Evening star., 1939-01-23

the Republicans
have succeeded in stamping them
selves as indifferent to the relief
needs of millions of persons who
through no fault of their own are
today dependent on Government
aid. AS for the independent Demo-
Gratis, they do a good deal of orat-
ing on politics in relief and such
matters, but they smartly record
themselves as voting for the most
part with their party leaders.
Clearly all indications pointed to
the fact that an attack on w. P. A.
and Harry Hopkins and politics IN
relief would conform to a popular
trend. So also has it been evident
that the country wanted if possible
to see an end to spending. But
the opposition to the administra-
ton has not been intelligent enough
to see that mere cutting of $780,
100000 from a relief appropriation
in midwinter does not stop spend
ing or make any considerable cut
in a $500 100000 budget and serves
only to accentuate to millions OF
voters that if there is change IN
party control it will mean a sharp
defation and mora unemployment.
The wise political strategy at the
moment may seem to be making
gestures in the direction of economy,
but actually it plays right into the
hands of the Democratic admins
tration which will be able to rally
the unemployed either with or with
out any laws governing relief IN
politics. People on renef will not
have to De exhorted 20 months hence
to vote for the Democratic party If
they have suffered hardships through
q cut in relief funds-theyll do it
anyhow.
Unhappily. the opposition party
In government today, whether 1t be
composed of Republicans or inde-
pendent Democrats, has no alterna-
tive policy for the Nation. 1t has
apparently begun to swallow the
philosophy that all America needs
today is a sharp cut in the budget,
or even a balanced budget, and that
Jobs will spring up overnight and
the much talked of prosperity will
be here. Such point of view lg-
nores the troubled world situation,
and the serious maladjustment
which our national economy has
suffered and is still suffering from
apart from the political policies of
the administration.
Opinion Shifting.
Within the last few days q change
of attitude, which for lack of a bet
ter description might we'll be called
political realism" has been respon-
sible for the shift with respect to
the further cutting ot the relief az
propriation. Actually, when the
bill passes, it may not represent any
serious cut at all. That's because
few men III Congress really know
anything about the relief problem
and most members have merely
been following in a somewhat super
fetal manner what they think is a
national tide for economy.
The bill as it will emerge from
Congress will give the President au-
thority to take care of as many
persons on relief as heretofore dur
ing the winter months, and along in
the spring the question of further
funds will be raised again. Maybe
that's not a bad way to handle the
relief problem-to let the funds
come from month to month so as to
compel at last thorough revision
of the whole relief system and
thorough understanding of the
causes that are impeding recovery
If stoppage of spending and an
elimination of politics in relief would
furnish jobs to the unemployed
there would be much bigger vote
in Congress for curtailment of the
relief appropriations. But the fact
is, whether one likes it or not, a
preponderant majority of both
houses fears an abrupt stoppage
lest a recession appear such as de-
veloped in the summer and autumn
Of 1887.
The unhappy truth is that politics
with all its hypocrisy has failed to
grapple with the underlying prob
lens of recovery-the readjustment
of debts handing over from 1925
and provision of refinancing credits
and long-term capital for the count
less small businesses which furnish
the bulk of the employment of the
country, to say nothing of the pro-
crastination over the settlement Of
the railroad and electric power
problems.
No Alternatives Advanced. =
But these subjects are carefVll,
avoided by Congress and instead o.
beginning immediate consideration
for instance, of new tax system
which would distribute taxes equi
tably and furnish incentives to bust
ness recovery, the politicsl leader
are consuming valuable time de-
nouncing politics In relief or Fedora
spending without providing a sub
stitute policy that cam bring jobs tx
the unemployed.
AS long as Congress merely de-
nounces and fails to- bring forth new
legislation which can be accepted
as an. improvement over what thu
country has experienced in the las
five years-and there is no sign o.
such constructive alternatives yet
the President can sit back and watch
the opposition destroy itself or LOST
Favor with group after group needed