Evening star., 1940-01-22
Reviews Work of
Herman Oliphant.

10 the Editor OF The Star:
This month marks the first annivers-
ary of the death of Herman Oliphant,
who laid down his life for the New
Deal January II. 1889. The Indiana
farmer boy, born 54 years ago, struggled
for an education and rose finally to the
position Of general counsel Of the Treas
ury Department. in which capacity he
served his country and his fellow man
With enthusiasm and success.
Ohphant was no ordinary man and
when the history of this era is written
MS achievements, now little known to
the general public, will receive their due
credit. There was very little of the early
New Deal fiscal program, drawn up
quickly to avert a national crisis, in
which he did not play a part. Some of
his proposals met with success and TODAY
are an integral part of our national laws.
Others met with defeat, notably the un-
distributed profits tax, which was scut-
tied soon after his death.
1t Is no figure of speech to assert that
he gave his life for the New Deal. That
is virtually a medical fact, which can be
attested by physicians who cared for
him. during his last days. The type of
cardiac ailment which brought about
his death is clearly traceable to over
work, exhaustion and worry. He per-
sonallzed, unfortunately, the entire New
Zeal program. He was warned repeat
edly by friends and physicians to call a
Aalt to his unreasonable labors.
We ourself can report the many sleep-
less nights he experienced following long
Gays at the Treasury, of the trials and
trlbulations besetting his efforts to make
this better country, and of the perse-
cutlons launched against him personally
IN an effort to discredit his proposals.
Despite the cries Of his enemies. and
they were many, he never advocated
Wrecklng our national economy.
On the contrary, Herman Oliphant
made superhuman efforts to protect the
major props of capitalism. Like thou
sands OF intellectuals, he could not un-
derstand people starving in the midst of
plenty, men walking the streets looking
Tor work and the undeniable maldistri-
button OF national income. These were
economic mysteries which he attempted
to solve as general counsel of the Treas
ury Department.
An incredibly shy man, reticent mys-
tic and ascetic in habits, Oliphant was
little understood and therefore grossly
maligned, even by the well-meaninp. He
was reputed to be variously a New Dealer,
communist, a Socialist, a radical, a
conservative, sort of economic ogre
awaiting the opportunity to gobble up
Wall Street. He was believed to be the
New Deal Machiavelli, his crafty hand
guiding the destinies of the country to
certain collapse.
He was none of these things. He was
merely attempting to avert a calamity
and his whole thought was predicated
on a program which would fit in with
the pattern OF American democracy. He
was the most unself1sh man in public
lie this former reporter has ever met.
He spurned riches. We have seen con-
tracts running into thousands Of dollars
annually which he could have had with
the nod of his head. He preferred to
carry on his work at the Treasury where.
ne believed, he had better opportunity
for public service.
He was literally frightened by news
papermen and his name in the paper or
references to his work worried him for
days. With the exception of Bob Allen.
he never got to know reporters.
With his death the New Deal lost one
OF Its best soldiers. Liberals of every
tinge may well pause in tribute to Her
man Oliphant. who dropped from their
ranks one year ago. Even in the con-
temptation Of his death there is one con-
ISOLATION. The machinery he set In
motion Is still going forward. Or i it3
January g. EUGENE KELLY.