888 elections, as he did the
election two years ago, he is des-
tined to meet firm and unre-
lenting opposition, bitter politic-
al warfare and, perhaps crush
ing humiliation. For it is certain
that what General Hugh S.
Johnson calls the "third New
Deal" is now dead and past hope
of resurrection.
Mr.. Roosevelt must make his
choice. 1t is a particularly diff
cult decision for him to make. By
nature he is a fighting man
muh more the leader of the cal
valry charg than the philoso-
pher, 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
convinced of his own good in
tentions. Perhaps it would be un-
fair to say that he has a Messiah
lc complex. But it is obvious
that he does not believe he has
been wrong in any major parti-
cular. 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. 1t would
have been encouraging, and very
human if, Mr.. Roosevelt had
guessed wrong the outcome of at
least this election.
Thirdly, Mr.. Rooseelt's closest
friends and advisers are the
very ones who have led him a
stray He cannot reverse what
he has been doing-the things
which the voters condemned at
the polls = without repudiating
them. They, tho, have become
mesmerized with the belief of
their infalhability. Their selfA
confidence and righteousness
overwhelm them. Thus they
have immunized themselves a.
gainst public reaction.
Hopkins Feels Superior
Harry Hopkins is a typical il
lustration. Long, long ago Mr..
Hopkins decided his Judgment
was superior to all Others in the
matter of administering relief.
Criticisms of his work were met
with contemptous assertions that
the critic were "too dumb to
He dismissed the
Bacon Vandenberg substitute
Bill for relief administration.
before reading it, with the asser
ton that it originated with the
Republicans and therefore could |
rot have any value. WEvW
Whether the reBults of the |
election have iolted Mr.! Roose-
70 and HE aI,,soo..-