The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-08
] . BEHIND THE SCENIESl lN WASHINGTON WY RODNEY DUTcHER-A
 Democrat Washington
 Correspondent
Small Business ConferenceWas AGood Show
 But Little Will
 Come Out Of It

Washington, Feb. B. It is now clear enough that little business men," although sorely confused, pat tern after the "big business men" in their economic thinking. At the never-to-be-forgotten con- ference which nearly a thousand of the former group attended in Wash ington it became obvious that some of theme arrive at similar conclu- sions independently and that others just parrot the headlines.
 But the boys did deliver ter rife wallOp to any idea Roosevelt had that he could get any strong supporter any new ideas-frOm small business.
 Through all the cat calls, con- f1ict and turmoil nothing stood out more distinctly than the wistful yen of small business for a return to the dear old days of Calvin Coolidge. Various delegates estimat- ed that from 90 to 95 per cent of their group had voted for Landon in 1886.
 Effect Almost Nil
 It seems likely that the "little business men" and their recommen- dations, most of which implied criticism of New Deal aims and legislation, will have little if any effect
 The demonstrated solidarity of business is being used by the Presi- dents conservative advisers to in- f1uence him. But his liberal advisers are using the f1asco aspects of the show to convince him that the little fellows know even less than the big fellows about problems of economics and government in the large.
 Government action to make loans available for industry was being planned before the guests arrived and this recommendation will be needed. Urging the streng- thening and enforcement of mOn- oply laws was right down the administration alley. Cautiously enough it came from 3 gathering vOciferously resentful against the Ickes and Jackson anti-mOnOpoly speeches.
 Frmo the various group confer ences came several recommendations in conflict with those of other groups One group demanded prompt bal ancing of the budget and another suggested 0,000,000,000 trans continental highway spending pro- gram. One group demanded sales tax and another argued against 1t. Most such differences were roned out by the group which formulated final recommendations.
 Nurse Came Too
 Men who had never seen or heard of each other were suspicious oi each other and often adopted a "Who-the-hell-a attitude to- ward anyone who seemed trying to assert leadership. They were suspic- ious of fancied administration stacking" efforts, of the big New York delegation, of imagined efforts of large business elements to con- trol.
 Sending invitations to men who had written letters to the White
 House proved poor method of
 selection. It brought in numerous
 crackpots and crackpots usually
 are vocal.
 One invitation went to man
 in a psychiatric clinic. He wasn't allowed out without nurse. So he got an invitation for the nurse and she also was listed as a dele gate.
 Arriving here, the patient sought to see Roosevelt. The President was busy so the patient left town, in- sisting he would have nothing to do with those 900 nuts." Another man loudly charged at a general conference session that the whole show was an insane asylum" That was what most of the correspond entS thought.
 Novel TerminOlOgy Never before had New Dealers heard the "anti-Sherman trust laws" "monolistic practices" the "un- disturbed profits tax" the labor relaxation act" and Heck of poi chasing power" denounced from a public platform as such.
 "Santan has got hold of this
 meeting" one delegate kept ex-
 claiming.
 What delegation is he On?" de-
 manded another delegate, bristling at the news.
 And the chief bouncer was head of the local police radical squad, long practiced in roughtly handling bonus and hunger marcherS. Copyright, 1888, NEA Service, Incl