Evening star., 1938-02-18
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VIE

When Solicitor General-to-be Bob
jackson told the Senate Judiciary Sub
committee this week that speeches
around here are rarely Original ex-
pressions," and that he and Secretary
Ickes both stole" from the same source
phraseology for their recent crackdowns
on big business. Jackson started some
thing. Among the things he set in
motion was this observers recollection
about a strange similarity between the
peroration of President Roosevelts IA
nous "Now!" victory dinner blast of
March 4. 1887, and language used by
Stuart Chase. economist, writer and
lecturer, and one of the Boswells of the
New Deal, just a few days earlier. 1t
is evident that whoever was then re-
searching. ghost writing or otherwise
: brain-waving for F. D. r., didn't have
any compunction about subjecting even
the President of the United States to
a charge of plagiarism.
Mr.. Chase had written a letter to the
editor of the New York Times on Feb
ruary Is. 1887. about the Roosevelt
Supreme Court proposal. Although the
letter was never published, it was read
into the Congressional Record by Sena-
tor Bob La Toilette on February "a.
where, apparently. the eagle eye of the
White House speech-writing aide lit upon
it. Later. La Toilette circulated a re-
print of the letter. In dozen striking.
staccato phrases. Chase pictured the
plight of 100000 farmers embittered
by the courts A. A. A. decision; of 15.-
100000 workers hit by the N R. A. an
nulment: of 100000 coal miners and op-
orators disgruntled by the Guffey act
ruling; of 100000 railway men aroused
over the knockout of the retirement act;
of 100000 unemployed of Americas
landless tenantry; of child labor; of the
demoralized stock market; Of the
ravages of flood, drought and dust
storms, ETC., etc.
Get a load of this. Mr. Chase said:
'"The Ohio River is not conversant with
the interstate commerce clause" At
the victory dinner President Roosevelt
said The Ohio River and the dust
bowl are not conversant with the habits
of the interstate commerce clause" Said
Chase: "Only vigorous action, inaugu-
rated by the Federal Government
can cope with this appalling situation"
Said Roosevelt: Floods and droughts
and agricultural surpluses, strikes and
industrial confusion and disorder can
not be handled forever on catch-as-
catch-can basis
Now for the "Now!' coincidence. At
the close of his Times letter, Chase said:
What is the President to do?
Here are all these farmers and workers
Now. Here are women laboring 48 hours
a week in New Bedford mills for IS.
Now. Here is the dust bowl beginning
to blow again. Now. Here are millions
of landless tenants progressively sliding
TO economic perdition. Now. If we
really cared about America, I think we
should act. Now"
t* X
Here's how the President wound up
at the victory dinner: Here is one
third of a nation ill-nourished, ill-clad,
ll-housed-Now! Here are thousands
upon thousands of farmers wondering
whether next years prices will meet
their mortgage interest-Now! Here are
thousands upon thousands OF men and
women laboring for long hours in fac
tories for inadequate pay-Now! Here
are thousands upon thousands OF chill
dren, who should be at school, working
in mines and mills-Now! Here are
strikes more far-reaching than we have
ever known, costing millions OF dollars
Now! Here are spring floods threatening
to roll again down our river valleys
Nowl Here Is the dust bowl beginning