Evening star., 1938-04-20
Anti-Recession Proposals
Offered by the President.
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
In connection with the Chief Execu-
tive's anti-recession proposals as offered
to the Congress this last week it might
be said that through this message Mr..
Roosevelt has returned to the inevitable
factor which SO popularized the New
Deal that so gaily skipped the mile
between Capitol and White House some-
what over five years ago. Abandoning
any semblance of laissez-faire 1t proudly
shouted "The only thing to fear is fear
itself" The "sick anxiety" as one COM
mentator wrote, Of long months was
tossed to the winds; the New Deal had
arrived and it was but political seconds
before the methods which are facing
us at present were administered to a
thrilled and excited Nation.
This Easter season of 1888 finds the
words, THE only thing to fear is fear
ITSELF" spoken by every one but the
author OF those words; it finds the New
Deal meaning little as compared to its
all-meaning when originally issued;
worst OF all it finds the master POLITICAL
author of all this popularly spoken of
in words unbecoming the man or his
country.
1t now seems that such success as was
achieved led inevitably from suggestion
to broad demand, to defeat, and back to
suggestion. For was not Thursday
nights chat" conciliatory, was it not
in behalf Of something that would not
sell itself? But Mr.. Roosevelt seems,
obviously, to think that nothing worth
while would sell itself For the Presi-
dent of the United States to deal with
particulars would be disastrous. Roose-
veltian philosophy would indicate.
Broad objectives are befitting a great
executive, but he must remain great if
they are to befit.
But let there be no doubt that ap-
preparation for national improvement
and enhancement is simply to bolster
business courage. Without public i'm
provement, Mr.. Roosevelt now realizes,
his administration would certainly be
resting on uncertain laurels. Members
OF Congress, no doubt, will consequently
reason that to campaign next fall with
such weapons as their chiefs recent
popularity called INSTRUMENTATION plan"
would mean their individual extin-
guishment.
But is Federal spending such horror?
1t Is known that corporation that
found itself in the red, generally speak
ing. could absolutely not spend hypo-
thetical $5,000,000 to construct an Office
building. The Government can. The diff
ference being that financial management
OF Government and business, OF necessity,
follows on parallel and therefore never
meeting lines. In preparing the budget
OF a business concern. property is an
asset; Government property remains
from budget mention.
Then again, il We were to accomplish
true business recovery, would certain
public works be even touched? No,
contentment would reign, and thousands
would be left dependent on private en-
doWments in order to complete their
education Many would never receive
them. Our land would drift from under
our feet through erosion that Wall Street
would never recognize as a liability,
c. c. c. restoration in national forests
would be diminished. Indeed, without
Government finance. simple business
recovery would be dark victory. Certain
popular needs cannot possibly be
achieved through Cancellation with
business
ROBERT CHARLES DUFFIE.