Evening star., 1938-09-18
c. 0. P. SPEAKERS
ASSA|[ NEW DEAL
Stinchfie|d> Gives Principal
Talk at Constitution
Day Dinner.

The New Deal was charged last night
at Constitution Day dinner Of the
District Republican Committee 1t the
Willard Hotel with high crimes and
misdemeanors' against the guiding
document Of the Republic which was
adopted ISL years ago.
Speakers, referring to the failure Of
the administrations recent senatorial
purges. predicted big Republican gains
this fall and . rout Of tho New Deal
in 1910.
In the principal address. Frederick
H. Stinchfleld Of Minneapolis, former
president Of the American Bar Asso-
citation, said:
Il accuse this administration Of
high crimes and misdemeanors in hav-
Ing overthrown many Of the provisions
Of the Constitution and in having
attempted to overthrow many others.
accuse this administration not only
Of having invaded the words Of the
Constitution, but its spirit"
= Court Plan Assailed.
Mr.. Stinchfield, who headed the
bar association when President Roose-
welt was pushing his Supreme Court
expansion bill, charged the New Deal
with attempting to destroy our basic
requirement in government Of checks
. and balances and the division of the
powers IN government into three
branches, and to destroy the judi
ciary."
He further accused the adminis-
tration "of mourning debts on the
credit OF the United States without
any plan for or perhaps even pur-
pose Of repayment Of those debts; Of
making this Government, not q govern
ment OF laws, but . government Of
men. men who can with autocratic
power decide according to their own
feelings"
The New Deal, he said, had ''the
desire to create q government Of one
man, to give him autocratic power
and to destroy that democratic and
republican form Of government, for
which the Constitution was estab-
lished; Of depriving the 48 States Of
the rights which they have retained
and Of making them dependent upon
the Federal Government, Of commit
ting thoAe autocratic sins of which
complaint was made in the declaration
Of Independence"
"The sins Of destruction Of the pro-
visions Of the Constitution" Mr..
Stinchfield added, could be borne
more comfortably were the practical
results satisfactory. The sin would
remain. but, had it reward, we
could, too humanity, more readily sub
happened to us. 1t was the declara-
ton Of this administration that their
purpose was to make our people more
happy, more comfortable. We still
have 100000 unemployed. So 1t was
when the invasion Of the Constitution
began in 1888. ...
The destruction Of billions Of dol
lars worth Of our wealth is reflected
in the prices Of all property. personal
and real. The national income has
been reduced by scores OF billions
And as that national income has been
reduced. the income Of every citizen
in 1t has suffered. In recovery from
the depression of 1882 our progress
has been substantially the least OF an
the great countries. The depression
Of 1887 was not Of worldwide ex-
istence; 1t was our own. There has
been little recovery from that"
Mr.. Stinchfield declared that I'VE
are infinitely worse OF than prior to
this reign Of hatred which started in
1888" He added:
For five years, in deed, not word,
We have been urged to exchange:
"Reverance for the Constitution for
irreverance;. solvency for insolvency;
good will among citizens for class
hatred: sanctity Of obligations for
Reputation; freedom of speech and
Of the press for controlled words and
print; freedom of the air for SUBJ
serviency; judicial processes for auto
cratic rule free elections for controlled
elections
THE American people may be un-
moral enough to sin for a price; this
administration believes that. But
shall not accept that fact until 1910
shall have proved it. But even more
firmly do believe that they will not
sell their birthright for mess Of
pottage. We may lack spiritually, but
We shall not always be stupid"
In an address on The Constitution
and Subversive Trends" George R.
Fsrnum. Boston lawyer. who was AS
sistant Attorney General under Presi-
dent Hoover, declared:
The restless state Of American pub
lie opinion. the disquieting vagaries
OF the administration, the chaos and
revolution abroad and the lessons Of
history admonish us to be ever watch
full in the protection Of our political
Inheritance and the preservation Of
our rights and liberties"
He recalled that I'VE are living in
q revolutionary era-in times which
are hazardous for political institu-
tions," and he added: THE social or
der has been disturbed to its founda-
tions The economic structure of the
world has been profoundly dislocated
The age Is dominated by nerves.
Across the sea democracy and autoc-
racy are again at death grips. In
America all these disintegrating fac
tors are in operation. The effort, as
Gladstone would put 1t, to work the
institutions Of the country, present
. sad spectacle OF neurotic politics,
confusion in administration, intense
c1oe. hittarpkcs and q lnuy level of
public idealism.
Faith in U. s. Reiterated.
Intelligent observers, regardless Of
party, view the present course Of the
national administration with deep mis-
givings and its future design with
profound mistrust.
Tonight we reiterate our faith IN
America. We proclaim anew our con-
fidence in American democracy and