Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1938-07-07
WA SHINGTON
National Interpreted
WILLIAM BRUCKART
National PressB Building, WASHINGTON D.
National Topics Interpreted
By WILLIAM BRUCKART
National Press Building

WASHINGTON.-It L. entirely
possible that many people have
failed to piece to-
Great Wealth gether several de-
On Grill velcpments of ma
tional import late
ly, and may have missed the signif-
icance of an action of congress in
its closing days. The two incidents
to which I refer are the federal
grand jury indictment at South
Bend, Ind, Of a Aumber of automo-
bile manufacturing executives and
the action Of congress in adoption
Of q resolution providing for a
broad-gauge inquiry into big busi-
ness. The two. when pieced togeth-
er. spell sensational drive against
the "malefactors Of great wealth."
The RESULT Well. let's examine
the scheme. the pattern and the
prospects.
There was a period in 1885, 1t
will be recalled, when business in
terests felt that President Roosevelt
was preparing to follow a middle
of-the-road policy as far as govern
ment relations with business was
concerned. During that period, there,
was a considerable improvement
in general business. In that interim
Of time, as far as any observers
could reach conclusion, the Presi-
dent was relying on advice from
many men in whom business had
confidence. But there came sud-
den end. Out of the clear sky, Mr..
Roosevelt proposed reorganization
Of the Supreme court of the United
States and the addition of six
justices whom he could appoint at
once. Through weeks of battle
when it became apparent that one
guess was as good as another wheth-
er the President would win, business
men and women again became
afraid. That was when the present
depression began. It was also the
time when Mr.. Roosevelt turned
away from his previous close ad-
visers and began listening to the
new brain trust which has come to
be known as the 'board Of
strategy"
AS the depression became sharp
er and the numbers of unemployed
increased with startling rapidly,
the board Of strategy sought means
to Offset the condition. The group
also had to find a goat--which Is
always done when plans 60 awry.
There followed then the vicious and
Incorporate attacks on "big BUSH
ness" by the trust-busting Robert
H. jackson, then favored at the
White House as the next Democratic
candidate for the New York COVER
norship. Secretary Ickes also let
loose his vocabulary and none can
deny the interior secretary's capac-
ity for speaking biting words. For
weeks and weeks, we were treated
to a barrage of words In which big
business" was pictured as beyond
the pale Of good citizenry and ought
to be destroyed.
The trust-busting drive was not
as successful In gaining public ac-
claim as had been hoped for. The
truth Is that Il failed to get the
country excited at all and the profit
to the trust busters did not materi-
alize as had been the case when
Teddy" Roosevelt was swinging q
big stick Of demagoguery In the
same field Of political endeavor.
indeed, this drive Topped at the start
whereas the drive by the earlier
Roosevelt was good politics for
several years.
II was hare. according to the best
information available, that the tao.
tics changed. The change in meth
DDS is the real reason for the story.
Thus 4 can be said that the trust
hustfhg frive Il still Roinl ~
atvnn but it "a Roi