The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-02-03

gone with tn e
Ietttng wind. Dozens of
NoUhere big business men
have been called
to the White House for conferences
with the President on means of solv-
ing the depression problem. And
dozens have gone away from the
White House after those conferences
without any announcement from the
head of the government as to what
is to be done. Much conversation
and much noise-totaling much
conversation and much noise. That
was January at the White House.
A new session of congress started
with the opening of January. The
house and the senate appear actu-
ally to have no definite program;
certainly, no program for a con-
structlve course that will lead the
country out of the terrific business
decline. Instead, the senate has
been debating and debating a bill
to punish any community where
lynching takes place and the house
has been indulging in its annual
sport of passing appropriation bills,
voting money without knowing too
much about the items for which it
votes. Southern senators filibustered
against the anti-lynching bill be-
cause of the problems, the burdens,
such legislation would load on them
and the northern Democratic SEN
ators seemed willing to let business
die, unemployment increase, etc., in
order to gain a few negro votes.
That was January in congress.
An analysis of the situation, there
fore, would seem to be in order. To
do that, we have to go back to 1888
when President Roosevelt took Of
flee. The nation was in chaos. There
is no need to review those condi-
tons. The new President came in
with an overwhelming majority to
support him. His majority was so
large that he needed only to express
his view and it was translated into
action. The country liked the ag-
gressiveness thus shown. Members
of the house and senate, however,
developed a habit-not all of them,
but a majority of them. That habit
was one of waiting for the word
from the White House.
While this habit was growing,
business interests were pushed and
kicked around and generally given
to understand that they did not know
what the shooting was all about.
Like country school boy, the bust
ness man was sent to his seat and
told to stay there. Otherwise the
hickory stick would be brought into
use. Indeed, the hickory stick in
the form of several pieces of legis-
lation was laid onto the business of
the country, not as a pat on the
back, but mukh further down to-
ward the end Of its spine. So bust
ness, too, got the habit of standing
in the background. 1t was afraid to
venture forth.
Things began to look up. There
was something approximating good
business and it looked as if Mr..
Roosevelt's policies were correct in
every sense. But something hap
pened; the boat struck a snag.
For several months last year the
administration refused to admit that
conditions were alarming It was
just temporary, officials said. The
country would pull out of it-and it
will some time if there is anything
left. But the problem is immediate
and January has gone into history,
as did December and November.
It was in this circumstance that the
results of the habit formed in 1888
| began to show their worst phases.
Business interests have gone to the
White House to tell their side of the
story, at the Presidents request,
and nothing has come of those con-
ferences. We can judge only by the
facts. It must be accepted that
business leadership has been reject
ed by Mr.. Roosevelt. Congressional
leadership is still awaiting some
word. 1t is made to appear, there
fore, that national leadership is
lacking. Those charged with Off
cial responsibility must accept that
responsibility.
In the criticism of congress, I did
not intend to indict all of the mem
bership. There are
Some those who see
Exceptions their mistakes and
are willing to do
something about them. Unfortunate
ly, they are in minority. Blind fol-
lowers of the President, generally
speaking, constitute the majority.
So that those who want to take con-
structive action haven't had an OPP
portunity.
Lately, I heard Worth Clark,
Democratic member of the house
from Idaho, make a radio speech on
this fact; or rather he touched on
this fact. Mr.. Clark is a pretty
hard-boiled Democrat, but he be-
lieves he was elected to represent
his people and not to throw them
down simply because his party lead
ership wanted to do something else.
In the radio speech that / men,
| toned, Mr.. Clark referred to mis-
takes that had been made in the
last five years and asked: "What is
the remedy?"
First" he continued in his an
swer to that question, 1--WE must
squarely face the problem. We must
realize that we have done some
things wrong. We must retrace our
steps where necessary and start
anew.
Zone of the difficulties involved