The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-06-09

WESTINGHOUSE the days 20
by, it appears more and more that
President Roosevelt's speech before
the American Retail federation
here, May %, amounts to declara-
ton of greatest political impor-
lance. It may be, indeed, that the
Chief Executives announcements
before the retail merchants that
night will eventuate as the corner
stone of his political philosophy for
the campaign of 1910.
In Mr.. Roosevelt's speech before
the retail businessmen, it will be re-
called upon examination that he re-
stated virtually all of the New Deal
theories and convictions. That was
important. But more important
was the emphasis with which he Of
fered, in new language, the general
assertion that there will be no back
tracking. More important to the
country, as a whole, was his de-
termined adherence to the principle
of virtually unlimited government
spending, because his renewed in
sistence in that direction came at
a time when there is considerable
fear that the country faces further
imitation of its currency.
There seems to be quite a gen.
eral agreement that the retail
speech should be examined in the
light of 1910. AS far as Fcan learn,
that is the view taken by New Deal
ers, by old line Democrats, who are
antagonistic to spending policies of
the last five years, and by cautious
Republican observers who are anx-
iously looking for signs indicating
whether Mr.. Roosevelt, himself, will
seek a third term in the Office of
President. While the views of the
three segments converge, their rea-
sons differ. The New Dealers who
want Mr.. Roosevelt to run for a
third term desire to consider the
speech as a preliminary statement,
a charting of the future course; the
old line Democrats who desire to
get the party back in Democratic
hands, rather than in the hands of
the radical wing, entertain fears
which force consideration of 1910,
and the Republicans secretly are
hoping that Mr.. Roosevelt will try
to break the third term precedent.
Speech Sought to Court
FaUor With Retailers 80
There is another reason, apparent
to some observers, why the speech
that sought to court favor with the
retail dealers should be thought of
in terms Of a year hence. It will
be remembered that the annual
meeting of the Chamber of Com
merce of the United States was held
here only two weeks in advance Of
the speech which is the subject Of
so much discussion. Now, / never
have thought that the Chamber Of
Commerce represents very much Of
the country's sentiment. It is made
up, of course, of business interests
that are representative, but as a
matter Of cold fact it is dominated
and managed and directed by the
really big business of the nation.
Thus, it speaks the big business
viewpoint to the extreme, and like
wise in these columns before that
the Chamber of Commerce usually
can kill off projected legislation by
the simple expedient of supporting
it.
But the recent chamber meeting
took no notice Of Mr.. Roosevelt be-
yond danning his program and pol
icies lock, stock and barrel. The
President, it seems, took advantage
of the opportunity to tell the retail
ers about his innermost thoughts as
an Offset to the walls of poison scat
tered about by the big business rep
resentatives. He reasserted his
views on every point to which the
chamber had taken opposition and
about which there had been fight
ing speeches made. I suppose If
ones sense Of humor could be suf-
ficiently detached from the gravity
of the situation, they could describe
the circumstance as similar to two
small boys who were sticking out
their tongues at each other as proof
Of their anger.
A third factor might be brought
into. the picture. You will recall
that it was only a week or so prior
to Mr.. Roosevelt's speech that he
spent an afternoon in conference
with some of the legislative leaders.
Among them was Senator Pat Har-
rison, the old-line Mississippi Demo-
crat, who occupies the post of chair
man of the powerful senate COM
mittee on finance. That is the COM
mittee which handles tax legisla-
ton in the senate. Included in the
conference also was Chairman
Doughton, of the house committee
on ways and means, also tax COM
mittee.
Harrison Tells President
Tax Revision Re Necessary
No further review Of that confer
ence is necessary than to relate how
Mr.. Harrison told the President
there must be tax revision in order
IN lift and raadifYSf Soma NJ fho